Sheer Delight

Sheer fabrics.

Christian Dior

Lace details.

Valentino

Ruffles.

Valentino

And more sheer fabrics.

Chanel

Without a doubt, sheer fabrics ruled the runways at the Paris Spring 2010 Ready to Wear Fashion shows...

John Galliano

And I get tremendous inspiration by viewing what today's designers have sculpted from needle and thread. To me, it's the one refreshing and recurring source of needlework inspiration in the world right now.

Chanel

Though I enjoy looking to the fashions of history now safeguarded in the world's museums -- the freshness and contemporary quality of today's designs is more invigorating. It is playing with needles in the truest sense of the term.

So, I've put together this little summary for you of next year's Spring Collection from a needleworker's viewpoint.

Chanel

Of course, you won't see as much fine handwork as in the Spring Haute Couture collection which will debut in January 2010, but the treasures are still there. And the manipulation of fabric in this show was quite beautiful...

Christian Dior

There was this example of heirloom sewing...

Valentino

And this pieced skirt with crazy-inspired seams...

Chanel

And an unusual number of knitted/crocheted fabrics...

Dolce & GabbanaChanel

And this hand-painted fabric silk dress from Chanel was one of my absolute favorite looks...

Chanel

I can't wait for those platform clogs to hit the stores!

Chanel

LOVE this sheer trench coat with lace poking from beneath...

Dolce & Gabbana

And John Galliano layered sheer fabrics and laces giving a very eclectic effect. It gives me hope that we could all pull something together from our closets and stashes...

John Galliano

It struck me that the layering of sheer fabrics allows for illusion...

Giles

And Viktor & Rolf took the idea of illusion to a whole new level...


But this one...


is good for nothing except a good laugh...

A fluffy medicine pill with legs and arms...perhaps for Halloween?

But overall, my favorite show was the hoe-down affair put on by Chanel; see the video here and the entire collection here. I also loved the collection of Valentino. You can see all of the Spring 2010 RTW collections here.

So, I wonder what we might create with sheer fabrics and illusion??

Valentino

Sculpting beauty from fabrics, needles and thread...

Giambattista

(Note: I've switched email providers and I've not been able to respond to any emails for the past few days. I can receive them but I cannot reply. I'm still working out the kinks of switching to a new provider. It may take a few more days...)