Christian Lacroix Couture Autumn/Winter 2007

Couture sits at the top of the fashion pyramid. Everything else comes bellow it and (in any couturier’s house at least) is influenced by it; whether it is prêt-a-porter or perfume. Alas the world of couture is no longer like it used to be; the buyers are a dieing breed (considering a Chanel couture suit costs in the tens of thousands of dollars) and Celebrities (or people that celebrate themselves) continue to wear it to red carpet events ONLY. The actual non-celebrity couture customer belongs to a small club of a couple hundred women. Here at the Feigned Perfection office we have a favourite couturier, Monsieur Lacroix. Chanel is great for the women of the couture club who wear it 24 hours a day 7 days a week as it is the most wearable form, Christian Dior on the other hand can only be worn on special occasions due to the fact that the collections almost always consist of nothing but intricately detailed gowns perfect only for the red carpet and other gala events. So today couture despite its grandeur and glitz is almost redundant, at least that is how it may seem economically. On the other hand each and every season designs continue to have the fashion world fainting. Couture may have always been an art-form, although now this is how 99.999% of the world sees it. Where does Feigned Perfection’s couturier of choice come? Well we’re going to show you.

Lacroix is always poetic and creative citing references from every time period but also any artist that pleases him (thanks in particular to the designers training in history of art at Montpellier University). This collection floated down the catwalk like a collection of beautiful tapestries, brought together to create stunning coats and dresses.

Admire the detailing of the second look

And here is the dress from afar. Colours, textures and materials, that on paper should not work together end up making a truly fantastic piece of couture. Through this fusion, the dress becomes more then just a dress but a statement (not like an obvious not to mention cliché and unoriginal “save the rave” t-shirt), if colours and textures like these manage to mix so effortlessly and into such a stunning piece then why can’t the rest of the world?

Lily Cole wore this dazzling green on black coat, which looks like a wall hanging in a 17^th century East Indies merchant’s townhouse. The swathes of green birds have imprinted themselves upon the black coat just as any memories of the tropics would have upon the merchant that bought the hanging.

This dress continues the tropical motif with the orchid detailing. The black piece of fabric almost looks like a parrot from the previous coat, has flown out of it, and perched upon this dress.

During the renaissance the most expensive form of artwork was tapestry due to its incredibly difficult workmanship it seems only fitting that the same kind of detail be found in couture, further blurring the line between art and apparel.

Underneath these unbelievable coats were stunningly created dresses like this nude sequined flapperesque look. Over at Dior dresses were created without any hand break, sequins and details galore were the name of the game. Unlike Galliano, Lacroix has that mental hand break and knows when and where to stop creating the same majestic effect whilst still remaining much more understated.

This frock had just enough working to look understated and not overblown whilst the architecture really made it stand out. Lets hope to see this at the Oscars next year.

The look below shows how Lacroix is also able to create the much more wearable separates, whilst still in keeping with his artistic signature.

Lacroix’s collection had a lot of volume as seen in almost all the looks but in particular the dress below. Except Lacroix’ volume is very top-heavy through the fur on the shoulders. The look below in addition showcases the jewel colours of the collection, unlike last season’s jewel colours at the Dior show, the colours have been amalgamated rather then seperated in a harmonised way without encroaching on another colour.

This was one of the most memorable dresses. Again three very different colours were used, and again in harmony. However this time the flowing, ethereal quality to the main dress look like billowing clouds of ink in water. Lacroix in the past has always liked bringing period dressing into his collections and whilst the high-waisted trend has been around for awhile, this looks unlike anything before it, the only modern detailing being the purple fur.

Once more another Victorian look came out onto the runway, looking incredibly romantic and right out of Jane Austin (thanks in part to the billowing cloak).

Well what can be said to finish off this post, nothing, instead we’ll let the clothes speak for themselves. Although, we’re sure that you’ll agree, they don’t speak, but sing.

Despite the slightly anti-Dior ring to this post the latest couture collection was astounding and if you haven’t seen it already, well your mad, but that’s the next post. Till next time.