Paris Fashion Week Minute: Christian Dior and Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2013--Photos + FULL Runway Videos!!

DIVINE Dior PERFECTION and CHA-CHA Balenciaga Girl...

First Up--Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2013 by Raf Simons:

Strapless Chic: Christian Dior Spring//Summer 2013

For Belgian designer Raf Simons' first Dior Ready-to-Wear outing, he hit
a HOME RUN (his Haute Couture one was also a big HIT!). His Christian
Dior Spring/Summer 2013 Collection was PERFECTION. from beginning to
end. It was like "Galliano Who?" Any question that the Dior execs had
found their man, were squashed. This was Fashion for the 21st Century:
clean, minimalist, exquisite, interesting, UBER feminine, yet
very sexy. It referenced Dior's Bar Suit and jacket but took it to
another (rounded) level. The shapes were so directional and retail
friendly. My advice: I know Raf was just hired but...he already deserves
a BIG RAISE! Click HERE to read what Fashion Critic Doyenne Suzy Menkes had to say (worth reading because she pretty much sums it up!).

Black Is Big: Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2013

Iridescent Runway: Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2013

Dress Modern: Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2013

Color Ways Dressing : Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2013

A Dirty Martini or Easter Sunday Tea? Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2013

Jeweled Suiting and Tea-Length Balls: Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2013

Click Below for the Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2013 Full Runway Video:

Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2013:

Cascade Girl: Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2013

Cha Cha Ruffles for Nicolas Ghesquière? Well, oui!! For his Spring/Summer 2013 outing for the House of Balenciaga, he put --as Nichole Phelps of Style.com said-- "an utterly modern gloss on
intense study of the house's archives". His girl is VERY TOUGH CHIC but this time, he softened her just a bit by referencing the great master--Cristobal Balenciaga--and his love of ruffle and flounce:

Cristobal Balenciaga Couture :The "Chou" wrap and gown from 1967

Balenciaga silk gazar baby doll dress 1958

The collection was FANTASTIC--great cuts, lots of asymmetrical high-low skirts, geometric tops and jackets and yes, lots for that TOUGH GIRL Diva the 21st Balenciaga "girl" is all about--Here are some more of my favorite looks: