Couture S/S 07 Wrap Up

Couture season is the time of year when we put aside all our notions of clothing being functional and appreciate fashion purely as art. One may not have the inclination to wear an origami dress or the cash to pay 100K per gown but we can all appreciate the beauty and artistry that goes into creating one of these treasures. Here are a few of my favorites from the past week from the three shows I liked best. Each piece is as glamorous and magical as it should be.

1. Givenchy
I find Riccardo Tisci's vision for Givenchy to be more Cristobal Balenciaga than Hubert de Givenchy but the fact that I can't imagine Audrey Hepburn in any of these dresses is not a detriment. On the contrary I love almost everything Tisci puts on the runway because it isn't tied to nostalgia, his clothes are modern in a way that is edgy and exciting. I almost feel as though Tisci is bringing a little bit of the goth-romanticism Oliver Theyskens used to do over at Rochas but with a heightened sense of drama. Look at the acid yellows he's using. Were seeing a lot of yellow lately but usually its more subdued, these dresses just scream "notice me" but without being vulgar. There is something very other-wordly about his use of print as well. This singular abstract print (its quite aquatic, no the theme was the journey from "sailors to mermaids") adorned suits and dresses, its one of those great puzzle pieces, it makes you look closer to try and discover its secrets. I love the white to black cape as well, I do believe its the single most vampiric piece of the entire year. Quite a feat.



2. Dior
John Galliano's imagination never fails to amaze me. Every season its something wildly innovative, from the styling to the music, to the makeup a Dior show never disappoints. Who doesn't look forward to their couture offerings each year?! This S/S was no exception, the theme being M. Butterfly. Now Galliano & Co are too inventive to merely do geisha redux so instead they chose to focus on origami inspired pieces with hints of good ol' fashioned British frou frou. I loved every minute of it. The detail on these dresses is amazing. I hope and I pray that someone ::cough:: Jennifer Hudson, Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett :: cough:: dares to wear one of these stunning creations to the Oscars. My absolute favorite of the entire collection is the red and black tiered number, its equal parts Scarlett O'Hara and Cio-Cio San.




3. Armani
I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed this Armani collection. I have always considered Armani to be more along the lines of my mothers taste than my own. The clothes are always lovely but they always seem to look better on older women. I lack the sophistication and elegance to pull off those delicate dresses and perfectly cut pantsuits. Unlike De La Renta or Chanel, both of which are sufficiently girlish enough for me to see myself in, Armani has remained elusive and aloof. This collection however seems perfect for anyone. The theme, Marakeesh meets Milan has an almost transformative effect, it makes you look refined and worldy in spite of everything else. Look how cosmopolitan the normally cute n'scruffy (I'm lookin' at you Morgane) models seem in these gowns. They're like princesses. I love how the intricate beading on the gowns calls to mind saris without ever copying them. What a beautiful tribute.



What were your favorite couture moments last week?