The simple aesthetic of Ralph & Russo, the only extant British haute couture house, can apparently be put into elegant dresses. The house capped off their show with an off-white duchess satin gown with a draped bodice, long train encrusted with leaves of Swarovski crystals and a lace veil embroidered with silk petals.
Ralph & Russo is the only brand that dedicates itself to the grand British couture tradition of Hardy Amies and Norman Hartnell. These two designers moved from Australia and London, where their business has existed as one of British fashion’s biggest brands since it opened back in 2007. The brand is now an employer of more than 400 people, with a townhouse in Mayfair for fittings and a large atelier where the embroidery department consists of 30 people.
Most of their clients expected fairytale-esque designs, and that is exactly what they got during their Paris fashion show. The show was filled with frothy mint organza, blush pink silk gaza and ice blue Chantilly lace.
The show was filled with extraordinary outfits and outshone others. It gave names like Vertigo, Psychose and Illusion, but one silhouette that stood out was the one Grazia Chiuri made for Dior. The slim balletic torso with the simple, functional elegance of a leotard gives way to a soft, A-line midi-length hem. The silhouette took forms of long belted coats, blouses, skirts and lingerie-style gowns.
