Haute Couture

John Galliano for Dior has inspired me in my project especially with his collection for Fall/Winter 2007-8. The shapes and the silhouettes are stunning and never been done before. The use of pastel colours and storng embellishments are beautiful. The collection was inspired by painters over 500 years and each dress tells a different story. It is also inspired by John galliano's Latin roots with the use of mantillas, black lace tiered skirts and matador shaped hats. The collection also consisted of rich silks, puffed tulles, scented flowers, enormous crystals and tiny corsets.

Haute Couture should be fun, foolish and almost unwearable-Christian Lacroix

“High Dressmaking”
Custom fitted clothing
First created in Paris, France.
Chambre Syndicate de la Haute
Sewn with extreme attention to detail
Time consuming hand executed techniques
Charles Frederick Worth- Father of Haute Couture, Paris, mid Nineteenth Century.Being the originator of Haute Couture in 1858 he founded the first true house of haute couture at 7, rue de la Paix, in Paris.In France Haute Couture is a well protected name that can only be used by firms that meet certain well defined standards
Made to order for private clients
200 members only
Collections are often not for sale or difficult to purchase
Often misused by ready to wear brands
All describes ‘High fashion custom fitted clothing’ made in all fashion capitals.
Haute Couture criteria was created in 1945 and updated in 1992
Members include Dior and Givenchy.There are only 10 houses of haute couture in France, designing to an elite customer base of around 3,000 people worldwide.
The Haute Couture designer who influences me the most is Alexander Mcqueen who i think is a 'Creative Genious'. His Collection 'The girl who lived in a tree' was what brought my attention to Mcqueen's work and he is my designer reference.