Couture Goes Common

There has been much a-buzz about Lacroix’s last rites in the couture court, and sadly about the demise of his fashion empire. However, Lacroix still managed to put together a lovely collection with found bolts of fabric in his atelier and with a staff of 120+ reduced to about a dozen artisans, who worked gratis.

What was the excuse at the other Houses for making couture so…common?

First, there was the economizing of fabric.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you remember that Zellers holiday commercial where the woman prepares everything for her guests but forgets to put on a skirt? Dior will make you a skirt if you really want one, but they showed most outfits at 50% off.

Fabrics weren’t the only thing being trimmed. Apparently, styling budgets were as well. What, they had no sandal-toe hosiery left in Paris, Karl? And you really expect me to run out and buy million dollar couture lace hose if you can’t even stop them from running on your runway?

Then there was the just plain bland – not an adjective commonly associated with couture. Grey streaks may have worked for Mark Rothko’s canvases, but they don’t flatter a woman’s body, especially over red sequins. And the jewellery at Armani Privé? I feel like I could pop in to Aldo Accessories of any generic mall today and find it.

 

These collections weren’t entirely awful, but the above really made me question couture as an art form.  Better to do fewer pieces and put your all into them, like Monsieur Lacroix. It’s couture – not K-mart!

[Full coverage of Lacroix couture in an upcoming post, along with the positive side of the above collections.]

All photos courtesy of Style.com.