Last week saw the haute couture fashion week return to Paris, the only city in the world to dedicate a whole week to such decadent and ultimately unprofitable fashion.
Many questioned the role of such fashion shows in the throws of a recession, noting the more sombre and subdued nature of many of the pieces. Sadly, even couture cannot escape the economic crisis untarnished, yet the shows were no less magnificent for it.
Christian Dior bucked the doom and gloom trend with fluorescent brights in pinks and oranges, favouring wide skirts and nipped in waists. Chanel swung the other way, with long, column-shaped skirts that weren’t quite as eye-catching on the runway. Jean Paul Gaultier also opted for more flamboyant looks, making use of bold, metallic bodices and ostentatious fur.
Lacroix took an altogether safer approach to couture this season, perhaps understandably considering the label’s dire financial straits. This could be Lacroix’s last show, and whilst they wouldn’t be going out with a bang, the fashion house at least showed ingenuity through its use of stock material and leftover fabric bolts.
Couture is ultimately a world of escapism, where one can marvel at the beauty and art of fashion without immediately linking it to the notion of accessibility or affordability. Unfortunately, in these dark days everything has its price, and even couture is no longer immune.
