The sublime artistry of couture merged with 19th-century organza-laid prints of flowers for French couturier Franck Sorbier's diaphanous spring-summer collection in Paris.
Dancer-models emerged in large brown paper wraps for the presentation in an old theater, then dramatically tore them into pieces and threw them to the floor. Beneath, sprightly nymph-like gowns in sepia colors frothed weightlessly as the models performed fairy-like pirouettes and prowled around the space.
Multiple layers - gathered and draped - bounced with movement alongside A-line bodice dresses with square floral print sections in warm, saturated hues.
The original display was fitting celebration that marked 30 years since the founding of the independent couture house. It's a rarity in a celebrity-driven industry dominated by corporate groups such as LVMH and Kering.
___
SAAB'S REGAL TOUCH
Elie Saab's accomplished couture display towed the line perfectly between the decorative and subtle, and never wandered into excess.
In feminine pastel shades, peach gently contrasted with mid-blue, while plays on sheer sections in see-through full skirts created a feeling of hidden depth in many of the styles.
Glamour, of course, was the order of the day for Saab, one of couture week's red-carpet favorites.
Chic silk headbands evoked fashion's golden age of the 1950s. But gold belts - that clasped the Lebanese designer's signature cinched-waist looks - alongside exuberant sparkling earrings and golden crowns gave this spring-summer show a regal quality.