Probably one of the most over-used and misused terms in fashion these days is “haute couture,” which translates to “high sewing” meaning that it is made with the finest fabrics, carefully sewn by hand, and has incredible attention to detail. With ready-to-wear pieces now costing sometimes upwards of thousands, it is easy to see where the confusion could come in.
Thankfully the Hôtel de Ville in Paris has created the exhibit, “Paris Haute Couture,” with help from sponsor Swarovski, who has been helping couture pieces dazzle since they were created to show what haute couture truly means.
The exhibit, which runs through July 6, 2013, shows the history of haute couture through video and photos as well to help viewers understand the complete process of creating the impecable garments. And of course there are over 100 dresses, from well and lesser-known designers, to make you truly appreciate these works of art.
“A darling pink taffeta dress from Yves Saint Laurent’s short tenure at Dior is there, alongside the work of the house’s namesake and its last designer, John Galliano. And it’s interesting to compare the Chanel skirt suits—one by Coco Chanel, the other by Karl Lagerfeld—next to each other. There are plenty of gowns from lesser-known designers as well, offering a bit of surprise alongside the standards.” -Fashionista
If you’re like me and most likely won’t make it to Paris in time to see this incredible exhibit, then head over to Fashionista to see their incredible slideshow complete with videos and photos from the exhibit. It will leave you saying J’adore haute couture!
Paris Haute Couture from Swarovski on Vimeo.
