If you are a fashion inclined individual at some point, you probably have heard of flamboyant pieces of clothing called “couture” The uber priced items that are painstakingly made in the form of “high sewing” (Haute Couture)
Haute couture
It can be traced back to the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette’s reign, but it wasn’t formalized in France until English born designer Charles Worth burst onto the scene and opened his Paris atelier in 1858.
It was Worth who founded the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne to regulate the craft of haute couture.
During World War II, there was an attempt to bring haute couture to Berlin, to which the President of the Chambre Syndicale at the time, Lucien Lelong, proclaimed, “It is in Paris or nowhere.”
Years after, the couture collections are revealed twice a year — Ss in January and FW in July. Contrary to many beliefs, couture shows include both daywear and evening wear.
The Cost
Depending on the level of embellishment a day wear couture piece usually starts at around $20,000. However, it varies on the brand [Chanel Haute Couture typically cost between $40,000-80,000], while bridal can easily cost $100,000-150,00, depending on the level of embellishments.
As Paris “couture week” came to a close in January 2020, we look at some of the most notable creations by designers.
Jean-Paul Gaultier
Biding farewell to 50 years of Fashion and his last couture show. Gaultier showcased breathtaking 200-plus looks staged in Paris’s storied Théâtre du Châtelet. Prominently the famed blue-and-white-striped matelot sweater transformed on Gigi Hadid into a couture masterwork of fan-pleated organza, worn with matelot pants worked in a finely tucked jersey like one of Madame Grès’s fabled goddess gowns.
Valentino
This season’s collections were highlighted with black and white Pieces, yet at Valentino, the looks were lavished with colors and exotic patterns.
Julie de Libran
Fairly new kid on the block of couture, designed by namesake designer.
Maison Margiela By John Galliano
Layers, Layers, Layers. It’s been a while since we have seen a gown by the John Galliano, master of couture, and it feels heavenly.
Givenchy
Exuberant silhouettes with detailed three-dimensional embroideries.
Armani Prive
Loved and admired by his clients. Armani showed what he knows best; unmatched coordinates and blurring outlines with layers of transparency.
Ronald Van der Kemp
Guilt-Free Fur Trash Coats and sexy and Exhilarating pieces.
Giambattista Valli
Color meets artisan.
Chanel
Schoolgirl meets a princess.
Christian Dior
Etheral draping and stunning fabric manipulation.
Iris Van Herpen
Evoking just about any pattern in nature: plant membranes, feathers, fossils, fins, bubbles, sound waves with laser-cut details.
Zuhair Murad
Cruising downtime Nile river, riffing on the ancient tropes of Egypt—while invoking gods. Know for his embroidery techniques; the highlights were high indeed.
Guo Pei
Symbology in clothing, sumptuously, opulent, and theatrical.
Ralph & Russo
Seafoam green and a dégradé of pastel colors.
Schiaparelli by Daniel Roseberry
A legendary brand, now designed by an American with a glorious Imagination. Colorful and rich in textures.
Alexis Mabille
Sensual elegance.