I love this part of the year ... Ready-to-Wear is fun, and usually a great way to shop the newest trends and prepare for a change in seasons, but Haute Couture (High Fashion) is amazing.
These are the party dresses legends are made of. This is the time to see the sumptuous fabrics, rich furs, and pretty accessories. Brace yourselves for the beading, the lace, and the chiffon perfection.
Here are some of my picks so far -
What constitutes as Haute Couture:
Not just anyone can present a line at the Haute Couture shows in Paris. The requirements are strict to ensure that the shows are truly the best of the best:
Why is it so expensive, you ask?
These are the party dresses legends are made of. This is the time to see the sumptuous fabrics, rich furs, and pretty accessories. Brace yourselves for the beading, the lace, and the chiffon perfection.
Here are some of my picks so far -
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| Armani Privé FW'13 Haute Couture |
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| Ulyana Sergeenko FW'13 Haute Couture |
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| Zuhair Murad FW'13 Haute Couture (in love with the feathers!!) |
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| Valentino FW'13 Haute Couture |
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| Elie Saab FW'13 Haute Couture |
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| Valentino FW'13 Haute Couture |
What constitutes as Haute Couture:
Not just anyone can present a line at the Haute Couture shows in Paris. The requirements are strict to ensure that the shows are truly the best of the best:
- A Fashion House must be a member of the Syndical Chamber for Haute Couture in Paris, which is regulated by the French Department of Industry.
- Design made-to-order for private clients, with one or more fittings.
- Have a workshop (atelier) in Paris that employs at least fifteen people full-time.
- Must have twenty full-time technical people in at least one atelier (workshop).
- Each season (i.e., twice a year), present a collection to the Paris press, comprising at least thirty-five separate outfits for both daytime wear and evening wear.
Why is it so expensive, you ask?
Made from scratch for
each customer, Haute Couture clothing typically requires three fittings. It
usually takes from 100 to 400 hours to make one dress, costing from $26,000 to over $100,000.
A tailored suit starts at $16,000, an evening gown at $60,000. (more info)
The man-hours, personal fittings, types of fabrics and trimmings, and the meticulous attention to detail, fit, and cut all contribute to the cost. Additionally, unlike mass-market products (from, say, Target, or even JCrew) the patterns, seams, colors, and lines must all match exactly in Couture clothing. There aren't any random pieces of pattern peaking out behind seams, and the buttons, zippers, and other details are all very, very detailed. This is truly an art form in the most specific sense of the word.
Everything, down to the smallest detail must be unique and exquisite.
x
RH
The man-hours, personal fittings, types of fabrics and trimmings, and the meticulous attention to detail, fit, and cut all contribute to the cost. Additionally, unlike mass-market products (from, say, Target, or even JCrew) the patterns, seams, colors, and lines must all match exactly in Couture clothing. There aren't any random pieces of pattern peaking out behind seams, and the buttons, zippers, and other details are all very, very detailed. This is truly an art form in the most specific sense of the word.
Everything, down to the smallest detail must be unique and exquisite.
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| Hand-painted hair at Alexis Mabille, Paris, FW'13 Haute Couture |
x
RH
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