Friday, January 30, 2009

Definitive Fashion: Spring '09 Haute Couture

haute couture - French : haute, feminine of haut, high, elegant + couture, sewing.


Christian Dior


Christian Lacroix

From Wikipedia: In France, the term haute couture is protected by law and is defined by the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris based in Paris, France. Their rules state that only "those companies mentioned on the list drawn up each year by a commission domiciled at the Ministry for Industry are entitled to avail themselves" of the label haute couture. The criteria for haute couture were established in 1945 and updated in 1992.

To earn the right to call itself a couture house and to use the term haute couture in its advertising and any other way, members of the Chambre syndicale de la haute couture must follow these rules:

  • Design made-to-order for private clients, with one or more fittings.
  • Have a workshop (atelier) in Paris that employs at least fifteen people full-time.
  • Each season (i.e., twice a year), present a collection to the Paris press, comprising at least thirty-five runs/exits with outfits for both daytime wear and evening wear.

Chanel


Elie Saab - Correspondent Member (foreign)


Jean Paul Gaultier

All photos via Style.com

6 comments:

Christina Lee said...

What a great post!!!!!!Loved reading it!

Sarah Ring said...

WOW - the Dior ruffles, oh my!!

Couture Carrie said...

Fab post - Dior blew me away with the decorative lining on those gowns!

xoxox,
CC

Unknown said...

Oh la la, lovely fashion eye candy!

Dionne said...

I never knew about the guidelines, that's a good tidbit to know. These kind of clothes always look interesting and out-there, but soooo uncomfortable. But great for dress-ups!!

Crave said...

I love them all! How fabulous are they?!