Day 5 of Paris Fashion Week Spring 2016 was highlighted by splendid designs by Elie Saab, Vivienne Westwood, Rahul Mishra and Nina Ricci.

Junya Watanabe spring collection showcased the power of color and shape. He used razor-sharp pattern-making to create outfits like loosely constructed long shirt, shirtdress, straight pants and capes which were adorned with zebra stripes, tiger stripes, leopard spots and batik prints. Haider Ackermann presented an interesting lineup of clothes featuring shiny leather pants belts in blue and yellow, violet dress with a black tulle trim, bomber jacket, vests, mannish jackets, pink chiffon blouse, duster coats and leather micro shorts  and leggings.

Véronique Leroy’s feminine spring collection showed lots of wrap, tank and slipdresses in various lengths and delicate transparencies. Jumpsuits and sculpted shirt-jacket had organic patterns while jumbo seersucker had big, vertical stripes. Some items were made entirely of cutout leather leaves. David Koma looked to military uniforms as inspiration for Mugler’s spring collection. He unveiled body conscious dresses and trousers with skin-baring cutouts at the torso followed by glossy leather short skirts in army green, bra tops paired and high-waisted pants.

Acne Studios’ spring range by Jonny Johansson had a musical theme. Matching to the theme were boxy suit jackets, slim trousers, velvet column dresses and loose satin coats which were adorned with chrome guitars, “sound-wave” zigzags and big circles similar to CDs. Elie Saab’s spring 2016 range focused on day wear and was unique in its own way. Bomber Jackets, cropped tops in bold stripes and floral prints, lace embellished dresses, long dramatic gowns, black jumpsuit decorated with paillette sequins, featuring a transparent cape, wide leg pants and lace shorts were introduced on the ramp.

Vivienne Westwood showcased a collection called Mirror The World which was inspired from Venice’s painters Titian and Bellini, and the city’s carnival. She presented coats which worn on heads, mirrored catsuits, ruched dresses, red, black and gold diamond-patterned deconstructed jacket and matching cropped pants, red-and-white vertical stripe shirt. Indian designer Rahul Mishra’ spring line was about enhancing 3-D with human hands. Models walked wearing quirky 3-D scalloped tops imitating fish scales or peacock feathers, organza palazzo pants, denim bomber jacket and pleated shorts.

The blinding red and the fun shades of green, from forest to moss to khaki colors created both fire and backdrop to the Nina Ricci’s spring collection. The rang included sheer green or pink silk top, glossy apron dresses, sheer blouses, squarely tailored coats and miniskirts in shiny patent ostrich leather. Olympia Le Tan came up with a Japan-themed collection. She showed sequined trompe l’oeil kimono, short short-sleeve retro shirts with graphic pattern and high-waisted, faux-jacquard skirts.

Nawabi designer Anushree Reddy has developed her own signature style, that often sees vintage flora fused with age-old Hyderabadi Zardozi, in order to recreate a romantic old world charm.

Her colour palette dominants pastel and soft tones of nudes, peaches, vintage rose pink and beige moving into brighter tones likes shaded yellow, fuchsia pink and jewel tones, ideal for ethnic Indian ensembles. The silhouettes are clean and cutting edge, with a flawless twist of contemporary influences pure fabrics, fresh colours and elegant silhouettes brewed with subtle prints, surprising embellishments and passionate attention to detail, make her designs supremely wardrobe-worthy.

a clean and clear naturalistic line of beauty, looking from the past into the expanse of the future. In the Spring-Summer 2016 collection, Raf Simons, Artistic Director of Christian Dior, strips away many extraneous elements to concentrate on a purity of line and precision in technique to find an ease for the future, in the 43,000 sq.ft formation covered with oasis flowers in sawed lawns of 400,000stalks of blue Delphinium.

“I wanted the collection to have purity to it,” says Raf Simons. There were literal layers of the past, from the Victorian-style underwear layered under the transparent bias cut dresses and the Bar jackets and rough knits, but for me it still all feels oddly futuristic and strangely romantic. Like this woman is about to travel through space and time.”

The feminine tailleur unites with masculine tailoring to find new configurations of three piece suit with horizontal pin striping and a more sensuous cut of military inflected jackets; the traditional, complex pleating techniques of the flou proliferate, finding form not only in dresses but in the fluttering hems of tailored jackets and parkas transformed in horizontal striped duchesse satin; sinuous, bias cut transparent organdie dresses reveal delicate cotton cami-knickers and chemise that can also be layered with cropped, rough hewn, Shetland knits; the precise geometry in the cut of traditionally heavy historical sleeves, is highlighted in feather light transparencies set against flesh.

Relatively the collection moves from the self-contained, cultivated garden of the ‘femme fleur’ towards what could be seen as a new terrain, at once more naturalistic and alien. I wanted to look at something rougher and more natural than the garden,” explains Raf Simons. “At the same time, and just as in nature, I wanted to find a new kind of precision, purity and ease. A fragment of what is to come.”

The designer duo couture collection at an offsite show during India Fashion week ss’16 amalgamates beautifully with the bold, confident & sophisticated style synonymous with their brand.

Our Couture Collection has inspiring balance of sharp lines & fluidity that reflects effortlessly in our Spring Summer ’16 Collection through a calming color palette & slender silhouettes,”says Shivan n Narresh.

Day 4 of Paris Fashion Week 2016 revealed some very glamorous collections by renowned names like Dior, Balenciaga and Yohji Yamamoto.

Loewe’s spring lineup celebrated the lovely Spanish shores and one of its main coastal cities: Barcelona. See-through pants were paired with handsome cable-knit sweaters with sheer shoulders or T-shirt with Canada geese print, black wool dress came with silver sequins and sweatshirt and pants were printed with black-and-white photos of cotton plant. Hussein Chalayan’s spring collection was inspired by his trip to Cuba. He showed dusty utilitarian jumpsuit and top with sweetheart necklines and gathered waistlines, dresses and sporty separates with soft folds and pleats, and tiff cotton coats and jumpsuits adorned with Swarovski crystal coconuts and a playful cartoon character called Plonk.

Issey Miyake spring line by Yoshiyuki Miyamae was all about pleats that were fixed to the fabrics by printing glue onto fabric and then baking it. There were blue sleeveless dress with multicolored waves, sculptural blue-and-white top and skirt, checked dresses with fringes, color-blocked T-shirts and vests with cropped pants. Julien David mixed workwear references and noble silhouettes and textures for his spring 2016 collection. The rang included printed white shirts, zipped retro rompers, embroidered  techy vinyl top, splendid peasant trousers, and several long coatdresses.

Raf Simons took subtle yet pointed inspiration from floral and garden motifs for Dior’s spring collection which was very feminine and romantic. He showed gorgeous cotton tops and shorts, striped organdy dresses, some with poetic lantern sleeves, bar jackets with borders of fluid pleats, low-key suitings, and thrown-on parkas with 3-D flowers. Isabel Marant’s spring lineup was fusion of sport and tribal. Gracing the runway were designs like bajas and long jackets trimmed in colorful crafty embroideries, fringed scarves worn as wrap skirts, ruffled folksy shirt, tribal-printed peasant tops and nomadic pants.

Jun Takahashi’s spring line for Undercover showed checkered stovepipe, military jacket, trenchcoats, nylon bomber jackets, camouflage-patterned trenchcoats, feminine and colorful tulle skirts and flowing silk tunics. Andrew GN’s collection took us on a summer holiday on a seaside.  He evoked sea breeze and summer sun with shades of blue, black and white and primitive, geometric patterns. There were shouldered mini-dresses, with moulded busts, long dresses full of delicacy and flared skirts with motifs of butterfly and botanical embroideries.

Alexander Wang’s spring collection for Balenciaga was energetic and feminine. Swaying on the ramp were beautiful ivory silk-satin dresses streamed in ruffles, layered tops with appliquéd feather garlands, cotton summer dresses, sumptuous matelassé jackets and low-slung trousers. Yohji Yamamoto’s black dominated lineup was all about wrapping, draping and deconstruction. Black draped dresses with splashes of red, layered hoop skirts, draped togas and tunics with undone quality were outstanding. A black corset dress, cut up and draped over a broken-down denim cage skirt and jeans was stunning and cool.

The day 3 of Paris Fashion Week Spring 2016 was highlighted by Balmain’s sexy and bold collection and

Influenced by the beautiful rainbow, Chloe presented a cheerful spring collection featuring gentle rainbow stripes on outfits like white silk jersey track pants, off -the-shoulder georgette dress and sweeping tank dress. The range exuded a youthful feel with fine fabrics and crafts. Adrien Caillaudaud and Alexis Martial showed a marine themed spring lineup for Carven. There were crisp striped shirts, zippered scuba-style tops, intarsia sweaters with bubble prints, miniskirts, navy A-line skirt with circular cutouts at the hem and white halter dress covered with frills.

Indian designer Manish Arora came up with a chic bohemian collection featuring psychedelic patterns and lots of colors and embellishment. He showed half tutu-half peasant skirt, cropped bolero festooned with beading and folkloric patterns. Hearts, stars, butterflies, ethnic floral patterns and even little Rubik’s cubes and cassettes decorated many separates. Ann Demeulemeester’s spring offering by Sébastien Meunier had outfits with tribal influence, layered black-and-white leather harnesses with thick collars, sheer bodysuits, long, lean, sheer tank dresses with cutouts and military inspired dresses.

Julien Dossena created a techno-hippy spring collection for Paco Rabane. She uplifted the collection with casual embroideries, shaggy tassel, tie-dye fabrics and other crafty touches. Models wore slipdresses, full-body girdles and outfits in black leather.  Oliveir Rousteing for Balmainshowcased a late Eighties/early inspired spring 2016 collection. The bold and sexy spring range had tight knitted bodysuits with diamond cutouts, high-texture tops and skirts, macramé gowns in tribal-looking patterns, dresses with ruffle motif and ensembles with wide-open lattice that added graphic touch.

A.F Vandevorst revealed a dramatic and black dominated spring lineup.  The range showed varied looks like rubberized leggings wore under Mao-collared tunic dresses embroidered with small mirrors, floor-sweeping skirts teamed with sleeveless, military vests and a monochrome catsuit tuxedo. Barbara Bui’s spring line wassexy and glamorous. She unveiled some very sizzling numbers like brown leather crisscross cropped top, skin-tight Bermudas, fringed wrap poncho and exotic-skin jacket and pants in a graphic purple and black.

Rick Owens drew inspiration from sisterhood and motherhood as well as nourishment and regeneration. He displayed a range of short dresses, silk organza outfits, long, slim black vests with pinched shoulders and cool Windbreakers in transparent leather. Alber Elbaz created a both functional and theatrical spring line for Lanvin. He offered oversized tailored jackets, beautiful white shirts, fluid jersey dresses, fabulous collaged dresses made up of different laces, asymmetrically pleated skirt, pleated short skirts, jersey sylph-like dresses and sartorial jackets.