As Paris Haute Couture Week Spring/Summer 2025 came to a close, the final two days showcased an impressive combination of artistry, innovation, and emotional depth.
Alessandro Michele’s highly awaited debut at Valentino began with a poetic exploration of light and shadow, striking a thoughtful yet hopeful tone.
Jean Paul Gaultier’s latest couture collection veered toward escapism, mixing horror and magic in a captivating presentation.
Ashi Studio followed with a luxurious collection that epitomized modern elegance, while Germanier rounded out the week with a bold, sustainable vision packed with colorful vitality.
Themes of resilience, spirituality, and transformation echoed throughout these final moments of couture, leaving an indelible mark on the season.
ASHI STUDIO
Ashi Studio’s SS25 Haute Couture collection is inspired by Madame Claude and Serge Lutens, with a 1960s Parisian vibe.
It explores concepts of liberty and change, combining delicate corsetry with powerful architectural forms.
A monochrome palette heightens the sculptural drama, striking a mix between baroque opulence and minimalist refinement.
ELIE SAAB
Elie Saab’s SS25 collection combines couture and the illusion of art, creating an ethereal masterpiece inspired by the beautiful glow of an Impressionist garden.
Each look is a brushstroke in a brilliant scene of pastel hues and fluid forms that create a delicate yet strong femininity.
The muse emerges from a floral haze, shifting like a live canvas, silver-rimmed blossoms sculpted against her flesh, pewter braids glittering like dew, and sheer chiffon disappearing into the light.
Denim is transformed into a modern rose, with embroidered branches and gilded stems adding to the illusion. As evening sets, a shimmering bridal vision completes the scene, capturing the everlasting artistry of haute couture.
Elie Saab SS25 suspends time while recreating beauty, reinterpreting the past to create a new vision of the future.
GAURAV GUPTA
Gaurav Gupta’s SS25 Haute Couture collection, Across the Flame, is a very personal examination of perseverance and metamorphosis, inspired by a near-fatal event that he and his partner experienced.
Themes of astral projection and rebirth are explored through ochre Twin Flame costumes, midnight blue metal breastplates representing strength, and couture denim that challenges tradition.
A model’s face is decorated with Banarasi brocade and Sanskrit chanting, giving it a spiritual touch. Combining fire, armor, and tradition, the collection reimagines survival as a creative rebirth.
JEAN PAUL GAULTIER
Jean Paul Gaultier’s Haute Couture SS25 collection was inspired by the concepts of transformation and metamorphosis.
The collection paid homage to diverse aspects of beauty and identity, combining traditional couture techniques with a modern, almost avant-garde aesthetic. The use of deconstructed geometries and surprising fabric combinations emphasized Gaultier’s distinctive blend of high fashion and street style.
The fluidity of masculine and feminine aesthetics was also highlighted, with tailored suits, skirts, and spectacular gowns expressing genderless fashion.
The collection draws inspiration from both modern art and historical fashion, demonstrating his ability to produce unique, boundary-pushing designs while preserving a profound appreciation for couture craftsmanship.
MAISON SARA CHRAÏBI
Maison Sara Chraïbi’s Haute Couture SS25 collection showcased sensuality, tradition, and workmanship. The designer drew inspiration from her Moroccan roots and combined traditional Moroccan artistry with current European couture ideas.
The collection showcased elaborate needlework, delicate beading, and luxurious fabrications, emphasizing a blend of rich textures and lavish motifs.
Sara Chraïbi’s draping and sculptural designs emphasize fluidity and movement. The color palette combines earthy tones with vivid hues, expressing the interplay of nature, culture, and modern femininity.
The collection celebrated women’s strength and grace, with an emphasis on empowering them via refined yet striking designs.
MISS SOHEE
Miss Sohee couture blends fashion and art, featuring strange shapes inspired by nature and leather as a sculptural material.
The color scheme combines delicate pastels with dramatic black accents, and her bridal dresses exude purity and grace. She uses Najeon Chilgi, the Korean craft of mother-of-pearl inlay, in her creations, which feature elaborate images of Korean flora and wildlife.
Voluminous Hanbok skirts are modernized, while fitted items are embellished with embroidery. Headpieces evoke the grandeur of Korean empresses while instilling cultural identity throughout.
Partnering with Hyosung Group, she integrates sustainable materials into her future collections, evolving her designs while staying true to her vision.
PEET DULLAERT
Peet Dullaert’s Haute Couture SS25 collection combines modern minimalism and old couture craftsmanship.
The collection incorporates sculptural forms and fluid fabrics, resulting in dynamic movement while remaining refined. The rich, subdued color scheme encourages peace, while detailed handwork and sumptuous materials accentuate the clothing’ tactile appeal.
Dullaert promotes timeless elegance, emphasizing fluidity, craftsmanship, and a sophisticated take on modern fashion.
RAMI AL ALI
Rami Al Ali’s SS25 Couture collection combines Op Art with natural beauty in an architectural-artistic performance.
Fluid organic shapes contrast with geometric patterns in a classy color scheme of greys, primrose yellow, green, and shell pink. Silhouettes represent nature’s grace, from greenery to seashell contours, combining luxury and craftsmanship.
Fabrics play with light and shadow, while vivid designs and dazzling embellishments create dimension. The collection examines the synergy between nature’s elegance and human innovation, resulting in a visually appealing and refined exhibition.
RAMI KADI
Rami Kadi’s collection’s designs combine antique silhouettes, empire waistlines, corsetry, and puffed sleeves, with asymmetric draping and strong modern cutting.
Pastel tones such as blush pink, lavender, mint green, and ivory are accented with gold and emerald.
The 30 couture pieces are enhanced with intricate decorations such as 3D floral appliqués, Swarovski crystals, and celestial-inspired needlework, giving them depth and a radiant appearance.
VALENTINO
Valentino’s SS25 Haute Couture collection explores duality by combining contrasts such as light and dark, simplicity and grandeur.
Sleek, minimalist lines are combined with exquisite details, and a vibrant palette of reds, blues, pastels, and metallics adds visual punch. Modern draping enhances classically inspired, fluid yet structured designs.
The collection focuses on luxury textiles such as velvet, silk, and lace, commemorating timeless couture with a blend of history and innovation.
VIKTOR&ROLF
Viktor&Rolf’s SS25 collection features a variety of permutations on a single outfit, a beige trench, a white shirt, and blue pants, paying homage to couture while embracing the possibilities of AI.
The collection blends diverse aesthetics, which are brought together by Ruffo Coli’s silk gazar, reminiscent of their 1999 ‘Blacklight’ collection.
Exploring their distinctive frills and bows, the collection strikes a balance between baroque extravagance and minimalist severity.
Each look is announced by an artificial intelligence voice, with a fun twist. The 24 ensembles are made of beautiful Italian silk gazar and feature custom Christian Louboutin shoes and vintage jewelry from Droomfabriek Amsterdam.
ZUHAIR MURAD
Zuhair Murad’s Haute Couture SS25 collection was inspired by the splendor and opulence of Hollywood’s golden age, yet with a contemporary sense of sensuality and grace.
The collection featured exquisite beadwork, lace, and embroidery, drawing on the aesthetics of old-world film and blending them with a modern, strong take on femininity.
Silhouettes were dramatic yet sophisticated, with figure-hugging gowns, voluminous skirts, and plunging necklines that emphasized the beauty and grace of the feminine form.
Murad’s hallmark workmanship was obvious in the sumptuous fabrics, which included silk, tulle, and organza, as well as sparkling embellishments that provided depth and dimension. The color pallet spanned from gentle pastels to deep jewel tones, conveying a sense of timeless grandeur.
