Luxury has a lot of baggage with all of its rules, regimens and routines. We don’t always associate it with a feeling of lightness. However, the Spring 22′ Haute Couture collections captured it well. Symbols of floatiness were strung throughout the collections with details like petals, feathers and butterflies abound. The symbolism suggests that we’re feeling lighter collectively, even if periods of pleasure are brief and overdue. Each of the fashion houses reflected different embodiments of this lightness, such as the happy looks in Giambattista Valli, the relaxed styles at Christian Dior and the limitless collection at Schiaparelli. The haute couture woman for Spring 22′ is releasing what no longer serves her and is feeling freer and lighter because of it. Here’s what we can infer about the woman of the season using these haute couture collections.
Valentino
Embracing your individuality echoed throughout the Valentino Spring-Summer 22′ Haute Couture collection. The fashion house cast a wide net with its designs, which were showcased on an eco-friendly carpet made with reusable materials. The collection accommodated maximalists, minimalists, modernists looking for something new, and traditionalists who want to stick to classic styles. A standout design from this collection was the ruffled floor-length capes that billowed out on the sides. They proved to us once again that fashion is a form of self-expression.
Chanel
Chanel’s Spring-Summer 22′ Haute Couture collection was optimistic and festive, with feather accents, intricate beading, sequins and ruffles. The brand’s signature tweed material appeared throughout the collection, reimagined to reflect the excited tone of this show. That excitement solidified at the end when model Charlotte Casiraghi rode on horseback down the runway. This display was notably different from last year’s show, where the model on horseback was led out to the audience by an aid. This time around, she led the horse with fervour and owned the moment.
Georges Chakra
The Georges Chakra Haute Couture collection was inspired by the poetic whimsy and romantic ethos of ancient Greece. The brand embodied those values in this collection with goddess cut gowns, dramatic draping, distinctive sleeves and crepe material. There was also a nod to the sun-soaked coastal side of the Mediterranean, with sunray symbols tucked into some of the designs. The collection paints a portrait of an open-hearted person who lets poetry, purity, and romance in.
Christian Dior
Christian Dior’s Spring 2022 Couture collection is a more subdued version of the regencycore styles that appeared in their 2021 collection. The looks this year maintained design elements that invoke royalty and refinement, like empire waistlines, capes, and intricate embroidery. However, the opaque palette felt quieter and more restful than the patterned clothes that appeared in the previous collection. It ultimately felt like the fashion house was shedding its excess and gaining clarity; encouraging us to pay attention to the little details in life, like these crystal-embellished tights.
Schiaparelli
The sculptural designs at Schiaparelli did not disappoint. The French fashion house is notorious for pushing boundaries and looking at fashion through a surrealist lens. The visually complex collection included hypnotic swirls rendered into earrings and breastplates. It also included elements of fantasy and mythology, like the aerial golden chariot transposed onto one of the gowns. The simple black, gold and white palette of this collection ultimately made the surreal styles look focused yet free.
Giambattista Valli
Giambattista Valli’s signature style was implemented into this collection, complete with tulle textures and orbital silhouettes. High feminine energy was infused into the designer’s gowns, from floral patterns to big bows. A stand-out design from the collection was the half down half up dresses that expose the legs and make it easier to move forward and get ahead.
