Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week 2012: Full Schedule, Where to Buy Limited Edition Valentino

In a nod to the fantastical, Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week 2012 commences Monday in Paris, France. From Jan. 23 through Jan. 26, designers will flaunt their most flamboyant fashions for all the world to see.

Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week overrides smaller shows, like the Couture Fashion Week New York and Italy's AltaRoma AltaModa Couture Fashion Week. It is the crème de la crème of ostentatious designs and unapologetic extravagance.

The week is reserved for only the most dramatic and daring designers, including Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Dior, Givenchy and Chanel. A special guest this year is Atelier Versace who has not participated in Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week since 2004.

In honor of the event, Parisian boutique Montaigne Market is offering a limited edition Valentino handbag, exclusively designed for the week. The Valentino Va Va Voom So Black handbag will be available Jan. 26.

Here is the full schedule of shows for the week, via Yahoo! News.

Monday, January 23

10:30 VERSACE 11:30 CHRISTOPHE JOSSE 12:30 BOUCHRA JARRAR 13:30 ALEXIS MABILLE 14:30 CHRISTIAN DIOR 16:00 MAURIZIO GALANTE 18:00 ADELINE ANDRÉ 19:30 GIAMBATTISTA VALLI 20:30 IRIS VAN HERPEN

Tuesday, January 24

10:00 CHANEL 12:00 CHANEL 14:30 GIORGIO ARMANI PRIVÉ 15:30 ATELIER GUSTAVOLINS 16:30 STÉPHANE ROLLAND 17:30 GIVENCHY 18:30 ALEXANDRE VAUTHIER 20:00 JULIEN FOURNIÉ

Wednesday, January 25

10:00 ON AURA TOUT VU 11:00 FRANCK SORBIER 12:30 ELIE SAAB 13:30 YIQING YIN 14:30 JEAN PAUL GAULTIER 16:00 MAXIME SIMOENS 18:30 VALENTINO

Thursday, January 26

9:30 CHAUMET (by appointment) 10:00-18:00 DIOR JOAILLERIE (by appt.) 10:30-18:00 CHANEL JOAILLERIE (by appt.) 11:00-18:00 VAN CLEEF & ARPELS JEWELRY (by appt.)