Paris Fashion Week Spring 2013 Recap

Paris Fashion Week Spring 2013 just wrapped up and several strong trends bubbled to the top. 'We've seen a little bit of mod and futuristic. We've seen a lot of tailoring. And I think white is really very predominant for spring,' says fashion expert and Project Runway judge Nina Garcia. Chanel, Chloe, Givenchy and Louis Vuitton were just a few of the major French fashion houses that presented head-to-toe ensembles in various pale shades from ecru to bright white. Another huge trend was all about looking feminine but in a confident, strong and sophisticated way. 'We're seeing a ton of chiffons and sparkle for summer, plus lots of layering. It's a feminine moment without being girlie. It's not ruffles and the lace is sexy because it's tight to the body,' says Harper's Bazar editor Avril Graham. Designers such as Elie Saab, Celine, Victor & Rolf and Cacharel used lightweight fabrics, slinky silhouettes and accents of lace, chiffon and other feminine details. 'We're seeing sort of a revelation of skin. It's more about a tease than anything else. It's showing elements but those elements are being covered by fabrics that you probably couldn't have created five or ten years ago because of the technology,' says Hal Rubenstein, Editor-At-Large InStyle Magazine On the other end of the spectrum, the masculine feminine look also garnered a lot of attention at Paris Fashion Week. Leather bustiers and dresses, harness details, cutouts and bondage-inspired silhouettes were apparent at shows such as Peachoo + Krejberg, Barbara Bui, Anne Demeulemeester and Thierry Mugler. 'There are two major themes. There's that strong leather-clad dominatrix and there's the dainty feminine pinks, pastels, little flowers, little bits of feather, little ruffles,' sums up fashion editor Mary Alice Stephenson. 'It's not clothes for little girls anymore. It's clothes that are for Glamazons who are taking over the world and looking good doing it,' she said.