It can be observed that if a person of normal interest in fashion would go about building his or her outfit repertoire, the knee-jerk choice will be to “shop off the rack,” or what the fashion industry would call “ready-to-wear,” often abbreviated RTW, or prêt-à-porter. It can also be noted that any girl can dish out brands, both local and international, popular to most avid fashionista shoppers in our society today. This is especially true for the fresh set of hip kids, either out of convenience or lack of knowledge that there are other options available to them, who’d shop the mass-produced items. This, of course, had caused me to wonder if the latest generation of fashionistas have considered going couture instead.
Couture has a reputation for being the choice for formal events like weddings, debuts, banquets and such. However, there are still a few who best exemplify the value we are trying to highlight since it’s often clouded by the usual obstacle that most would-be fashionistas fail to overcome: cost.
(Source: Flickr user queenblingerie - flickr.com/photos/queenblingerie)
Style made personal
Known to all, couture is the route one would take if she wishes to express her own style in its most personal form. Having something made according to your own specifications and to the outcome of your style consultation with a designer will definitely produce a piece that you can call your own. Personally, I reckon, recognizing that you’ve got a hand in the creation of a particular piece that you’ll wear such as choosing the cut, design detail or fabric, will mean a step toward solidifying the concept of your personal style. That’s one of the more plain but precious things that couture can offer.
The elusive perfect fit
From working with the right sort of material to coming up with a right sort of design that will work with the client’s shape, couture effectively addresses the need of wearing clothes that fits the wearer perfectly.
(Source: Flickr user: babooska24 - flickr.com/photos/34244008@N06)
From the old hand in fashion (think folks who grew up during the fashion era we now often refer to as retro) to the seasoned fashionista, one of the things they will agree on is that they put premium on how clothes fit the wearer. Yes, in this case, size matters. If you think that it’s limited to zero to 14 (higher in some cases) or the letters S (small), M (medium), L (large) or XL (extra large) that we often see in tags on clothes, you better think again.
I’ll have you know that there are people out there who simply can’t shop off the peg since sizing is often a problem. It’ll either be a pant leg that’s too long or a lousy drape around the shoulders. These things simply won’t do for the true lover of fashion. Sure, it’s easy to have it altered, but there’s the risk of ruin and the subject of added cost. You ending up spending more than your initially planned shopping budget isn’t really something we can call cost-effective, is it? I think not.
(Designer: Jeanne Lafaurie | Source: Formes et Couleurs)
If you’re the type who knows what you want, you will agree that items you normally get in any fashion store may fall short in expressing your personal style. Though it’s true that you may end up spending more if you go into couture, there are good designers who won’t charge you with ridiculous rates. I know that the prices can be comparable to those of similar items you’ll find in most high street fashion stores, sometimes even more expensive, but you can guarantee that the piece you’ll end up with won’t be just one of the mass-produced ones you’ll get in the latter. It’s also great to know that there are designers who can work with the client’s budget.