Paris Haute Couture Week 2013: The Wackiest Fashions [PHOTOS]

By Nadine DeNinno | January 30 2013 5:34 PM

While haute couture can offer some gorgeous moments in fashion -- like the Chanel show, for example -- some of it is just plain wacky.

Don’t know what haute couture means? Join Jennifer Lawrence, who told E! News on the red carpet at the 2013 Golden Globes that despite wearing Dior Haute Couture, she had no clue either but “had to say it.”

Unlike the properly termed ready-to-wear, haute couture, which means “high fashion” in French, is made to order for customers on an individual basis. Fabrics are of ultra-luxe quality and often times have enormous amounts of detail with much sewing involved.

Since it began in the 18th century, haute couture is actually protected by law in France by the terms of the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris. In fact, the commission each year chooses the only “true haute couture houses” that can label their clothing “haute couture” as part of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. The commission also directly oversees piracy, foreign relations and press, and advertising and runs a couture school to teach the trade.

For the 2013 Haute Couture season, which ran from Jan. 21 to Jan. 24, fashion houses who are correspondent members, like Christian Dior, Giambattista Valli, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier and Maison Martin Margiela showed their latest haute couture creations.

But, as haute couture goes, some looks ranged from quirky to out-of-this-world weird to utterly ridiculous. Here’s a look at some of the craziest offerings at Paris Haute Couture Week.

Is this a dress or a playhouse?

Paris Haute Couture Week 2013 Photo: Reuters A model presents a creation by French designer Jean Paul Gaultier as part of his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2013 fashion show in Paris January 23, 2013.

'La Femme Au Masque De Fer'

Paris Haute Couture Week 2013 Photo: Reuters A model presents a creation for Belgian fashion house Maison Martin Margiela as part of its Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2013 fashion show in Paris January 23, 2013.

Blackface?

Rad Hourani Show Photo: Reuters Models present creations by Jordan-born designer Rad Hourani as part of his haute couture spring-summer 2013 fashion show in Paris Jan. 24.

There's so much going on, where do we begin?

Paris Haute Couture Week 2013 Photo: Reuters A model presents a creation for Belgian fashion house Maison Martin Margiela as part of its Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2013 fashion show in Paris January 23, 2013.

Spare a napkin?

Paris Haute Couture Week 2013 Photo: Reuters A model presents a creation by French designer Stephane Rolland as part of his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2013 fashion show in Paris January 22, 2013.

Hopefully carrying babies in backpacks will not be a trend.

Paris Haute Couture Week 2013 Photo: Reuters French designer Jean Paul Gaultier (R) appears with a model at the end of his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2013 fashion show in Paris January 23, 2013.

Artist meets candy-wrapper hoarder.

Paris Haute Couture Week 2013 Photo: Reuters A model presents a creation for Belgian fashion house Maison Martin Margiela as part of its Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2013 fashion show in Paris January 23, 2013.

The Harvey Dent of fashion

Paris Haute Couture Week 2013 Photo: Reuters A model presents a creation by French designer Julien Fournie as part of his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2013 fashion show in Paris January 22, 2013.

This dress can be worn or used as a rolling pin -- or a torture device.

Paris Haute Couture Week 2013 Photo: Reuters A model presents a creation by Italian designer Giorgio Armani as part of his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2013 fashion show for Giorgio Armani Prive in Paris January 22, 2013.