Those who made it to the Zuhair Murad show on Thursday morning really had to want to be there. Access to the show venue had been blocked in all directions by the police because of an impressive protest by French railroad workers who were up in arms about their working conditions.
The vision of fur-swathed ladies impeccably dressed walking a few blocks down to the show while men and women dressed for hard labor and bad weather conditions streamed past them, made for one of the most surreal of fashion moments this season.
But came those ladies did — in droves — to see their go-to designer Zuhair Murad’s spring/summer 2015 haute couture collection. They packed themselves in tight into the first row and collectively rejoiced in the clothing they saw appear on the runway.
There was quite a lot to love about this show. Murad gave his devotees a wide variety of styles, lengths and proportions to choose from. There were peplum shimmering evening jackets. A panoply of floor-skimming evening gowns, with thigh-high slits or without. Girly short dresses or ultra feminine slim fitting alternatives also had a turn on the catwalk. There was even a crystal-covered body suit that looked ready to be worn on a stage in front of thousands.
Most impressive were a few plunging neckline gowns where the beadwork was so delicately done it was hard to spot where the dress ended and the model’s bare skin began.
If there was an idea that missed the mark, it was when Murad added clouds of tulle to the shoulders of a few looks. The goal might have been to bring a bit of ethereal lightness to the garment; instead they ended up just looking fussy. But never mind. This is couture after all, and all the designer's client has to do is veto the tulle and it will be a fast-fading memory.
