Runway Report: Balenciaga Spring 2012--Broad Shoulders & Collapsing Benches!

After Milan...comes Paris Fashion Week-Spring 2012

Balenciaga Spring 2012

Designer Nicolas Ghesquière showed his latest collection for the famed House of Balenciaga in Paris today. According to some attendees, several of the audience benches collapsed--yes COLLAPSED--as people were taking their seats. Then, a voice came through the loudspeaker telling everyone to just "Stand Up".

Salma Hayek, at the Balenciaga Spring 2012 Show, sporting a bandage over her torn ligament (not from the collapsing benches!)

So, yes, that's how everyone got to see the newest collection, even A-List front-row celebs like Salma Hayek and Catherine Deneuve and yes, Anna Wintour was standing too! What did they see? Lots of Cristobal Balenciaga-esque shapes but modernized for 2012. Structurally sturdy yet still floaty skirts, dresses and architectural jackets...

Balenciaga Spring 2012

Bright bold colors--navy, magenta, gold, brick red, bronze, and prints--both geometric and Art-inspired. Shoulders: Out to THERE! Sloping at times. The big bold tops were perfectly matched with slimmer above-the-ankle "cigarette" pants that looked effortless and oh-so-chic.

Balenciaga Spring 2012

Easy-breezy asymmetrical tops. Contrast patch pocket details that if any other designer did them, would look almost "Fashion-School Amateur" but Ghesquiere knows how to make it all look Ultra Luxe Sporty.

Balenciaga Spring 2012

Cristobal Balenciaga 1967, Sik Gazar One Seam Gown with Matching Hat

The final dresses, in all the color-and-print-blocking glory, as well as with all those stunning sequins are sure to end up in all the top fashion magazine editorials. And then there were those hats: A major nod to the House's founding couturier for sure.

Click Below for the Full Runway Video of Balenciaga Spring 2012:

Runway Report: Gucci Spring 2012--Photos + Full Runway Video!

New Color Blocking, 20's Flapper Dresses, Beading Galore and Lots of Chic Luxe Clothes...

Gucci Spring 2012

Wow, Designer Frida Giannini has done it again for the House of Gucci. From the first look on the runway--modeled by the gorgeous Joan Smalls, it was "I'll take That, That, That, oh and That...." Or at least if I was a wife--or girlfriend of a very rich Euro--that's what I would be saying. Gucci is celebrating its 90th Anniversary in Florence and as Style.com editor Nicole Phelps put it: "...the evening clothes in particular will ensure that Gucci's 91st year, like so many before it, is a success". For Spring 2012, it was about Art Deco motifs, architectural shapes, color-blocked designs and loose off-the-body drop waisted dresses.

Gucci Spring 2012

Great tailored jackets with dangling gold chain closures, as well as Resort-y harem pants. I can just see Victoria Beckham disembarking from her British Airways First Class transatlantic flight in one of those ensembles. Sunglasses and all...

Gucci Spring 2012

No floor-length evening gowns (Frida saves those for her Gucci Premiere Couture Atelier), but there were lots of loose tunic 20's style cocktail dresses, perfect for the girl who doesn't want to go the "Herve Leger tight" route and also so right on Trend. They also had some great "Open" backs (another Spring 2012 Trend).

Gucci Spring 2012: The final paillette and bugle beaded "Flapper Dresses" were fantastic with a 70's Liza Minnelli vibe.

The Backs at Gucci Spring 2012

The Gold Strappy Heel at Gucci Spring 2012

Click Below for Gucci Spring 2012 Full Runway Video: