Don’t ask me why I’ve been thinking so much about fashion but I have…
I completely understand the function of haute couture in the sense that it stretched the limits. It is strictly made to show what’s possible in the fashion world. Each garment isn’t supposed to be functional, it’s supposed to be an art piece. However, I keep wondering where haute couture collides as it comes into the real world? Whats the transfer time between something Givenchy or Dior puts out on the Paris runway and something with flavors of that fashion reaching the regular consumer that can’t shell out $1000 for a shirt?
I don’t know…I guess I’m reminded of this from Devil Wears Prada:
It’s about color and fabric choice. How much lace has been on the runway for the last three seasons? A ton. It’s trickled down so much you can buy lace shirts for three year olds. The lace sun dress was ubiquitous this summer. Pantone’s color of the year choice is partially based on what’s going down the runway. (But don’t count this year’s missed target.)
It’s also about general shape and overall feel of the garment. Menswear influence is big on the runway, so women’s slacks are being made out of tweed and hounds tooth. Wool is seeing a resurgence in popularity. Maxi skirts didn’t just happen in a vacuum. You’ll also see a lot more leather on clothing this fall. Yup, that came from the runways.
Individual piece aren’t copied, but the width of a lapel, the color, the type of fabric, the embellishment (or lack of it), the way the fabric is draped and shaped. That is all influenced by the haute couture houses.
Just a quick note, haute couture is not synonymous with runway fashion. If something is haute couture, that means it was handmade to spec for a specific person, as opposed to machine-produced and churned out by the hundreds.
That monologue kinda bugged me. Even if there had been no fashion industry, Anne Hathaway would have picked SOMETHING out of her closet (and then gone to work at Road&Track or something). It’s not like she was going to go to work naked.*
Do you see large haute influence on what’s “brand new?” As in, what’s stretching the boundaries and then even that finds it’s way into everyday fashion, or is it more of “yea, I think wools coming back.” And a old things suddenly make a resurgence just because it was on their runway.
it’s a trickle down. Sometimes it’s a direct copy, sometimes it’s just an influence. Haute Couture------->ready to wear-------->mid price ready to wear------------>cheap crap and the trend is done.
For example here is a dress that is likely to be copied: Dior fall/winter 2013 red dress. It’s very New Look. Look at those wide lapels, the wasp waist, the mid calf length of the skirt and the paneled skirt with the deep wide pockets; it’s all very 50s. It’s also easy to wear anywhere. Something that would be an influence rather than a direct copy is the shape of the shoe, it looks like Dior is putting money on the witch toe again. Another influence is the gold metallic in the accessories. Gold has been around on the runway for a few seasons now and it looks like it’s going to continue a little longer. Silver had a very long run, so gold should have some staying power.
I’d say about a year and a half, at least for men’s fashion. You start seeing the cheaper derivatives in about six months, which work their way down the retail network (from Nordstroms to Marshalls, TJ Maxx, etc) over the next 6 months, and after that you see the knock-offs that totally miss the point in Kohls and Target.
Yeah, I’ve never seen the movie, but I’ve seen that quoted more than a few times. If it’s used in the movie to reinforce that the speaker’s view of the world is valid, I’m glad I missed it. I’m wearing overalls, plaid boxer shorts, and a t-shirt. It’s general design and color were all well established generations before my birth, and I’d probably have bought them and worn them today no matter what color they were. What, exactly, has high fashion done for me lately?
So, for varying definitions of the “real world” (mine is quite tangible), the answer can be “very likely, never”.
I think it’s more visible in men’s fashion. I can’t afford much of what’s advertised in GQ or Esquire, but there’s often a $200 version of the $1500 blazer, or a Johnston & Murphy version of a Tod’s wingtip. Don Johnson sold a lot of white slacks and pastel jackets back in the 80s, and while his were designer brands, his fans had no problem settling for the Dockers equivalent.
The couturiers have shows in which models parade about in extreme versions of the season’s styles. Ladies who have the money go for fittings & have changes made to suit them. Line that transparent top? Lengthen that microskirt? Whatever madame desires.
The couture shows are PR for the (still expensive) ready-to-wear lines & the lucrative accessories & fragrances sold under the designer’s name. They can also be fun to follow–just as somebody who runs a bit or makes it to the gym occasionally will watch multimillionaire super athletes on TV…
I keep an eye on fashion although my usual look is semi-boho-business casual. (More boho on the weekends.) I try to guess which looks will date quickly & which can be worked into my wardrobe. Also–which items in my closet are ready for Goodwill…
And those pockets will make anybody but the skinniest bony woman look like she has saddlebags.
This is a lot more likely to be sold down. It is not edgy nor will it give a normal sized woman saddlebags.
I will admit I am not thrilled with his choice of many of the fabrics, and his funky layering where there is a fair amount of pouf will look fat and stuffed sausagey on normal sized women.
I used to make my own formals instead of buying them - I would go shopping with my mom to someplace like Bloomingales or Bonwit Teller and see what was going on, and make my own knock offs. My favorite was showing up to a frat formal in 1982 for my BF of the time who went to Wittenberg in Ohio. All the other ladies were wearing pouffy pastel and I showed up in a skin tight black satin sheath. <evil smiley>
Now I am more lazy and would be more inclined to shop at JJ’s House. I have my eye on a nice formal, and a nice cocktail and the prices are quite good. I do shop pret-a-porter/ready to wear but as a fat broad, sometimes the fit is problematical as many companies simply try to size up the standard cut and it is not proportional - fat women have different proportions than thinner women. We need something purpose designed for fat women. I actually wear custom made salwar kameez for traveling - soft comfortable cotton, no metal fasteners, covers me so I don’t get any evil harlot reactions from any form of fundie.
Seriously? it makes that skinny model look bottom heavy.
I think the prevuous dress with faux pockets or seamline pockets would be much more sellable. but I really like the New Look even though I already have saddle bags.