Couture week in Paris is a time for utter opulence, the utmost in elegance, and the absolute best in design. So imagine our delight when Dia received invitations to not one, but two of the most hotly anticipated shows!

We took the Eurostar to Paris for the day giddy with excitement about the Elie Saab and Rabih Kayrouz shows.

Saab, a couture week veteran, is beloved for his goddess-like chiffon gowns and dramatic red carpet creations. This season, he gave us his vision of Venice’s La Fenice opera, with all the grandeur you would expect.

He combined crystals, lace, satin, and mesh for high-necked, low-backed theatrical stunners. The rich reds, bronzes and mustards will no doubt inspire fall wardrobes. It’s no exaggeration to say that our jaws dropped when the final look, a full-skirted bride in layers of silver sequins and crystal-encrusted tulle, stepped onto the runway.

Then to Rabih Kayrouz, a couture newcomer and friend of Dia. Rabih has been designing for decades, and was officially inducted as a member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris last year — a major honor.

The fantasy began with the location — a private Paris courtyard grassed over for the occasion created a sense of watching a fashion show in a secret garden.

Barefoot models wore bright hues like lime, turquoise and grass green that couldn’t help but lift spirits. More so, the workmanship proved the most impressive part of  the show. Masterful pleating and layers of light fabrics brought an airy effortlessness to the designs, and the way that knitwear pieces sat on the body was just magnificent.

Well done — we’re already looking forward to seeing what comes next!