Special Report: Our Haute Couture Roundup

Sure, we swooned over every carefully placed bead, embroidery detail, ruffle, pintuck and drape that distinguished the gorgeous creations presented during last week's fall 2012 haute couture shows. But what we really couldn't stop talking about were the stunning beauty looks.

The biggest news undoubtedly was the arrival of designer Raf Simons to the helm of Christian Dior, and with it his highly influential take on modern makeup that he first introduced at the Jil Sander label. His models all had bare complexions accented with geometric swaths of electrifying eyeliner and matte flourescent orange lips that popped against the runway's floral backdrop.

There was a more romantic story at Chanel and Ulyana Sergeenko, where the women wore smoky eyes, doll-like cheeks and rosebud lips that were framed softly by the new frizzy updo. Giambattista Valli, Armani Privé and Elie Saab, meanwhile, outfitted their models with super-sleek strands, cheekbones made more angular by heavy shadowing and nude lips. Even before the addition of veils, these ladies had an otherwordly quality, quite like the spectacle of haute couture itself.

THE BEST BEAUTY LOOKS FROM THE FALL 2012 HAUTE COUTURE PRESENTATIONS

Label: Christian Dior

Label: Chanel

Label: Ulyana Sergeenko

Label: Giambattista Valli

Label: Armani Privé

Label: Elie Saab

Which haute couture beauty look is your favorite?

Photos: Getty Images