If the Fall Couture shows happening this week in Paris are any indication, the style pendulum is swinging away from the simple and heading quickly toward the luxe. Our first clue? Might have been the gigantic gold lion on the Chanel runway that we saw on Jezebel this morning…

And then, a peek at Jeanne Beker of Fashion Television's twitpic feed (thanks to Poppytalk for the link) sealed the deal. There are all sorts of super luxurious materials being featured and shown: feathered skirts at Gaultier, a crystal jacket by Riccardo Tisci, a jewel encrusted Givenchy gown, and, last but not least, exquisite embroderies, sable cuffs and pearl encrusted booties (!) at Chanel.
We've been seeing lots more gold and luxe materials make their way back into favor for interiors over the past few years, but these couture shows take the idea of glitz to a new level. Do you think we'll all be designing rooms that look like they are fit for kings and queens over the next few years? Velvet upholstery and jewel encrusted lamps anyone?
Images: Jezebel, Jeanne Beker

Sheex Bedding
YES!
More Luxe!
Bring it!
Un lion en or?
Whew. I wish they'd make up their minds about what's "in". It seems like a such a swing from the last few years: the de-cluttering, the clean lines of mid cent mod. I think I might sit this one out...
But k2yhe, that's the whole point -- consumerism. You HAVE to change what's "in" frequently, or everyone would be all stocked up and not buy anything new!
That's why I, subversively, go by what I like, not what's in.
@SherryBinNH: My point exactly...although you were far more eloquent and direct getting there. :)
Well, at least if the clothes are encrusted with jewels, the designers might be able to justify some of the ridiculous prices they charge. I can't stand this kind of ostentatious consumerism--although I will say that the giant lion is pretty awesome.
I don't see a big gold lion or sable (sad) in my near future.
I don't think of elegance nor luxury here or not a very good example of it.
"Some people think luxury is the opposite of poverty. It is not. It is the opposite of vulgarity." - Coco Chanel
Mlle. Chanel would be fuming if she could see what that beast Lagerfeld has done to her company. Horrible.
"Mlle. Chanel would be fuming if she could see what that beast Lagerfeld has done to her company. Horrible."
Well said.
It's a long shot, but does anyone know what that style of lion (with one paw on a ball, snarling head slightly turned, and its tail between its legs) is called?
I have a pair of 18th century ceramic lions in EXACTLY the same pose, so I'm assuming the style has a particular name.
@Blandwagon--
Those would be Guardian Lions - derived from ancient Heraldry and also from Chinese Foo Lions.
The Ball represents the World, which the Lion - representing Royalty - both guards and controls.
Thanks bepsf!
Lagerfeld has kept Chanel up to date but still timeless. He is the ultimate cool of the design world. Do watch his documentary.