Last week saw fashion week in Paris, where haute couture designers were able to showcase their season of custom looks.
Every year, a group of designers showcase their custom couture looks for the season, showing the world what new trends are coming their way. While many designers participate in fashion week prêt-à-porter, haute couture proposes a different group of designers.
Haute couture is recognized as handmade garments that people have made to order. Unlike prêt-à-porter, haute couture is made to measure. While haute couture used to be the way many wealthy citizens received their garments, the creation of ready-to-wear has left a small group of around 500 haute couture customers around the world.
Garments at these shows can range from $10,000 for items like scarves and small items, to more than $500,000 for custom dresses. Unlike ready-to-wear, haute couture showcases pieces much closer to the season, while ready-to-wear showcases collections six months in advance.
Designers like Valentino and Versace showcased collections ranging from evening gowns to more experimental looks. Taking place in the heart of Rome, Valentino’s collection consisted of bright colours, while still incorporating the classic feathered headpieces and heel accentuators.
Although most designers have customers for the look, money is actually lost for these brands. As the number of couture clients has decreased in recent years, brands have turned to using celebrities and influencers to wear these looks on red carpets and award shows.
This change has resulted in a loss of money for these pieces, although designers considered part of the haute couture scene use these shows to set new trends and recognize the prestige of the brand.
Haute couture has been around for years and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Although the concept of haute couture has changed lately, the recognition of new silhouettes, experimental patterns and colors breathes new life into the future of design and haute couture.
Source: www.ocolly.com