The week that was couture was filled with beauty, elegance and magnificent splendor. Here’s a look at a few of my favorite couture collections for Autumn/Winter 2013.

Alexandre Vauthier – The collection featured precision tailoring, coupled with sensual femininity. Two distinctive trade marks that have made his designs a favorite on the red carpet.

Armani Privé – Giorgio Armani presented a study in elegant nudes, playing homage to the era of film noir and the likes of Marlene Dietrich.

Atelier Versace – The collection was a 21^st century interruption of thirties black and white photography.

Chanel – Karl Lagerfeld’s collection envisioned a futuristic frontier of a distant modern world, sprung up from the ruins of the past.

Christian Dior – Was all about “freedom” as Raf Simons presented a collection that was meant to span past the reaches of couture, as we know it.

Elie Saab – The collection was an opulent affair of jeweled perfection skillfully crafted through rubies, emeralds and sapphires.

Giambattista Valli – Presented a floral parade of porcelain beauty seen only in the finest of china.

Valentino – Displayed the curious elegances found in a wunderkammer (wonder-room). The collection was filled with enough beautiful treasures, fit for a modern day queen.

Viktor & Rolf – After a thirteen-year absence from couture Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren celebrated their label’s twentieth anniversary, presenting a meditation in black with a collection that looked back as well as forward.

Vionnet – Was almost a memory that didn’t happen due to a shipping dilemma that required designer Goga Ashkenazi and her team to remake ten of the eleven dresses in forty-eight hours to sheer perfection.