There's this misconception or you may say cliché that people get out of the movies: blond women acting dumb in their pink BMWs driving towards Rodeo Drive with a stack of bags from Chanel, Gucci and Saks 5th Ave. Usually these women are shopaholics. It's always women. And you can get what I'm saying by imagining Paris Hilton.
Fashion is not taken very seriously by people who are not exactly into it and say the don't buy anything from big stores (not even The Gap), only thrift shops and markets because they simply "don't believe in fashion".
People think about fashion and they immediately think about ridiculous garments, extremely skinny models and the "dumb people" behind it.
Sometimes it gets under my skin when people swear The Fashion Industry is made of bullish*t and it has no impact in the world. Fashion is not taken as seriously as the culinary arts with their gourmet chefs or painters, sculptures, and so on. They just relate it with pure vanity. As a matter of fact, fashion does have a say in the world.
I'm going to extract a quote from The Devil Wears Prada movie (very known movie about the fashion industry). Click here for the video.
Hence it's a movie, I found it hard to find a good quality video on youtube so I say sorry in advantage.
And here's the transcript.
Miranda Priestly: 'This... stuff'? Oh. Okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select... I don't know... that lumpy blue sweater, for instance because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise. It's not lapis. It's actually cerulean. And you're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent… (…) And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. And then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff.
I'm pretty sure that sums my whole point. I'm going to stop rambling and carry on with the main purpose of this post.
Long-story-cut-short "Haute Couture" means "High Dressmaking" or "High Sewing". What does that supposed to mean? you may ask. Well my dear beloved, it means all the pieces you see in Haute Couture shows (which is often abbreviated by only Couture Shows) are made by hand by the best qualified people.
Let's see what Wikipedia has to say:
Apparently it's a thing of Martin's to not show faces, in fact no one has photographed him in years and he's never at the closure of his shows.
Miranda Priestly: 'This... stuff'? Oh. Okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select... I don't know... that lumpy blue sweater, for instance because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise. It's not lapis. It's actually cerulean. And you're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent… (…) And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. And then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff.
I'm pretty sure that sums my whole point. I'm going to stop rambling and carry on with the main purpose of this post.
When fashion meets art
"Haute Couture" those french words always get me, I feel I sound very interesting and glamorous. (This feeling also happens when I pronounce designer names such as Yves Saint Laurent, Balmain, Lanvin in the right french pronunciation). Total geek comment.Long-story-cut-short "Haute Couture" means "High Dressmaking" or "High Sewing". What does that supposed to mean? you may ask. Well my dear beloved, it means all the pieces you see in Haute Couture shows (which is often abbreviated by only Couture Shows) are made by hand by the best qualified people.
Let's see what Wikipedia has to say:
"Haute couture is fashion that is constructed by hand (without the use of sewing machines and sergers/overlockers) from start to finish, made from high quality, expensive, often unusual fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable seamstresses, often using time-consuming, hand-executed techniques…"
And
"...A haute couture garment is often made for a client, tailored specifically for the wearer’s measurements and body stance. Considering the amount of time, money, and skill that is allotted to each completed piece, haute couture garments are also described as having no price tag - in other words, budget is not relevant. Each couture piece is not made to sell. Rather, they were designed and constructed for the runway, much like an art exhibition."
Hope I made it clear. Thanks Wikipedia for explaining everything to us!
What is couture to me? Couture is when Fashion meets Art. When art becomes wearable, and palpable and it basically walks. Sometimes you get lost in the fact that is another fashion show, but the simple reminder that these garments are sawn by hand and are meticulously thought about for months, with exclusive fabrics and exquisite details it's just too much for the human eye to conceive.
With no further more explanations, I'm about to show you my favorite pieces from the Couture Fall 2014 Paris Fashion Week shows.
FUN FACT: "Legally, a design house can only identify itself as an Haute Couture label if it adheres to the strict requirements of the French Ministry of Industry and the Fédération Française de la Couture. First, a designer must create made-to-measure clothing for private clients and offer personal fittings. They must also have a full-time workshop in Paris that employs no fewer than twenty staff. Finally, the fashion house must present two collections a year - in January and July - comprising both daytime and formal evening wear." To know more about Haute Couture's history, click here.
FALL COUTURE 2014
CHANEL
Coco Chanel was a rule breaking woman in terms of styling and fashion at her time. She's very known for saying she wanted to create classics not innovations, to perpetuate her creations.
When you think Chanel you immediately think of the sleek black and white logo. You think luxury. You think elegance. You think classics.
Everyone dies to get their hands on something Chanel, and if they say they aren't that interested they're lying. We all want Chanel even if it's a fragrance.
Chanel has set the bar. Coco must be proud.
When you think Chanel you immediately think of the sleek black and white logo. You think luxury. You think elegance. You think classics.
Everyone dies to get their hands on something Chanel, and if they say they aren't that interested they're lying. We all want Chanel even if it's a fragrance.
Chanel has set the bar. Coco must be proud.
When Karl Lagerfeld arrived to Chanel he set new rules for the firm. Karl kept Coco's classics, but at the same time made ground breaking garments Coco Chanel wouldn't even like, Karl said it once:
"What I've done, Coco Chanel would never have done. She would have hated it."
Being Karl a creative genius he is, let's see what's there for Chanel's Fall 2014 Couture show…
  |
| P.S. She's in fact pregnant. |
 |
| Karl Lagerfeld |
The amount of detail on terms of embroidery gives me the chills. It's so beautifully made and so fascinating to look at. [Check this video out, the making of the collection].
These is what I like about Karl, he just doesn't settle. There's always a certain factor, even if you don't like the garment, there's effort/thought/details put in to it that you take a second look, you think "I wouldn't were it, but d*mn it's so good". Even if it's "ugly", you still want to look at it and that's says a lot.
GIAMBATTISTA VALI
Instantly reminds me of flowers, the prettiest of them. And I personally have a weak spot for flowers, always find myself scrawling them on random papers. He defines beauty simply by nature.
This collection is no different, flowers everywhere and it might be fall but to me it has Summer/Resort vibes to it. Could easily imagine some garments on a cruise to Saint Tropez. The color palette used here is so refreshing and bright to the eyes, and it's something you can't stop looking at.
Definitely one of my favorite couture shows, ever.
 |
| The Genius behind it all: Giambattista |
VALENTINO
Maison Valentino is known for it's signature RED and gowns. The actual Valentino Garavani had his last show on 2008 and now Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli being the new creative directors, to my concern, have done an excellent job and keep steeling my heart with every collection. They have manage to modern the Maison and create another statement for Valentino: Studs. I wish I was friends with them, jokes aside, they're very cool people just watch the men's collection if you don't believe me.
This collection was borrowed from the goddesses in Mt. Olympus. I have nothing more to say.
 |
| Coolest People In The World: Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli |
MARTIN MARGIELA
"What's that jacket, Margiela?" - Kanye West
As Tom Ford is to Jay Z, Margiela is to Kanye and we can't help but think of him immediately and he probably was the one who introduced you to the Maison. that's how I was. Maison Margiela is very known for the masks the models wear on the runways or the ones Yeeze wears at concerts.
Apparently it's a thing of Martin's to not show faces, in fact no one has photographed him in years and he's never at the closure of his shows.
Martin Margiela first worked as an assistant to Jean Paul Gaultier, later on worked on Hermés as the creative director and his successor when he retired from the firm was [ironically] Jean Paul Gaultier.
In 2006 was his first couture show.
Martin Margiela whereabouts remains a mystery. I found one photograph of him online and I'm still doubting if it's him and when I googled "Creative Director of Maison Martin Margiela" nothing appeared. Here's why:
- "In October 2009 it was announced that Margiela had resigned from his position as creative director at the Maison, although insiders suggested that he had been 'absent' for a while. Rumours circulated that he had disagreed with the commercial drive of the new Diesel ownership and felt that the Maison was sacrificing its authenticity and exclusivity in favour of becoming a globally recognised brand." [www.vogue.co.uk]
 |
| Martin Margiela (apparently) |
ELIE SAAB
This man needs no introduction. His work speaks for him.
 |
| Elie Saab |
I hope my message was clear.
Clearly fashion goes beyond "a bunch of stuff". It's the most universal, affordable & versatile form of art and it represents every cultural change the world's going through at the moment.
There's this misconception or you may say cliché that people get out of the movies: blond women acting dumb in their pink BMWs driving towards Rodeo Drive with a stack of bags from Chanel, Gucci and Saks 5th Ave. Usually these women are shopaholics. It's always women. And you can get what I'm saying by imagining Paris Hilton.
Fashion is not taken very seriously by people who are not exactly into it and say the don't buy anything from big stores (not even The Gap), only thrift shops and markets because they simply "don't believe in fashion".
People think about fashion and they immediately think about ridiculous garments, extremely skinny models and the "dumb people" behind it.
Sometimes it gets under my skin when people swear The Fashion Industry is made of bullish*t and it has no impact in the world. Fashion is not taken as seriously as the culinary arts with their gourmet chefs or painters, sculptures, and so on. They just relate it with pure vanity. As a matter of fact, fashion does have a say in the world.
I'm going to extract a quote from The Devil Wears Prada movie (very known movie about the fashion industry). Click here for the video.
Hence it's a movie, I found it hard to find a good quality video on youtube so I say sorry in advantage.
And here's the transcript.
Miranda Priestly: 'This... stuff'? Oh. Okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select... I don't know... that lumpy blue sweater, for instance because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise. It's not lapis. It's actually cerulean. And you're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent… (…) And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. And then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff.
I'm pretty sure that sums my whole point. I'm going to stop rambling and carry on with the main purpose of this post.
Long-story-cut-short "Haute Couture" means "High Dressmaking" or "High Sewing". What does that supposed to mean? you may ask. Well my dear beloved, it means all the pieces you see in Haute Couture shows (which is often abbreviated by only Couture Shows) are made by hand by the best qualified people.
Let's see what Wikipedia has to say:
Apparently it's a thing of Martin's to not show faces, in fact no one has photographed him in years and he's never at the closure of his shows.
Miranda Priestly: 'This... stuff'? Oh. Okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select... I don't know... that lumpy blue sweater, for instance because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise. It's not lapis. It's actually cerulean. And you're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent… (…) And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. And then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff.
I'm pretty sure that sums my whole point. I'm going to stop rambling and carry on with the main purpose of this post.
When fashion meets art
"Haute Couture" those french words always get me, I feel I sound very interesting and glamorous. (This feeling also happens when I pronounce designer names such as Yves Saint Laurent, Balmain, Lanvin in the right french pronunciation). Total geek comment.Long-story-cut-short "Haute Couture" means "High Dressmaking" or "High Sewing". What does that supposed to mean? you may ask. Well my dear beloved, it means all the pieces you see in Haute Couture shows (which is often abbreviated by only Couture Shows) are made by hand by the best qualified people.
Let's see what Wikipedia has to say:
"Haute couture is fashion that is constructed by hand (without the use of sewing machines and sergers/overlockers) from start to finish, made from high quality, expensive, often unusual fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable seamstresses, often using time-consuming, hand-executed techniques…"
And
"...A haute couture garment is often made for a client, tailored specifically for the wearer’s measurements and body stance. Considering the amount of time, money, and skill that is allotted to each completed piece, haute couture garments are also described as having no price tag - in other words, budget is not relevant. Each couture piece is not made to sell. Rather, they were designed and constructed for the runway, much like an art exhibition."
Hope I made it clear. Thanks Wikipedia for explaining everything to us!
What is couture to me? Couture is when Fashion meets Art. When art becomes wearable, and palpable and it basically walks. Sometimes you get lost in the fact that is another fashion show, but the simple reminder that these garments are sawn by hand and are meticulously thought about for months, with exclusive fabrics and exquisite details it's just too much for the human eye to conceive.
With no further more explanations, I'm about to show you my favorite pieces from the Couture Fall 2014 Paris Fashion Week shows.
FUN FACT: "Legally, a design house can only identify itself as an Haute Couture label if it adheres to the strict requirements of the French Ministry of Industry and the Fédération Française de la Couture. First, a designer must create made-to-measure clothing for private clients and offer personal fittings. They must also have a full-time workshop in Paris that employs no fewer than twenty staff. Finally, the fashion house must present two collections a year - in January and July - comprising both daytime and formal evening wear." To know more about Haute Couture's history, click here.
FALL COUTURE 2014
CHANEL
Coco Chanel was a rule breaking woman in terms of styling and fashion at her time. She's very known for saying she wanted to create classics not innovations, to perpetuate her creations.
When you think Chanel you immediately think of the sleek black and white logo. You think luxury. You think elegance. You think classics.
Everyone dies to get their hands on something Chanel, and if they say they aren't that interested they're lying. We all want Chanel even if it's a fragrance.
Chanel has set the bar. Coco must be proud.
When you think Chanel you immediately think of the sleek black and white logo. You think luxury. You think elegance. You think classics.
Everyone dies to get their hands on something Chanel, and if they say they aren't that interested they're lying. We all want Chanel even if it's a fragrance.
Chanel has set the bar. Coco must be proud.
When Karl Lagerfeld arrived to Chanel he set new rules for the firm. Karl kept Coco's classics, but at the same time made ground breaking garments Coco Chanel wouldn't even like, Karl said it once:
"What I've done, Coco Chanel would never have done. She would have hated it."
Being Karl a creative genius he is, let's see what's there for Chanel's Fall 2014 Couture show…
|
| P.S. She's in fact pregnant. |
|
| Karl Lagerfeld |
The amount of detail on terms of embroidery gives me the chills. It's so beautifully made and so fascinating to look at. [Check this video out, the making of the collection].
These is what I like about Karl, he just doesn't settle. There's always a certain factor, even if you don't like the garment, there's effort/thought/details put in to it that you take a second look, you think "I wouldn't were it, but d*mn it's so good". Even if it's "ugly", you still want to look at it and that's says a lot.
GIAMBATTISTA VALI
Instantly reminds me of flowers, the prettiest of them. And I personally have a weak spot for flowers, always find myself scrawling them on random papers. He defines beauty simply by nature.
This collection is no different, flowers everywhere and it might be fall but to me it has Summer/Resort vibes to it. Could easily imagine some garments on a cruise to Saint Tropez. The color palette used here is so refreshing and bright to the eyes, and it's something you can't stop looking at.
Definitely one of my favorite couture shows, ever.
|
| The Genius behind it all: Giambattista |
VALENTINO
Maison Valentino is known for it's signature RED and gowns. The actual Valentino Garavani had his last show on 2008 and now Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli being the new creative directors, to my concern, have done an excellent job and keep steeling my heart with every collection. They have manage to modern the Maison and create another statement for Valentino: Studs. I wish I was friends with them, jokes aside, they're very cool people just watch the men's collection if you don't believe me.
This collection was borrowed from the goddesses in Mt. Olympus. I have nothing more to say.
|
| Coolest People In The World: Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli |
MARTIN MARGIELA
"What's that jacket, Margiela?" - Kanye West
As Tom Ford is to Jay Z, Margiela is to Kanye and we can't help but think of him immediately and he probably was the one who introduced you to the Maison. that's how I was. Maison Margiela is very known for the masks the models wear on the runways or the ones Yeeze wears at concerts.
Apparently it's a thing of Martin's to not show faces, in fact no one has photographed him in years and he's never at the closure of his shows.
Martin Margiela first worked as an assistant to Jean Paul Gaultier, later on worked on Hermés as the creative director and his successor when he retired from the firm was [ironically] Jean Paul Gaultier.
In 2006 was his first couture show.
Martin Margiela whereabouts remains a mystery. I found one photograph of him online and I'm still doubting if it's him and when I googled "Creative Director of Maison Martin Margiela" nothing appeared. Here's why:
- "In October 2009 it was announced that Margiela had resigned from his position as creative director at the Maison, although insiders suggested that he had been 'absent' for a while. Rumours circulated that he had disagreed with the commercial drive of the new Diesel ownership and felt that the Maison was sacrificing its authenticity and exclusivity in favour of becoming a globally recognised brand." [www.vogue.co.uk]
|
| Martin Margiela (apparently) |
ELIE SAAB
This man needs no introduction. His work speaks for him.
|
| Elie Saab |
I hope my message was clear.
Clearly fashion goes beyond "a bunch of stuff". It's the most universal, affordable & versatile form of art and it represents every cultural change the world's going through at the moment.
