beauty call

The most common theme in this year’s fall couture shows was exaggerated shapes—sharp shoulders, ruffled hips, sky-high hats, plunging V’s, overstuffed skirts.  Every runway rocked with severity or sumptuousness.  Designers developed last year’s trends into more extreme, luxurious versions of shoulder pads, one-shouldered, underwear as outerwear and color-blocked body-con.  Our 5 top looks…

1. Sculpted Shoulders

John Paul Gaultier, Christian Dior, Chanel

Shoulder pads and epaulettes are bigger than ever and have morphed into an array of pads, puffs and points.  All shoulder treatments are a go for 2010.

2. One-Sided Story

Alexandre Vauthier, Elie Saab, Stephane Rolland

Like shoulder treatments, the one-shoulder look has grown up for 2010 into romantic asymmetric lines and embellished bodices.

3. Laced Up

Givenchy, Alexis Mabille, Valentino

Whether the look is demure, romantic or scintillating, trompe d’oeil lace dresses were to die for on the runway.

4. Shapely

Stephane Rolland, Rabih Kayrouz, Stephane Rolland

Designers used texture and structure—not color—to highlight hourglass figures.

5. Suit Power—Power Suits?

Sculpted Shoulders (Armani Prive), One-Sided Story (Christian Dior), Laced Up (Zuhair Murad), Shapely (John Paul Gaultier)

Last but definitely not least, nearly every collection featured a skirt suit this year.  They varied widely in function and design to the point where there was a skirt suit to reflect every other trend presented in the couture shows.  Case in point, here are suits for each of the trends mentioned above.

Stay tuned for Paris couture review part II—favorites and their inspiration.

Images via Style.com and Women’s Wear Daily