Model: Kristen McMenamy

Photo: Tim Walker

by Steven Klein

World leading designers reinvented the iconic 50′s look for spring/summer 2012.

Model: Abbey Lee Kershaw

Photograph: Alasdair McLellan

Just in time to warm us up from -30!

By Steven Meisel

Dark elegance is Riccardo Tisci’s speciality, and for Givenchy’s Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2012 collection, he once again seamlessly melded together elegant 1930′s inspired silhouettes with menacing silver bull nose-rings, oversized earrings and armour-like gothic detail. The collection was shown in an 18-century showroom, which Tisci decided to give a basketball inspired makeover, something which worked despite not really fitting, much like the designs. On one hand the pieces felt ready for a red carpet event, and on another, that elegance was juxtaposed with something darker and almost frightening. The 10-piece collection was painstakingly beaded, dyed, tailored and stitched, while the models stood for the informal presentation, allowing those in attendance to give the designs the kind of close-up examination they are worthy of.

Carine Roitfeld made a triumphant return to Paris Couture Week—and W magazine’s cameras went along for the ride, following the charming editrix to more than 20 fashion shows, to fittings with couturiers from Jean Paul Gaultier to the reclusive Azzedine Alaïa, and, finally, to a two-day shoot with photographer Paolo Roversi. If you ever thought about how does a couture shopping looks like – this is the ABC to it!