Archive for the ‘Haute Couture’ Category
Valentino Haute Couture Spring Summer 2010
January 27th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
The Valentino brand has been in turmoil ever since Valentino retired. This collection certainly confirms this, it looks like mix between Lindsay Lohan for Ungaro and nu-rave. Terrible.
I Adore…
this dress, the beading pattern is very beautiful. But where is the lining? The thong udnerneath looks terrible!
Valentino red dresses, this one with ruffles and very shiny. But couldn't it have been ready-to-wear?
I Loathe…
this dress, which is too transparent, too short, and too tight.
that this dress looks like the cheap crap House of Holland produces, rather than Valentino Haute Couture.
this is just terrible. And the makeup doesn't help either.
everything about this look, it is extremely tacky. And can someone please feed the model?
All images from Style.com.
Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring Summer 2010
January 27th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Elie Saab is the go-to for super traditional couture, with lots of chiffon, lace, beading, and red carpet-ness galore. Its the sort of thing footballer’s wives wear to their wedding, when they want to be tradiitonal and flash. I think it is boring, especially this collection.
I Adore…
this little dress. If you are going to do heavily embellished lace, then do it flirty and shirt.
the drapes of tulle and bit of gold on this dress.
I Loathe…
the model's pose, the print, the fact that its strapless, and has a full skirt. This is super-boring couture.
more over-the-top couture, with a corseted bodice, and lots of embellished lace.
more strapless, more full-length, this time draped with a decorative flower. Oh yeah, and a really high slit.
the fact that they didn't even bother to make a lining slip to wear under this dress. The model's thong is not Haute Couture.
a very boring wedding dress.
All images from Style.com.
Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Spring Summer 2010
January 27th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Jean Paul Gaultier had some sort of Mexican theme going on in his couture colection. I’m sorry to say I don’t think it really worked. I love JPG’s work, and he is an incredibly talented designer, but sometimes he overdoes a theme.
I Adore…
this jacket, it is Jean Paul Gaultier signature style a la Haute Couture. And the boots are amazing.
the weave handwork on this dress.
the couture body jewelry. Incredible.
this...swimsuit? Brazil carnival outfit? I don't know what it is, but it looks amazing. So does the hair.
I Loathe…
Haute Couture denim. I'll pay $300 dollars for a pair of jeans, but not $5000.
this suit, which doesn't seem to fit properly, isn't flattering, and certainly doesn't look Haute enough.
this dress, which looks like something you would buy from a street vendor on a Greek Island.
All images from Style.com.
Givenchy Haute Couture Spring Summer 2010
January 27th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
This season’s Givenchy Haute Couture collection looks weak. There are too many reference points, the themes seem confused, the clothing lacks beauty, and the model casting was terrible. Quite disappointing. For me, Ricardo Tisci is a pret-a-porter designer, not Haute Couture.
I Adore…
this dress (or is it a top and skirt?) The shape of the ruffles frame the body and the contrast of soft ruffles, strong lines, and floating feathers is pleasing to the eye.
this ruffled dress. It looks very "Lanvin", but stunning nonetheless.
I Loathe…
the white gloves, the shape of the trousers, and the feathers protruding from the stomach.
satin shorts with knee high boots and a giant feather top. This works for Sonia Rykiel, not for Givenchy.
the look fo this dress, its seventies hippy but none of the rest of the collection is.
this horrible disco outfit.
more scary disco outfits, this time with a fluffy collar.
the ballgown gone wrong. The bustier is too low, the skirt shape is just weird, and why is there a slit when the skirt is so voluminous?
All images from Style.com.
Chanel Haute Couture Spring Summer 2010
January 26th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Normally I’d say that mixing too many references in a show can end up disastrous, but Karl Lagerfeld has the golden touch, and even though I saw bits of space age, futurism, 60s, 70s, 80s, Halston, and Yves Saint Laurent in the Chanel Haute Couture collection, it all worked beautifully. I had to include some detail shots, as that is also a big part of the Chanel shows.
I Adore…
the styling and accessories in this show. The hair, gloves, tights, and shoes make the Chanel suits look young and cool.
the 60s shift dresses with very slim sleeves.
the jacket and its metallic accessories.
the detailing on this dress, even thought its not the most slimming of shapes.
the Halston-y drapes over heavily beaded couture.
this light, floating tiered dress.
the angular shape of this dress and the intricate fabric manipulation.
more 70s drapes combined with Haute Couture detailing.
beading on the inside of the collar. Only Haute Couture does that.
pearls on the platform sole of the shoe.
the metallic driving glove and the fact that we all know to run out and buy silver nail polish, as Chanel always dictates the nail polish colour trends.
I Loathe…
the shorts suits. There were quite few of them, and I don't like the shape, too short for a culotte and too flared for a bermuda.
All images from Style.com.
Armani Prive Spring Summer 2010
January 25th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Armani Prive is one of the big names on the red carpets, his Haute Couture collection has a lot of loyal fans and they tend to be true A-Listers. But this collection is not just about great cocktail and red carpet dresses, there are some fantastic evening suits that are perfectly tailored and look damn stunning.
I Adore…
this suit, which is perfect Haute Couture. The curve of the wrap skirt, the round sleeve head, and the precise, smooth fit.
another stunning suit, with an elegant neckline and a beautiful clasp detail.
when God is in the details. The slit sleeve, the protruding trouser pocket...perfection.
a great cocktail dress with striking ruffles.
the shiniest dress on the catwalk. Can't wait to see this on the red carpet.
I Loathe…
the fabric on this suit, its close to looking a bit cheap.
the organza bubble around this dress.
All images from Style.com.
Anne Valerie Hash Haute Couture Spring Summer 2010
January 25th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Anne Valerie Hash is also fairly new to the Haute Couture scene, which is generally populated by old school masters like Christian Dior and Chanel. Haute Couture collections are usually done to maintain the prestige of the brand, as they don’t tend to generate much money. I presume that this is why Anne does these collections as well, it is great for her profile. Her collections are nice, but I don’t feel they are Haute Couture, and they don’t merit the pricing we associate with this extreme luxury market.
I Adore…
this jacket, the sleeve detailing is fantastic, and the inserts are stunning.
the shape of this dress and the curve of the jacket sleevehead.
I Loathe…
this suit, it is a great design, but not worthy of the Haute Couture catwalks.
the beading and the fabric of this dress, which look a bit cheap.
All images from Style.com.
Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring Summer 2010
January 25th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Everyone loves Haute Couture, its the ultimate in luxury fashion. Imagine having Karl Lagerfeld make a Chanel dress just for you? Its hard to imagine, but if you have the money, probably about $100,000, you can have it. I always dreamt of getting married in Haute Couture, who doesn’t, preferably Valentino, but for obvious reasons I had to settle for Valentino ready-to-wear. Anyway, its couture week in Paris, and who better to start off with than Christian Dior. The first couture show I ever saw was an Ungaro show, but later that day I also saw a Dior couture show. Dior puts on a real show, and the one I saw was the famous tramp collection that caused a lot of controversy, and only sold two pieces. But Galliano has grown up a lot since then, and in recent years his Dior couture collections have been magnificent. A good friend of mine works on the design team there, and although I have never been one to design fancy evening wear, I do envy that she gets to work with these beautiful fabrics and the incredible talents of the Dior Haute Couture atelier.
I Adore…
the sharp draping on this dress.
the perfect couture day suit, with beautiful drapes, floating fabrics, and intricate beading.
the beautiful olive satin and the statement drape falling down the front of this dress.
that this dress is so "couture" and there is so little of this nowadays.
that no factory in China will ever be able to copy this.
I Loathe…
that Galliano took the riding theme a bit too far in this collection.
the proportions on this outfit, which are not very flattering.
All images from Style.com.
Alexis Mabille Haute Couture Spring Summer 2010
January 25th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Its rare that you get a newcomer to the world of Haute Couture, and since Alexis Mabille has only been showing for a few seasons, he is definitely a bit of a novelty. I wonder if he makes any money? It is so costly to produce an Haute Couture collection. I hope he does, his collections are quite nice.
I Adore…
this simple but effective dress.
a well-cut coat with great colour blocking.
the dramatic drape on the front of this top.
the shape of this voluminous coat and the beautiful blanket-style satin trim.
the contrast of the floating sleeves and the heavily beaded sheath dress.
I Loathe…
the colour blocking, which doesn't work as well in this outfit.
this dress, which is borderline glamour and tacky, I say its more tacky.
All images from Style.com.
