NYC January 24, 2012
With COUTURE season if full swing in Paris FASHIONREPORTERS felt advised to check in on the state of one
of the few remaining true COUTURE Houses: DIOR
It’s the Sunday before the house of DIOR Haute Couture show. In a few moments the very select group of models will be called upstairs to have her measurements taken; they must be absolutely precise. Once complete, the dress that; that model will wear in Monday’s show will be returned to one of two ateliers in the building.
“There are only two real Haute Couture houses remaining” states Catherine Riviere, the directrice of Haute Couture for Dior. “Chanel and Dior.” The entire collection is red, purple, beige, black and white. X-ray is the theme –– image seams exposed and beading turned inside out beneath sheer fabrics (the house used black toile for the first time to simulate this effect). It’s worth noting that not one of the 40 dresses is finished and the show is in less than 24 hours. Of course, there will be people working through the night until, at last, all 40 looks are completed.
It should be stated that in the U.S. the term COUTURE appears to be applied to any garment with excessive over embellishing. COUTURE is created in one place ONLY Paris.
Errol Murray
