Why I Love Couture

Kasey
Jan 24, 2018
3 min read

To begin, let's take a moment to quiz yourself on a little fashion history. Are you familiar with Charles Frederick Worth? What about Paul Poiret and Elsa Schiaparelli? Now, what about Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent? Those ones you may know. All of these names were famous "couturiers" during the 19th-20th centuries. During this time period, there were over 150 couture designers. Now, there are around 20 registered design houses who present during Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris with a handful of select guest designer spots. Famous couture names today include Chanel, Dior, Schiaparelli, Valentino, Ralph & Russo, Elie Saab, Giambattista Valli and more.

I was unsure about the concept of couture until I took a fashion history class in Paris. Those first names I mentioned above, I was never familiar with before. In fact, I think that many millennial fashion buffs are't really aware about fashion history. With the rise of ready-to-wear and the decline of Haute Couture after WWII, the knowledge and appreciation of couture plummeted. I could carry on writing about the details of the history of couture since I wrote about it in a French paper, but that would stray from my purpose of this post. If you want to learn a little more about couture, read about it here.

My purpose for this post is to explain my appreciation for the existence of the less commercialized and most exclusive area of fashion: couture. So, in the spirit of Haute Couture Fashion Week happening right now, I thought that I would briefly discuss why I love couture.

Couture represents the true art of the fashion industry. It is like a breath of fresh air. A blissful pause in your day that makes you forget, for just a second, all of your other obligations. Fashion is so fast paced that it begs for a moment to just slow down and enjoy the present. This is couture. Even if you aren't experiencing it first hand, social media has given us the ability to transport ourselves to the shows. The best part of couture is that it makes you fantasize and dream. The fashion shows are less edgy and more avant-garde. They are thought provoking. What does this dress represent? What kind of girl do you imagine in this look? How was this constructed? What is the inspiration of this collection? Most of these dresses won't be worn. Only a select few will make it to bodies of lucky actresses or socialites. Even after, most pieces are sent to archives and museums. So why waste all of this money for something that won't be used? Honestly, I have no clear answer except for that it is fashion's time to play. It is a pause in Savasana before you have to go back to your normal day. It is a soul-searching trip to Paris that requires you to get lost in the mystery in order to find yourself. Of course, couture collections require a ton of work. It is hardly a vacation. But they are a step away from the normal trends and the fashion cycle. For the elite houses who can actually afford it, it is fashion's time to let out all of the creative energy so they can get back to business. This is my idea why couture must exist, and agree or disagree, couture still serves an important purpose in the fashion industry.

For another good read about couture, check out this story on Harper's Bazaar about Linda Evangelista's "dress that she'll never forget".

Check out some of my favorite looks from this week below!