Obsessee.

//Valentino

Backstage at Valentino F/W couture for V Magazine.

//Chanel

Chanel Haute Couture F/W 11

vogue.com

//Givenchy

Givenchy F/W 12 Haute Couture. Tisci really went for an ethereal look for this collection, similar to F/W 10. 

vogue.com

//Chanel F/W 10 Couture

Much different than his space age spring couture collection, Karl Lagerfeld visited a darker place for fall. Rich tones of brown, red, gold, black, navy, and even a single gray/blue dress were used as the main palette of the collection.  There were short and long cuts, everything was either a dress suit, dress, or coat. At some points the inspiration for the collection was slightly unclear, when Lagerfeld moved from a nautical-inspired number that Freja Beha wore, followed by floral embroidery, finishing in a puff-shoulder long sleeve dress in royal blue with gold embroidery. All was centered around a lion, to signify the Leo astrological sign.  The entire collection seemed much different from many other Chanel couture collections shown in the past few seasons, this one seem more like a ready-to-wear collection, with all of the detail and quality of a haute couture collection.  

[photos style.com/collages by me]

//Givenchy Fall 2010 Couture

Ricardo Tisci's Fall Couture collection for Givenchy showed absolute technical skill, and the utmost attention to detail.  Each look was ornate, perfectly complemented by the baroque architecture of the Givenchy studio, where the collection was shown this season.  The only colors present were those of flesh, because Tisci's inspiration came from the human skeleton for this season.  He also referred to Frida Kahlo for inspiration, he told Tim Blanks. Tisci incorporated small skeletal elements into zippers or even a belt.  The skeletal form was seen throughout the collection, through the similar shape of each look.  With each collection, whether couture or ready to wear, Ricardo Tisci has proved himself a true couturier through his strict attention to each piece of the garment and the look of the collection as a whole. 

 

[photos-style.com, collages by me]

   

//TatiTen

 Tati Cotliar by Andrea Spotorno for Ten Magazine Summer 2010 in various pieces from all of the spring couture collections, roaming around Paris. 

[via]

//Couture Report

"Couture Report" from 10 Magazine's winter issue, with model Kinga Rajzak, shot by Mark Pillai.

I cut the pictures out and put my own little twist on it, my favorite shots are the Givenchy couture looks, and the Armani Prive look, with all of that beautiful crystal.   

photos via

FW09 Couture Shoes are Glorious.

I want all of these shoes from FW09 couture.  They are majestic.  The succession of pictures goes, Giorgio Armani, adorable booties at Chanel, Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Givenchy, and Elie Saab. [via]

 

Fall 2009 Couture in Numbers

We all love gazing at beautiful couture designs created by the fashion industry greats, but have you ever wondered how much labor each collection requires?  The supplies?  The fittings?  Well, here is your answer!! The Cut Blog found out the numbers of certain items used in the top shows.  Some of it is quite surprising.  

Let's start with Jean Paul Gaultier.

 

• Most Used Materials: Leather, Crocodile, Celluloid [for the Cinema Dress]
• Yards of Each Used: Over 100
• Number of Hats: 4
• Number of Veils: 1 
• Types of Feathers Used: Ostrich, Egret
• Number of Feathers Used: Approx. 10,000
• Average Number of Fittings per Piece: 2-5
• Number of Seamstresses Working: 40 [one seamstress per look]
• Number of Hours Seamstresses Clocked in Per Piece: 80 [for a jacket] - 300 [for a dress]
• Heaviest Piece: The Gold Dress, modeled by Michelle Boswell
• Weight: 12 lbs
• Longest Train: 5 meters
• Highest Heel: 14 centimeters 
• Furthest Trip the Materials Took: India to Paris
• Number of Models: 26

Chanel: 

• Most Used Materials: Tweed, Silk Chiffon, Silk Tulle, Silk Velvet, Satin, Lace, and Guipure
• Yards of Each Used: Approx. 6 meters [short numbers] to 25 meters [cocktail dresses] to 35 meters [long dresses] 
• Number of Hats: Approx. 20
• Number of Veils: 0 
• Types of Feathers Used: Rooster, Duck, Guinea Fowl
• Amount of Feathers Used: Approx. 130 grams
• Number of Sequins and Pearls Used: Over 450,000 
• Average Number of Fittings per Piece: 3-4
• Average Time Spent on a Single Look: 2 weeks
• Number of Seamstresses Working on the Finale Look: 3 
• Number of Hours Seamstresses Clocked in for Finale Look: Over 500 hours
• Longest Train: 200 meters [for the wedding dress] 
• Furthest Trip the Materials Took: Japan to Paris [the Silk Jersey]

Christian Lacroix:

• Most Used Materials: Wool Crepe, Leather Satin, Tweed, Wool [often left from previous collections]
• Yards of Each Used: Approx. 3 meters [jackets] to 5 meters [coats] to 12 meters and over 
• Average Number of Fittings per Piece: 3
• Average Time Spent on a Single Look: 2 weeks
• Average Number of Seamstresses Working on a Single Look: 2
• Number of Seamstresses Working on a Single Atelier Dress: 13 
• Number of Hours Seamstresses Clocked in for Finale Look: Over 200 hours
• Number of Seamstresses Working on Bridal Dress: 4 [plus 3 more ateliers working on its additional embroideries]
• Materials' Sources: Italy, France, London, Belgium 
• Number of Models: 10

Maison Martin Margiela:

Fake eyelash vest? Mhmm. I want. 

• Most Used Materials: Lambskin Leather, Goatskin Leather, Wool 
• Number of Pen Caps: 2,000
• Number of Fake Eyelashes: 245
• Amount of Chain and Vintage Jewelry: 20 meters
• Number of Bicycle Reflectors: 300
• Number of Fans: 24
• Average Number of Hours Seamstresses Clocked in Per Piece: 20 to 26 [fake eyelash vest] to 30 [pen cap smoking jacket] to 42 [chain biker jacket]
• Furs Used: Vintage Rabbit and Fox

Insanity! But that is what makes couture the best part of fashion to me, the pure craftsmanship and artistry.  

[via]

Video//Watch How Chanel Haute Couture is Created

Watch this video from The Cut, showing the painstaking process of creating a 5 figure look from the Chanel FW Couture collection.  Its crazy.  I would kill for that job.  

This is the look they're creating:

Now watch the process!!