The devil is in the detail: Haute Couture Week - in pictures

Each haute couture piece is a masterclass in precision, perfect down to the last detail

Velvet is skilfully dyed to create a painterly effect at Jean Paul Gaultier. Photo by Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

Three gowns at Lanyu show lace work, beading and appliqué techniques. Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images

American quilting techniques have been used to make an oversized bow for Viktor & Rolf. Photo by Thierry Chesnot / Getty Images

Applied to net, the lavish bead work at Elie Saab appears to float on the skin. Charles Platiau / Reuters

Beadwork cascades down the back of a gown for Zuhair Murad. Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images

Hand-stitched seams create a ripple effect on a Valentino gown. Photo by Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

Naive style embroidery adorns a coat for Dior. Photo by Gonzalo Fuentes / Reuters

Created just for the show, plastic and snakeskin boots by Ralph and Russo. Photo by Charles Platiau / Reuters

Every square inch of this Chanel look is hand covered in dense sequins and chiffon petals. Photo by Gonzalo Fuentes / Reuters

Net has been cut and beaded to create an oversized collar at Giorgio Armani. Photo by Charles Platiau / Reuters

The Parisian haute couture shows have finished for another season, and when the clouds of feathers and sequins have settled, and the teams of backstage dressers have gone home, we are able to draw breathe and reflect on what we have just seen.

By its very definition, haute couture is handmade (which means that each and every, flower, bead and embroidered stitch has been done by hand). The looks are filled with exquisite details, which are all too easy to overlook on the runway and in images. In fact, only when seen up close does the real mastery of true couture come to light. While we cannot transport you to Paris, we can revisit some of the beautiful details from the autumn/winter 2017 shows held from July 2 to 6.