13 replies to this topic

[Chastangela]

Over the last couple days, the SMH has been putting images up on their online site from recent Couture Fashion shows. Images from two of the shows really caught my eye so I snarfed the pics and thought I would post a link here.

It seems the both Lacroix and Galliano for Dior have had reallt strong period influences in their recent shows, something I found interesting. Some of the garments, while as fantastical and unusual as Couture often is, are also very beautiful and inspiring in their use of the styles. One gown of Dior's a pink ruffled ensemble, has a very Marie Antoinette feel to it and would make a lovely wedding gown with very few alterations.

Couture Fashion Images

[Metanoia]

Wow there is some quite nice stuff in there for a "fashion parade".
I particularly like Dior Versailles 5. Gorgeous!!

[Lady Jane]

Thanks for that link. It's good to see that the couture designers are still looking back to costume history for their inspiration. They have always amazed me how they pull a feature from one period, one from another and marry them into a stunning outfit. Of course, not for the feint hearted and probably will never be seen as catwalked on a client, but perhaps a few of the less outrageous pieces might find their way onto the backs of the European or American high society ladies at a premiere or gala charity event. I used to buy the glossy designer show mags religiously when studying fashion design at TAFE but sadly now the purse strings are tighter and interests lie elsewhere.
Cheers,
Lady Jane.

[Chastangela]

My faves would have to be the Dior Versailles #12 and the Lacroix #8. The embroidered red jacket and dress my Lacroix would actually be REALLY gorgeous if just simplified a tiny bit. Mostly loose the feathered hood thing.

You're right, Lady Jane, it's nice to see designers pulling inspiration from some of the same places we do...even if they're finished product is somewhat different. I love the fashion mags myself but I'm pretty selective about the ones I buy. Funnily enough, Renaissance magazine often has some really beautiful drool worthy images!! Not high fashion but highly inspiring.

Meta, isn't the embroidery stunning? Would love to see more of the outfits behind her though! Will have to see if I can hunt up more pics.

[Metanoia]

The embroidery is what drew me in actually. I'm not usually a fan of that sort of outrageously overdone catwalk fashion, but wow. The embroidery and the obvious effort in the styles of outfits is really something!!

[wenz]

I find so many of the fashion magazines now to be so uninspiring - and all about the make up!

Chastangela - where can I find Renaissance to have a look at it?

[Chastangela]

Wenz, you can usually find Renaissance Magazine in Borders, I believe. Not every issue is 100% wonderful but its a great little mag.


I've added a couple more pics to the link. The news ones are from the Vogue catwalk watch site. Check out the shoes the girls were wearing for Dior!

[Last_Chael]

Ooooh very droolworthy! I'm a huge fan of simplicty when it comes to design, but it's fun to look at the catwalk stuff! I wonder if any of it ever gets worn?

Heheh I can tell #12 would be a favourite of yours (Love the closeup of the bodice in #9), and I agree with the red one too! Without the hood it would look quite nice! I would love to see the pink dress in the background of #5, it looks interesting! Actually # 12 is also the same as Dior Vogue #6, and #5 is also Dior Vogue #10 (I recognised the gold one in the background as Vogue #11). In fact, a lot of the Vogue ones are the same as the Versailles ones.

The Dior Vogue stuff look Victorian inspired to me. I really love Lacroix Vogue #6, I'd love to see the dress without the jacket. I don't like the bottom puff, but without that it looks very simple and pretty The empire waist makes me think of regency. Lacroix Vogue #3 is also very pretty (take away the puffy feathered purple sleeves though). I love the mix of colours in the skirt (Makes me want to try my hand at dyeing to get that pretty verigated look), and I love the use of the blue as a contrast! Though I'd take out the gold as well - too many colours!! I don't mind Dior Vogue #3, that's very victorian on the jacket!And Dior Vogue #5 makes me think Belle Epoch!

[Chastangela]

The Dior Versailles and Dior Vogue pics are the same show and outfits, just different photographers and angles. Same with Lacroix.

The pink gown in the back ground of Dior Versailles 5 is the gown in Dior Vogue 5...see the large puff sleeves and pleated gown? Its really beautiful.

I love the cloak in Lacroix Vogue 6. The blue gown in Dior Vogue 22 is gorgeous and right what I'm loving right now...the blue and gold with exotic patterns.

Dior seems to have taken styles and pieces from the Enlightenment, Regency and Victorian eras and mix and matched them with more modern styles. And the shoes are just plain mad!!

Love the star hairpieces in Dior Versailles 1.

[Silver Moonblaze]

Some of those gowns are really stunning. There are some very interesting headpieces too, lol! Especially Dior Versailles 7.

[cyan_witch]

Ooohhhh....very fairytale inspired!!! How purty. Some of the head-wear is.....ummm.....interesting to say the least. Although I do like the jewelled stars features in Doir Versailles 1. I would wear that -maybe....
As for the dresses, let's see......I like Dior Vogue 24 (pretty colour - and it's the one that has the star designs in the hair from the looks of it), yes the Dior Versailles 12 is really nice too, I love the jackets in Dior Vogue 7 and 3 (not sure about the skirts though). They've drawn from so many periods through history, it's great to see all together. How wonderful!!
I must say, though, Lacroix 1 looks as though he has stolen his mother's curtains for inspiration! And what is the thing on her head - poor girl looks as though she can hardly stand upright with that thing perched on top there

Thanks for posting dearie.....hmmm, so many ideas......

[DonnaLee]

There is nothing better than at 2am in the morning and you can't sleep, looking at beautiful dresses and dream about what it would be like to have all the fabric and money to create .... well can't even come close to designing like dior - but a girl can dream.

Dior Vogue 6 is my favourite, a few I didn't like, but most of them loved - the use of the fabric - genius - the embroidery - stunning.

Loved the guy in the background - what a job hey.

[Chastangela]

Isn't that gown gorgeous?! Absolute fave, so pretty. Cute hat, too.

Would be wonderful to have the kind of resources that the designers have...or even just enough money to make contacts and GET those kinds of resources for personal projects. Would be SO nice.

Never noticed tha guy before but you're right, Donna. He must be part of the look of the show or security or something. Maybe he's there to catch them in case of the girls decides to taken an accident swan dive off the catwalk. *lol* Either way, would be cool tobe in his shoes and close enough to sit and drool over all the details of the gowns!! I'd have to be like I was at the LOTRs exhibit though...with a pencil and sketch book to take notes and doodle things.

Wish they would bring that exhibit back again....maybe bring the coronation gown this time....

[wenz]

gorgeous gowns ... I can appreciate them even if I'd never wear them.