I am starting to run out of adjectives to describe how passionate I am about the works of art produced by the house of Alexander McQueen. I could easily see McQueen himself producing this same collection. His successor, Sarah Burton did an amazing job!
Held in La Conciergerie, the prison of queen Marie Antoinette, the collection encapsulated both her story as well as that of Lee's. Dark eras, exhibited in the structured bondage leather tops and zippers and well as soft elegance, encompassed by the gorgeous white tulle with its hypnotic movement and fur. The heritage skirts and dresses also brought back nostalgic memories of Lee; a silhouette which if not already, will soon be a signature style for the house.
I have posted a few pictures from style.com below as well as the full video of the show. Enjoy!
John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” And so did I as I watched the Dior Spring/Summer 2011 haute couture show.
Sometimes I forget what possesses me to want to work and devote so much of my time to this vicious, cut throat industry. But after watching this show I was reminded. Reminded that fashion is not just about the construction of a garment for the sake of not being nude. Reminded that fashion is a way of escaping the trials and tribulations of life. Reminded that if created with the correct vision in mind, it can transcend you into a world where your wildest, most luxurious fantasies can be realized. Reminded that I am a glutton for beauty.
Skeptics often identify fashion lovers as being ludicrous people that squander money on material things. But why do they not call art buyers the same? Why is purchasing a US$2,000,000 painting by Vincent Van Gogh considered more practical than buying a US$40,000 handcraft and personally modified ball gown by Cristóbal Balenciaga Eizaguirre? Are they both not art?
The term “Haute Couture” is a phrase that can only legally be used by a handful of fashion houses in France. The house of Christian Dior continues to show us why they are among those. In addition to the dazzling embroidery, ostrich feathers were used to give the illusion of ink stained dresses and thousands of sequins for what at first glance would appear to be pencil lines. Many of the gowns were also adorned in the finest white marabou to top off the look of extravagant elegance.
Whenever the dark cloud of depression beings to intoxicate my brain with the thoughts that couture is a dying art form, I can always count on Galliano to reinvigorate my fashion spirit and evaporate my craving until the next season.
Here's a video of the Jean Paul Gaultier fall/winter 2010/11 haute couture show in Paris. Gaultier, being French himself was able to bring pure, old Parisian glamor to his latest collection. And to close out such a glamorous show? None other than the living definition of glamor; burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese who was there to promote JPG's lingerie line for La Perla.
According to Tim Blanks, “in obsession is born the cult of couture.” This could be no more visible than in the Givenchy Fall/Winter 2010/11 haute couture fashion show in Paris this week. The inspiration for this unfathomably detailed collection came from painter Frida Kahlo, who famously obsessed between religion, sensuality, pain and the human anatomy.
Patchworked leather, Chantilly lace, ostrich feathers and baboon fur are just a few of the luxurious elements used to create this collection of wearable art. These are in addition of course to the Swarovski crystals, gold pailletes and precious stones that were used to construct some of the pieces which took over 1,600 hours to create.
