Haute Couture Fashion week: Celine Dion was moved to tears

1. Roll up Roll up: Welcome to the Dior Circus

Dancers perform at the runway during the Christian Dior Spring Summer 2019 show as part of Paris Fashion Week. Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

For the spring 2019 Haute Couture collection, creative director of Dior Maria Grazia Chiuri created a circus to showcase her vision. Held in a big top tent, models weaved through a human archway formed from the all-female circus company Mimbre.

2. Maternity Couture At Schiaparelli

Erin O’Connor walks the runway during the Schiaparelli Spring Summer 2019. Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Taking maternity wear to a whole new level, model Erin O’Connor closed the Schiaparelli show in a fuchsia tiered dresses that concealed her eight-month bump. The dress was so immense that it hid her choice of footwear with her announcing on her Instagram that she ditched the heels for pair of comfy Converse instead.

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3. Asia Argento takes to the runway in angel wings

Italian actress Asia Argento walks the runway during the Antonio Grimaldi Spring Summer 2019. Photograph: Thierry Chesnot/Getty Images

Italian actress and metoo campaigner Asia Argento was chosen by designer Antonio Grimaldi to close his haute couture show in her first major appearance since alleged sexual assault claims. Donning an asymmetrical white gown and angel wings, Asia was cast as the character Ariadne, from Greek mythology.

4. Insta-Couture

A model presents a creation by Viktor and Rolf during the 2019 Spring-Summer Haute Couture collection fashion show. Photograph: Francois Guillot/ AFP/Getty images

In a meta move, Viktor & Rolf fused fanciful rainbow hued frocks with slogans to highlight the banality of social media. One-liners like Trust me I’m a Liar and I Am My Own Muse were emblazoned across the confectionary hued dresses. Coming full circle the collection has now become the most instagrammed of haute couture fashion week.

5. Celine crying at Valentino

A model walks the runway during the Valentino Spring Summer 2019 show as part of Paris Fashion Week. Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

The Valentino show is always a highlight at Haute Couture fashion week but this season it brought showgoers to tears. It was that good. With a collection filled with jaw-dropping, saturated sweeping gowns, modelled by a diverse line-up including Naomi Campbell, it was the front row that caused a stir.

Celine Dion sat front row, wiping tears from her eyes as the collection evoked emotion from the audience.

But it’s also thought that the soundtrack closing the show, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, is the main reason as it’s the song that her and her late husband Rene Angelil had their first dance to when the got married.

6. The Glittering Bride At Chanel

Vittoria Ceretti walks the runway during the Chanel Spring Summer 2019. Photograph: Peter White/Getty Images)

Shunning the traditional notion of the bride must wear white, or even a dress at all. Italian model Vittoria Ceretti stepped into the role of Chanel bride in a sparkling cut-out swimsuit complete with bedazzled swim cap and trailing veil.

7. Back to the future as Balmain returns to Couture

A model wears a creation for the Balmain Spring/Summer 2019 Haute Couture fashion collection. Photograph: Thibault Camus/AP

Balmain, under the guise of creative director Oliver Roustening, returned to couture world this season. The last couture collection was back in 2002 when Oscar De La Renta was in control of the house. Showcasing a futuristic catwalk with space-age references and unique silhouettes was the last major show of the season.