In the midst of a regal and rebellious Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris, join Whitewall in marveling at the absolute precision and tender dispatches of Julie de Libran, Georges Hobeika, and Rahul Mishra.
Julie de Libran’s Ode to Nature and Love in Paris
Courtesy of Julie de Libran.
Courtesy of Julie de Libran.
“Feminine. Timeless. Seasonless,” began the poetic show notes for Julie de Libran’s latest Couture presentation. “A collection born from breath, from the way she runs towards nature for air, and finds herself softly caught in the arms of love.” From the very first runway look, it was clear that the prestigious house had found soaring inspiration in the celestial bond between Mother Nature and womanhood. Titled “When Nature and Love Take Over,” the fall/winter 2025/26 show offered a euphoric dialogue between the human form and the radiant environment, allowing garments to reveal immaculate connection and provocation.
“A collection born from breath, from the way she runs towards nature for air, and finds herself softly caught in the arms of love,”
Julie de Libran
“Each piece is a whisper of memory,” the collection notes continued. “Corsets, slips, and delicate underthings gathered from the past, and reimagined with grace for the present.” An elegant, gossamer dress beamed with washes of gold, black lace, and tulle, allowing the softness of skin to speak volumes. Romance was the name of the game, teasing masculine forms with feminine prowess. Effervescent tweed and fringe, surreal velvet, and a flurry of feathers whispered sweet nothings alongside off-the-shoulder draping, asymmetrical hemlines, and organic motifs. Julie de Libran knows, when nature and love take over, nothing can stand in a woman’s way.
Georges Hobeika’s New Order for Couture Fall 2025
Courtesy of Georges Hobeika.
Courtesy of Georges Hobeika.
The ever-astonishing Georges Hobeika unveiled “The New Order” for Couture fall 2025, enveloping us in time-honored, absolute precision and undeniable craftsmanship in the midst of an uncertain world. “You are about to live a moment where beauty conquers chaos,” revealed the brand’s powerful collection notes. “Here, creation becomes our guiding light. Now, breathe in the craft, breathe out the grace. Together, we embrace serenity amidst the storm.” Given this generous, regal gift of rebellion, we did just that in a whirlwind of Haute Couture treasures.
“You are about to live a moment where beauty conquers chaos,”
Georges Hobeika
Let us begin with the pièce de résistance, a bridal masterwork that attracts with the frosted illusions of a confection but convinces one to settle in for a lifetime with mazes of beaded embroidery, opulent florals, and a jeweled veil for the ages. Each and every look was as fantastical as it was rooted in veracity, honoring memory and fortitude in blissful hourglass shapes, bursts of lace and gems in supernatural patterns, and an ever-nourishing palette of cream, gold, copper, burgundy, and ebony.
Rahul Mishra’s Beguiling Couture Collection
Photo by Valerio Mezzanotti / NOWFASHION. Courtesy of Rahul Mishra.
Photo by Valerio Mezzanotti / NOWFASHION. Courtesy of Rahul Mishra.
“Becoming Love” was the overarching theme at Rahul Mishra for the Couture fall 2025 presentation, declaring that “We don’t simply fall in love, we become it.” In this metamorphic vein, the captivating house guided us through love’s seven visceral stages: attraction, infatuation, surrender, reverence, devotion, obsession, and death. “Traversing these seven stages, we gather hue and form along the way, moving ultimately toward a profound stillness, where not even light intrudes,” explains the brand in thoughtful show notes.
“We don’t simply fall in love, we become it,”
Rahul Mishra
Never have we seen more expressive, fashion-forward inventions. Deeply energized by late Austrian painter Gustav Klimt, ravishing ancient techniques of aari threadwork, zardozi, naqshi, dabka, and fareesha embroidery were seen in up-to-the-minute garments. Architectural pieces seemed to have a living, breathing mind of their own, lyrically encircling the body in graceful gestures of silk organza, tulle, velvet, and satin. Headpieces and veils from the perceptive mind of Stephen Jones were the icing on the Haute Couture cake. Or as Rahul Mishra himself put it, “transforming the runway into a moving dreamscape.” Here and now, our fantasies realized.
