For a brief period in time, twice a year in Paris, the cognoscenti of fashion convene for the HAUTE COUTURE…the real couture, the made to measure variety that starts in the mid 5 figures and elevates stratospherically from there. Traditionally, this was the inspiration for the ready to wear collections which will follow in its heels in about 2 weeks’ time. Times have changed and the calendars no longer allow for the influence unless a particular house also does ready to wear. Nevertheless, this is the time that these brands show off what they are made of …especially with the ateliers that are available to them.
Signora Versace Beck has yet to learn what her brother knew so well and that is yes to make clothes that attract a flash bulb and that he was a master of the blatantly sexy dress. Donatella paraded out a limited amount of looks for her reentry to the Haute Couture and has re focused her ideal customer as Beyoncé on tour or Miss Space Flash n Trash.
Versace will never be spoken in the same hushed tones of Dior or Chanel when it comes to couture, but I cannot reconcile why anyone would want to go through the expense and time to even produce samples of this caliber when the target audience is borrowing rather than buying. That being said, the clothes are strictly aimed at the pop of a flash and have the fast fashion appeal of a trend item from H&M. Why would anyone want to spend 10’s of thousands of dollars on a Jetson Space cadette get up?
Versace Beck would have been far wiser to show these clothes in a more intimate setting and try to avoid any bad press which is inevitable with what has been shown. Couture carries with it many preconceived notions and none of them seem to really fit the bill with what has been presented. Couture is all about fit and expenses and knowing that what you own is yours and that it has been prepared for you by the most skilled artisans in the world. When presented with this collection, all bets are off as these will be loaned out and/or comped to so many who could care less about the workmanship and design but who are only in search of a flash!
Comments