POLLYTALK FROM NEW YORK
by Polly Guerin
Published: January 29, 2008
Aspects of Luxe---Haughty Ha Ha, Here's to Haute Couture!
Haute defined denotes the elevated upper crust of society, so it is no wonder that nowadays
there are haute people living in haute skyscrapers, walking haute dogs, housing haute cats, eating
haute cuisine and dining in tony haute restaurants and flying in haute airplanes. BUT, there is
nothing more sumptuous in this exalted state than the Haute Couture collections, which climaxed in
Paris with the final curtain call for designer, Valentino, who paraded exquisite sorbet colored suits
and his fabulous signature Red gowns on the Paris runway.
Fashionistas know that Haute Couture is a distinct fashion phenomenon and refers to made-to-
measure, one-of-a-kind fashions that are hand made with breathtaking craftsmanship and eye-
popping details and embroideries, often by the House of Lesage. Not for the general public, haute
couture is for the privileged, the filthy-rich ladies who lunch, would be and real princesses, movie
stars, starlets and assorted celebs. Some hail from new places like Russia, the Middle East and
Asia and of course there are the American regulars. These are the couture house's clients who
come to Paris in January to select their spring wardrobes and return again in August for the fall
showings.
The couture pack sits in the front rows on little gold seats with ruby red velvet cushions.
Their presence provides photo opportunities that create fashion news worldwide and publicity for
the designer. One of the freshest new faces, clients of the couture are that of Hind Hariri from
Lebanon, who is said to be world's youngest billionaire, and young gals in their 20s and 30s like
Eleana Likhach from Moscow and Yuki Tan, from Beijing.
Couture fashions garner incredible price tags, sometimes in the hundreds of thousands of
dollars for a ballgown. So why should we care about Haute Couture? If you're like me and want to
stretch your imagination, it's worth watching for the mere fantasy, the magic and wonder of it all.
The fashions and the runway shows are often like theatrical performances and transport us to a
world in which romantic novels are spun.
Now back to the runway: John Galliano the bad boy of Dior, sent out a mermaid bride, in a
sequined fishtail dress wearing a pair of gold shells on her breasts. Inspired by John Singer
Sargent's l9th century portrait of "Madame X," many of his other fashions were as wearable as they
were ingenious confections of poufs, lace, embroideries and brilliance. Model's eyes surrounded
by sequins and futuristic coifs added a madcap balance to the fashions.
Christian Lacroix never disappoints to keep us entertained.
His festive fluffy silhouettes and poufs hawked back to a circus mood
in silks, laces and embroidered gowns that even an Oscar winner would
dream of wearing.
At the Grand Palais the Chanel couture show featured a huge classic Chanel jacket with double
C buttons and braid trim in a sky-high, 66 feet drop dead backdrop, from which the models
emerged wearing clothes that had a youthful twist on a favorite theme.
Remember you read it here: Shirley Maclaine, that spiritual guru, reincarnated wearing a boucle
tweed suit and signature pearl ropes is channeling the fashion legend Coco Chanel in a two-part
series, that chronicles Chanel's life, scheduled to air in November. I'll
give you more details later……keep tuned to Pollytalk.
by Polly Guerin
Published: January 29, 2008
Aspects of Luxe---Haughty Ha Ha, Here's to Haute Couture!
Haute defined denotes the elevated upper crust of society, so it is no wonder that nowadays
there are haute people living in haute skyscrapers, walking haute dogs, housing haute cats, eating
haute cuisine and dining in tony haute restaurants and flying in haute airplanes. BUT, there is
nothing more sumptuous in this exalted state than the Haute Couture collections, which climaxed in
Paris with the final curtain call for designer, Valentino, who paraded exquisite sorbet colored suits
and his fabulous signature Red gowns on the Paris runway.
Fashionistas know that Haute Couture is a distinct fashion phenomenon and refers to made-to-
measure, one-of-a-kind fashions that are hand made with breathtaking craftsmanship and eye-
popping details and embroideries, often by the House of Lesage. Not for the general public, haute
couture is for the privileged, the filthy-rich ladies who lunch, would be and real princesses, movie
stars, starlets and assorted celebs. Some hail from new places like Russia, the Middle East and
Asia and of course there are the American regulars. These are the couture house's clients who
come to Paris in January to select their spring wardrobes and return again in August for the fall
showings.
The couture pack sits in the front rows on little gold seats with ruby red velvet cushions.
Their presence provides photo opportunities that create fashion news worldwide and publicity for
the designer. One of the freshest new faces, clients of the couture are that of Hind Hariri from
Lebanon, who is said to be world's youngest billionaire, and young gals in their 20s and 30s like
Eleana Likhach from Moscow and Yuki Tan, from Beijing.
Couture fashions garner incredible price tags, sometimes in the hundreds of thousands of
dollars for a ballgown. So why should we care about Haute Couture? If you're like me and want to
stretch your imagination, it's worth watching for the mere fantasy, the magic and wonder of it all.
The fashions and the runway shows are often like theatrical performances and transport us to a
world in which romantic novels are spun.
Now back to the runway: John Galliano the bad boy of Dior, sent out a mermaid bride, in a
sequined fishtail dress wearing a pair of gold shells on her breasts. Inspired by John Singer
Sargent's l9th century portrait of "Madame X," many of his other fashions were as wearable as they
were ingenious confections of poufs, lace, embroideries and brilliance. Model's eyes surrounded
by sequins and futuristic coifs added a madcap balance to the fashions.
Christian Lacroix never disappoints to keep us entertained.
His festive fluffy silhouettes and poufs hawked back to a circus mood
in silks, laces and embroidered gowns that even an Oscar winner would
dream of wearing.
At the Grand Palais the Chanel couture show featured a huge classic Chanel jacket with double
C buttons and braid trim in a sky-high, 66 feet drop dead backdrop, from which the models
emerged wearing clothes that had a youthful twist on a favorite theme.
Remember you read it here: Shirley Maclaine, that spiritual guru, reincarnated wearing a boucle
tweed suit and signature pearl ropes is channeling the fashion legend Coco Chanel in a two-part
series, that chronicles Chanel's life, scheduled to air in November. I'll
give you more details later……keep tuned to Pollytalk.
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