EYMERIC FRANCOIS

The boy-couturier, Eymeric François, has once again opened his war chest of creativity to once again dazzle the city of lights as he steamrolls ahead into the much coveted higher ranks of couture.

This season, he takes us to Italy and to the carnival in Venice. One should expect François to see a bit of decadence in the 18 passages of the collection, which is strong in deep, dark colours.

The young couturier plans some accessories and a shocker or two mixed in the carnival masks that he created by hand.

DOMINIQUE SIROP

Dominique Sirop is preparing what just may be one of the most colour rich and warm collection for the Fall 2005 / Winter 2006 haute couture season.

In this collection of around 35 silhouettes, there are chocolates, blues, pinks, coral, yellow-greens, etc. All these colours will put the right amount of attention on Sirop masterful cut of his dress, gowns and women’s suits.

Avoiding a single theme for his collections, Sirop is making glamour his only leitmotiv. The grand couturier may be one of the few to do truly wonderful this season with leather. He intends to spoils his clients with velour, feather, embroideries and skin soft muslins.

FRANCK SORBIER

Franck Sorbier is planning a collection rich in material and work. The themes of this 23 passage collection this season are colour based. Expect to see black, silver and red. There will be some beautiful surprises but still with Sorbier’s conservative touch.

The collection itself is dedicated to the artist-writer-director-journalist, Henry Jean Servat, who fell in love with Sorbier’s work when he worked on La Traviata.

CARVEN by Pascal Millet

This season, Carven makes another comeback to the runways of haute couture with it’s Fall 2005 / Winter 2006 collection after a year’s absence.

With a new CEO and a full artistic control over his creations, Carven’s artistic director – Pascal Millet, has cooked up a collection that is intended to take Paris by storm and reclaim the glory that once belong to the house.

Millet has put together 30 silhouettes around a Marie-Antoinette, who has time-jumped into another period. Per Millet’s usual, this collection will be gorging at the seams with sumptuous fabrics including silks, cashmeres and embroideries.

ELIE SAAB

Elie Saab is planning a huge show with many unexpected surprises for the press and his clients. This collection features no less than 55 silhouettes and spans several themes.

The collection is created in the spirit of true glamour found in Hollywood during the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s. One should expect to see the spirit of Rita Hayworth’s 1946 smash hit, Gilda!

Saab has worked into this collection a cocktail of his favourite fabrics including organza, taffeta, muslin, embroidered tulles and delicate, modern laces.

CHRISTOFPHE JOSSE

Christophe Josse, formerly of legendary house, Torrente Haute Couture, makes his long and much awaited return to the Paris runway after two years of travelling through the deserts of reflection.

Many of his former clients and journalists that followed his decade and a half long tenure at Torrente will be present. Madame Rose Torrente Mett will also make a rare appearance in Paris to cheer on the man she once called “as handsome” as a movie star.

In this collection composed of 18 silhouettes, Josse found inspiration in Jacqueline Delubac performance in Serge Sandberg’s film, “Faisons Un Rêve”.

JEAN LOUIS SCHERRER

Stéphane Roland is busy putting the final touches to his 45 silhouette collection for the haute couture house, Jean Louis Scherrer.

Working with Le Drame de Mayerling (January 30, 1889) as his principal inspiration and theme for this collection, Roland reconciles the irreconcilable opposition that exists between romanticism and pop art. He goes further by bringing harmony to conflict of sexes in masculine versus feminine by leading them to the point of near androgyny.

He is bringing peace to his colours such as white, red, black and lots of gold. As usual, his wedding gown promises to be one of the most beautiful of the season.