July 24, 2012 |
Being regular attendees of the twice-yearly showing of haute couture fashion and also dear friends of the most exclusive houses, we know a thing or two about the art of both purchasing and showcasing couture on one’s person. The key to amassing vast quantities in minimal time for minimum expenditure is to resist eating. And maybe remove a rib or two to help slim the silhouette. Gastric bands and liposuction are also viable means of achieving your goal. The smaller you are the more likely you are to fit into the samples. The samples, by virtue of having already been made for the show, are cheaper. As they are worn by models in the show, less fabric has been used in making them, and therefore less time has been spent on embroidering them. Ergo, if you are of model proportions and can wedge yourself into something with a 24in waist, the world of cut-price couture is your oyster. Look at Babe Paley. CZ Guest. So, yes, it might still run into the tens of thousands for a dress, but compared to the hundreds of thousands you’d be spending if you had a couture wardrobe made from scratch, it really is rather a bargain. Being fully aware that not everyone moves in the same gilded circles as us or is born with the same innate understanding of how this rarefied world operates, we have taken it upon ourselves to scour Google for a guide. A sort of Couture for Dummies, if you will. The below comes courtesy of eHow:
1. Make sure you have the money in the bank before looking at haute couture fashions. A dress from one of these lines can easily bring tens of thousands of dollars, while an entire outfit can cost more than a house.
2. Meet the right people. Before you can score an invitation to one of the shows where the clothing is sold, you first have to introduce yourself to the right people.
3. Visit one of the famous fashion shows in Paris or Milan. Here you can buy haute couture clothing directly from the runway.
4. Schedule an appointment at one of the designer’s stores. Versace, for example, make dresses and other types of haute couture clothing at their flagship store in New York City.
5. Set up a private meeting with designers who don’t have fashion shows, such as those that are just starting out in the business. A large number of clothing designers offer private meetings and fittings for interested customers.
Tips & Warnings
Get your invitation to Fashion Week early. If you decide to wait until the last minute, you might be stuck without a seat.
Image courtesy: Christian Dior
by Natalie Dembinska
