Bridal Queen: Zuhair Murad Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2014
Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week ended last week with the top Haute Couture fashion designers showing their latest collections for Fall/Winter 2013/2014. As you may know, Haute Couture means "High Sewing" or high fashion. Haute Couture is (mostly) hand-made, made-to-order custom clothing that requires multiple private fittings, for clients who are willing to pay from $40,000 for a suit to $150,000+ for an evening gown. It is the ultimate in buying and owning a custom garment that maybe one or two other women in the entire world might also own. Celebrities are more and more being offered (by the design companies' pr departments) to wear their brand's Haute Couture but it's lent to them and (usually) the celeb has to fit the sample (US size 2-4) size. It is used as a form of marketing and public relations to then actually sell more sunglasses, purses (think Chanel and Dior, for example).
Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2014
Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2014
Only about 1,000 women in the world are considered regular clients of Haute Couture (clients who order every season) and because of the rise in billionaires in countries like China, Russia an the Gulf States in the Arabian Peninsula--that number is getting bigger. A lot of the Haute Couture fashion designers--ones who have received the "stamp of approval" to be deemed as such from the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture Parisenne--traditionally end their runway presentations with a wedding gown, Robe de Mariée, as it is called. Let's take a look at some of the standouts from this season's Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week:
Alexis Mabille Fall/Winter 2013/2014: Mabille showed several white, off-white, silver-white gowns in his collection which could totally be ordered by a very wealthy client as a wedding gown. The one above--a bias-cut textured silk gown with oversized blouson sleeve detail is a great example.
Alexis Mabille Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2014: Another Bridal Gown suggestion from Mabille is this silver-white duchesse satin gown with draped/pleated detail and batwing sleeve. It's very 1930's on-trend and perfect for that bride looking for a post-"Downton Abbey"-inspired look.
Alexis Mabille Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2014: This Mabille gown is probably my favorite of the dresses from the collection that would make for a stupendous Bridal Gown. The dress is sinuous, sleek, has marvelous draping and back cascading and the built-in pearl details are very luxe.
Gustavo Lins Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2014: Brazilian-born designer Gustavo Lins began his career freelancing as a pattern maker over twenty years ago, working both for women’s wear
fashion top brands such as Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Jean-Paul
Gaultier, Kenzo Paris, Agnès B, Louis Vuitton
and John Galliano. For his Haute Couture Collection, his bride wore peach--and white; a short dress with Obi-like detail and yes, the bridal veil. Unique and modern.
Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2014: Model Erin Wasson wore the Bridal Gown for Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter Fall/Winter 2013/2014 collection. It involved a heavy white tweed coat with organza "train" and a soft 1920's slip dress underneath.
Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2014: Dior designer Raf Simons didn't end his show last week with a Robe de Mariee but there was one particular white silk gazar strapless gown with black "belted" accents which could be a Bride's Couture Dream. If an actual client ordered this for their wedding, they might replace the black straps with white ones, but of course, that's their prerogative--especially when they are writing the $100,000+ check.
Franck Sorbier Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2014: The House of Sorbier showed their collection for Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week and there was a Wedding Gown in the mix. The dress (above) was of a heavy jacquard, featuring bell sleeves, gathered and draped detail and a "Period"-like look to it. If you're a "Helena Bonham Carter"-type of multimillionaire status, then maybe this would be your style.
Georges Hobeika Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2014: Lebanese designer Hobeika offered this very beautiful--and traditional--style as his Wedding Gown. It is simply stunning, classic and so Ready for a Royal. Like TOMORROW!
Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2014: Valli showed many options for a young, blushing (and very wealthy) bride--as well as her bridesmaids--with this Fall/Winter 2013/2014 Haute Couture collection. The two short dresses above would work fine for those young-and-sassy brides looking for a more youthful dress...
Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2014: If a short dress isn't your "thang" as a choice for your wedding dress...then this hi-lo silk devore strapless gown with gazar under skirt could be the perfect choice
Armani Prive Fall/Winter 2013/2014: Italian designer Giorgio Armani's Haute Couture arm--Armani Prive--was based on a "Nude" theme--and there were several dresses in the collection that could work marvelously as ones for a bride. These three above are perfect examples. Just put a diamond tiara and a veil on top...and you're good-to-go.
Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2014: French designer Stephane Rolland finished his Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2014 runway show with Spanish Supermodel Nieves Alvarez in a white sheath of a dress with flowing and billowing sleeve-capes and black stand-up collar. This is definitely for a more "Directional Bride".
Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2014: Valentino designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli did not end their Haute Couture collection with one definite Bridal Gown but there were several in the group that could easily be "inspirations" for one. These two above were my Top Bridal Valentino Haute Couture picks.
Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2014: Fashion's "bad boy" Jean Paul Gaultier showed a collection last week based on tigresses, cheetah queens and "animalistic" divas. He showed a Bridal gown--which was really a jumpsuit of sorts--in silk gazar with silver sequins, silk faille and leather midriff belt. This Bride was more "Cirque du Soleil" than "Kenyan Safari".
Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2014: Elie Saab finished his Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2013/2104 collection with THE Wedding Gown of all Wedding Gowns. The pics above tell you as such. If you are a Middle Eastern/Asian or Euro Royal bride-to-be with a six-figure gown budget...Elie Saab is your guy.
