givenchy yellow dressThe Spring 2011 Couture shows continue on.  Designers are undoubtedly hoping to catch the eyes of glamorous, ‘rexi starlets who will don their gowns on the red carpet.  Here’s a rundown of what’s been shown.

-Karl Lagerfeld’s big collection for Chanel was somewhat lackluster.  While many of the sixties-inspired coat-dresses paired with black tights (and his trademark fingerless gloves) were awfully cute, the eveningwear he presented was kind of matronly and dowdy.   And the meshy eyemasks were complete rip-offs of the one Kirsten Dunst wore during Marie Antoinette’s masquerade party.

-Call Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci the Mad-hatter.  Boyfriend sent some crazy, oversized headgear out with his couture collection.  While Tisci clearly still got the goth in him, showing several dark gowns (some looking a bit too much like Vampyra), ironically three of his best pieces from the show were in bright, canary yellow (one is pictured above) and unfortunately buried in the middle of the lineup.  I really would like to see Tisci (the youngest couture designer currently) succeed in this crazy couture bizness.  Methinks he could if only he would lighten up a little.

-Call Christian Lacroix a mad genius.  He sent out a number of cartoonishly bright numbers embellished with wild flower prints and ruffles and puffs galore.  These looks would look garish in the hands of anybody else, but Lacroix has a special way of making them work.  Two of his solid evening dresses, one in smoky blue and the other in yellow, would be stunning choices for the red carpet.

–Speaking of the red carpet, Elie Saab sent out an entire collection of safe, red carpet-ready looks, perfect for less daring starlets.  The collection was primarily in pale shades with lots of lace and sparkly accents..

-Rumor has it that Valentino may be announcing his retirement in July.  Is it due to a lack of inspiration?  His couture collection featured numerous white, innocent, baby-doll dresses, made more baby-dollish by the models’ heavy bangs and big buns sitting politely atop their heads.  While the collection was sweet, it lacked any showstoppers.