Couture designers looked to Hollywood on Wednesday with elaborate creations that will vie for "best dressed" on the red carpet. Cate Blanchett lit up the front row at Giorgio Armani's show, held on the third day of the autumn-winter haute couture collections. And French actress Catherine Deneuve and Spanish director Pedro Almodovar showed their support for Jean Paul Gaultier, reports the Associated Press.

London-based designer Roland Mouret made his Paris debut after launching a joint venture with former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller, creator of "American Idol." "Some of the celebrity dressing and branding is like fashion payola, like we have in the music industry," said Cameron Silver, owner of the Los Angeles vintage boutique Decades. "You can tell the difference when an actress is in a dress that she loves or a dress that's paying the mortgage."

Paris couture week was to continue Thursday with displays by lesser-known designers. But many fashion editors planned to leave early for Rome, where Italian designer Valentino has planned three days of events to celebrate the 45th anniversary of his fashion house.

Source: www.fashionunited.com

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