While surfing the interweb for halloween costume ideas a la Lady Gaga, I came across a lot of “haute couture” inspired outfits worn by lady gaga and a lot of lady gaga inspired outfits designed for haute couture.
This got me thinking about the notion of “haute couture”. Most of it isn’t wearable. By anyone. (Except Lady Gaga, of course) What is wearable is usually featured in a separate RTW (Ready To Wear) collection. No one wears “haute couture”, to operate in the “real world”, its more of an art form. Of course, it’s been tried a la Carrie Bradshaw. Successfully …and…many times…unsuccessfully:
“Fashionologists” have been trying to figure out how to wear haute couture since it was somehow? invented. I think Lady Gaga, in all of her ridiculousness, does it right - that is for her profession and for what she is. However, we can’t all afford to sit around in leotards all day, drinking tea on our private jets with out hair bows in place, so we have to find a way to indulge in these little pieces of couture in the “real world”. Most of these, I would DIY, but also check out thrift stores and retail stores like forever 21, bebe (yikes! but they do have a lot of sparkly, furry things that are couture-esque), H&M, etc. Work with what you have an accessorize, or pair the mismatched. Think extremes, think over-the-top, but think functionality.
This is what wearable couture is to me:
Round sunglasses are very in this season, you can buy them almost anywhere, along with straw hats. Just don’t be afraid to pair the two and to go for bold, loud colors, or mismatched earth tones for a kitsch look.
Just please, remember to wear pants.
Ashley Smetana: Howdy, y'all I'm Ashley. I'm an English major with a minor in GWS. The three things I love the most in life are fashion, literature, and feminism. I dream of working in the fashion industry or as a professor, and would love to someday produce my own fashion/ politics/ art 'zine/ site akin to Jezebel or Paper. I watch too many movies - my favorite directors being Woody Allen & David Lynch. I'm also a huge music junkie (aka snob, ha.ha.) and am currently way into Grizzly Bear. I have an unhealthy obsession with Virginia Woolf and my favorite book (hard choice) is 100 Years of Solitude. Read my stuff, tell me whatcha think ;)
Comments
heg3 (heg3) says:
(Posted November 7th, 2009 at 11:07 pm)
I really liked your thought on couture. Mostly fashion designers use couture for attention I guess. However, there is this new designer I came across, Eva Danielle, (www.evadanielle.com) who I think, magically blends couture with casual wear!
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Ashley Smetana
Howdy, y'all I'm Ashley. I'm an English major with a minor in GWS. The three things I love the most in life are fashion, literature, and feminism. I dream of working in the fashion industry or as a professor, and would love to someday produce my own fashion/ politics/ art 'zine/ site akin to Jezebel or Paper. I watch too many movies - my favorite directors being Woody Allen & David Lynch. I'm also a huge music junkie (aka snob, ha.ha.) and am currently way into Grizzly Bear. I have an unhealthy obsession with Virginia Woolf and my favorite book (hard choice) is 100 Years of Solitude. Read my stuff, tell me whatcha think ;)
bell12 (bell12) says:
(Posted November 4th, 2009 at 11:05 pm)
haha. um. I definitely agree.. lady gaga is one of a kind. I love her.