From Paris with love.

So we've just seen the SS 2011 shows come to an end in Paris. And what a way to finish. Big love for the Valentino and Louis Vuitton collections. Yet they're total opposites. So, what was fab about them...?

Perhaps the lack of colour at Valentino caught my eye. For the Spring/Summer season you expect bright, warm and welcoming colours and the dull nude mixed with black and deep pink gave a very sombre tone to the collection. The sheer fabrics, ruffles and lace cemented Valentino's signiture elegance.

If there's such a thing as an elegant goth, perhaps they'll share my enthusiasm for Valentino's chic collection. Or maybe Twilight fans will appreciate it's sinister approach to Spring?

Now to Louis Vuitton where Marc Jacobs took inspiration from the east. The 'overly stylised' collection took inspiration from Japan and one key theme was orientalism. Unlinke Valentino's collection, colour was everywhere on the Louis Vuitton catwalk. It's kind of hard to even describe the colour palette. Think of a colour? It was in this show. But the key colours were purple, turquoise and burnt orange. Silk was the fabric de jour with heavy embroidery also featuring.

Like Galliano's take on orientalism in his SS 2007 Couture collection for Christian Dior, this collection by Louis Vuitton is a visual feast that really draws me in!
So, two completely different collections coming out of Paris but all I have to say to sum them up is 'J'adore!'