Highlights From Paris Haute Couture Week: Day One

In the wake of this month's men's shows, attention has shifted to haute couture. This week, the fashion world braved freezing temperatures when it convened in Paris to view the latest offerings for the spring/summer 2019 season by the biggest names in fashion. Schiaparelli was first onto the runway, followed by Iris van Herpen, Georges Hobeika, Christian Dior, and Maison Rabih Kayrouz. Here's a look back on some of the high points of the first day of haute couture shows, which was marked by elegance, delicacy and magical extravagance.

Highly colorful with touches of shocking pink, models strode the runway at Schiaparelli in imposing dresses with multiple flounces, suggestive of enormous flower arrangements. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Thomas Samson/AFP

Poetry and delicacy figured large in the collection by Iris Van Herpen, which featured airy, pleated dresses that seemed to float down the catwalk. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Thomas Samson/AFP

Corsets were one of the mainstays in the collection by Georges Hobeika, which was inspired by 18th century France. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Stephane de Sakutin/AFP

Schiaparelli presented an extremely elegant and feminine collection poetically inspired by astrology, in which floral motifs took pride of place. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Thomas Samson/AFP

Iris Van Herpen also played with layers of semi-transparent materials in sky-inspired shades to exceptional effect. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Thomas Samson/AFP

In the Dior show, the circus theme was omnipresent in motifs, embroidered details, veils and accessories chosen by the fashion house's artistic director Maria Grazia Chiuri. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Francois Guillot/AFP

Gold was also present at Maison Rabih Kayrouz in embroidery work on transparent backing, which offered the ultimate in delicacy and refinement. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Stephane de Sakutin/AFP

Antonio Grimaldi presented a multitude of sculptural evening dresses, with multiple asymmetries and plays on transparency. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Francois Guillot/AFP

In a high point of the Antonio Grimaldi show, Asia Argento walked the runway in a short dress with a train and feathers. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Francois Guillot/AFP

Georges Hobeika also presented imposing dresses that glittered with innumerable embroidered details. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Stephane de Sakutin/AFP

Imposing tulle dresses were a feature of the Giambattista Valli collection, which also drew on oriental inspiration for a number of cuts and accessories. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP

The 2019 Spring-Summer Collection by Dior, was inspired by circus looks and performers, notably present in this dramatic human arch. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Francois Guillot/AFP

Numerous ultra-short dresses with wide shoulders and dazzling details were also on the catwalk for Azzaro Couture. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Francois Guillot/AFP

Fluidity and poetry were also on display in the Azzaro Couture show, which presented these glittering, floating dresses. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Francois Guillot/AFP

Short in front and extra-long at the back: these dresses, which have become something of a signature for Giambattista Valli, were presented in vivid colors this season. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP

Gold was a key color in the haute couture collection by Maison Rabih Kayrouz, where it featured in every aspect of several delicate and refined outfits. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Stephane de Sakutin/AFP

Photo 1 of 16 Highly colorful with touches of shocking pink, models strode the runway at Schiaparelli in imposing dresses with multiple flounces, suggestive of enormous flower arrangements. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Thomas Samson/AFP

Photo 2 of 16 Poetry and delicacy figured large in the collection by Iris Van Herpen, which featured airy, pleated dresses that seemed to float down the catwalk. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Thomas Samson/AFP

Photo 3 of 16 Corsets were one of the mainstays in the collection by Georges Hobeika, which was inspired by 18th century France. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Stephane de Sakutin/AFP

Photo 4 of 16 Schiaparelli presented an extremely elegant and feminine collection poetically inspired by astrology, in which floral motifs took pride of place. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Thomas Samson/AFP

Photo 5 of 16 Iris Van Herpen also played with layers of semi-transparent materials in sky-inspired shades to exceptional effect. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Thomas Samson/AFP

Photo 6 of 16 In the Dior show, the circus theme was omnipresent in motifs, embroidered details, veils and accessories chosen by the fashion house's artistic director Maria Grazia Chiuri. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Francois Guillot/AFP

Photo 7 of 16 Gold was also present at Maison Rabih Kayrouz in embroidery work on transparent backing, which offered the ultimate in delicacy and refinement. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Stephane de Sakutin/AFP

Photo 8 of 16 Antonio Grimaldi presented a multitude of sculptural evening dresses, with multiple asymmetries and plays on transparency. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Francois Guillot/AFP

Photo 9 of 16 In a high point of the Antonio Grimaldi show, Asia Argento walked the runway in a short dress with a train and feathers. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Francois Guillot/AFP

Photo 10 of 16 Georges Hobeika also presented imposing dresses that glittered with innumerable embroidered details. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Stephane de Sakutin/AFP

Photo 11 of 16 Imposing tulle dresses were a feature of the Giambattista Valli collection, which also drew on oriental inspiration for a number of cuts and accessories. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP

Photo 12 of 16 The 2019 Spring-Summer Collection by Dior, was inspired by circus looks and performers, notably present in this dramatic human arch. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Francois Guillot/AFP

Photo 13 of 16 Numerous ultra-short dresses with wide shoulders and dazzling details were also on the catwalk for Azzaro Couture. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Francois Guillot/AFP

Photo 14 of 16 Fluidity and poetry were also on display in the Azzaro Couture show, which presented these glittering, floating dresses. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Francois Guillot/AFP

Photo 15 of 16 Short in front and extra-long at the back: these dresses, which have become something of a signature for Giambattista Valli, were presented in vivid colors this season. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP

Photo 16 of 16 Gold was a key color in the haute couture collection by Maison Rabih Kayrouz, where it featured in every aspect of several delicate and refined outfits. Paris, January 21, 2019; Image: Courtesy of Stephane de Sakutin/AFP

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Highlights From Paris Haute Couture Week: Day One