Haute Couture: Stephane Rolland S/S 2010 Collection

Stephane Rolland the young French couturier, showed a dramatic spring/summer collection at the Paris haute couture season today, which combined a fluid silhouette with hi-tech.

Working with a chemist, Rolland was able to reduce lacquered paint to a soft consistency, which could be hand-painted onto silk faille and satin, creating organic splashes of colour: blood-red against cream, cobalt against pewter and gold on white.

Rolland also crossed over into the world of sculpture, using laser-cut Plexiglass to create corrugated “ridges", sprinkled with Swarovski crystals, which formed coils and crenellations on the shoulders, hips and hems of fitted cocktail dresses and sinuous evening-gowns in silk crepe and satin.

A pewter short-sleeved cocktail dress, for example, was furnished with coils of Plexiglass around the shoulder-line and pockets. A black silk georgette shift featured a coiled Plexiglass hem and neckline and was finished with a short, ruffled train.

The message was strong, powerful and contemporary, designed for a woman of extreme self-confidence, such as the R'n'B diva, Rihanna, and the pop queen, Cheryl Cole, who has worn Rolland on at least five occasions in the last few months, including the National Television Awards and her appearances as a judge on the X Factor.

But leaving the world of hi-tech aside, Rolland also demonstrated his mastery of the stunning and simple cut, such as in a black, long, dinner gown whose back formed a short cape; and a slinky, high-necked gown in aubergine silk satin, draped at hip level, and finishing in a ruffled fishtailed-train in ruby red.

(Daily Telegraph U.K.)

While the Ready to Wear collections are great, it's always exciting to see the fanciful over-the-top Haute Couture Collections. I love that the designers pull out all the stops to create dreamy, fantasy pieces that make us drool. This is one of those collections that mixes dramatic details with sculptural design to create spectacular visions.