Emanuel Ungaro: Intimate Setting
By Mari Davis
Photos by FW

DALLAS, Jan 30, 2004/ FW/ --- In a move to bring back the very personal relationship between haute couture houses and their clients, Emanuel Ungaro opted for an intimate setting, showing his collection at his atelier, instead of a big hall.

So, last week in Paris, with a very small crowd, composed mostly of couture clients and A-list press present, Emanuel Ungaro, who only does the couture line for his house (he relinquished the ready-to-wear line to his protégé Giambattista Valli), showed an artistic collection that only a design master can create.

The influences are eclectic, from the flapper girls of the 1920s to the screen goddesses of the 1940s and 1950s. He pulled it all together with impeccable styling, with literally not one hair is out of place.

Gemma Ward, the Australian darling of the runway wore an all white layered gown paired with a hand painted kimono worn as a cape. On her strappy silver stiletto shoes, she looked like nymph floating during midsummer.

Then, there is the old rose dress with asymmetrical hemline, hand painted and encrusted with jewels. It’s reminiscent of the 1920s vaudeville queen with her headdress and strings of jewels.

And in this very intimate setting, Emanuel Ungaro just took his audience’s breath away!

Emanuel Ungaro

Emanuel Ungaro

Emanuel Ungaro

Emanuel Ungaro