Rolland’s couture is elegant but not original

PARIS — “Austere, but sensuous,” were were the words the program notes used to describe Stephane Rolland’s dark and luxuriant fall-winter couture display that continued in the elegant footsteps of last season.

Deep midnight blue produced a classy silk crepe jumpsuit with a billowing black satin module that evoked the fuzzy brushstrokes of a painter.

Indeed, the Spanish royal court’s master painter Diego Velazquez was one of the inspirations behind this collection.

Thirty-three creations saw Rolland using black, flowing capes to get this regal message across, as well as hanging lengths of rippling silks that conjured up the idea of nobility or time-old queenliness through the material’s simple, natural luxury.

Graphic, pleated collars and breast coverings make out of glazed white silk faille were also notable features.

Though the collection was not ground-breaking or even very original, it confirms that the normally glitzy and glam designer, who’s known for dressing red-carpet celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Cheryl Cole, is moving in a welcome, more elegant direction.

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Thomas Adamson can be followed at Twitter.com/ThomasAdamsonAP