Armani Privé showcases one of the season's more elegantly understated couture collections in Paris

The collection was staged in front of a star-studded runway crowd
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Hannah Rochell5 July 2017

Naomi Watts and Sophia Loren were amongst the fans on the front row at the Armani Privé couture show in Paris on Tuesday night.

With trouser suits, pencil skirts and frock coats on offer, it would be fair to say that this is the house for the couture customer who prefers a slightly more subtle look than many of the flamboyant frocks on show on the catwalk this week.

That’s not to say that Mr Armani didn’t provide his quota of show-stopping gowns - though his were for the most part all black - but rather, that the show began with a focus on more fitted items that are less common at couture than the ubiquitous ball gowns seen elsewhere.

Many tailored trouser suits and strapless column dresses in this collection fitted a colour scheme of bright pink and electric blue on a backdrop of black; others were more sedate shades of lilac and cornflower blue.

Naomi Watts,Sofia Loren, Roberta Armani and Kate Winslet on the front row
Getty Images

More in line with the feel of other shows at couture were the full tulle skirts teamed with oversized sparkly short sleeved jackets, though their loose fit and the addition of skirt pockets and flat boots gave a pleasing casual vibe.

Velvet was a key material - one pair of trousers was paired with a huge pink cape that resembled a puff-ball skirt from the 1980s - as was heavy embellishment using glass beads and layers of sequins.

Stockings played a big part in the styling of the show. Every look was accessorised with an embellished skull cap featuring netting over the face - these looked like they could have been fashioned out of the same nylon used to make tights.

And simple court shoes were attached to unusual black pop socks that featured covered buttons running up the front of the foot and the shin.

Haute Couture Paris Fashion Week SS17: street style

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Click here for more couture action at Paris Fashion Week

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