(Christian Dior Couture Fall 2006)
Unlike money-driven Pret-a-porter, the couture is a lab where fashion & design ideas are explored, tweaked and often followed to ofttimes outlandish extremes. And when designer like John Galliano are brave enough to go for it, interesting things come down the runway.
Unless you're a drag queen, the looks right off the couture runway aren't really feasible for real life. However, they contain vast amounts of important information about the direction of silhouettes, shapes, colors and details. In other words, pay attention to the function rather than the form.
This swashbuckling look Galliano sent down the Dior couture runway is easily adapted for the real way. Simply pair the season's ubiquitous leggings or dark skinny jeans with a structured, tailored jacket that has rounded volume at the shoulders, sleeves and neck - and that nips in fetchingly at the waist. Details to look for: puff sleeves, a high and/or ruffled/layered neck, and bell sleeves. And weather permitting, finish it off with towering platforms that show off that snazzy pedi.
Some great options for interpreting Christian Dior couture for your non-couture life:
Graeme Black
Marni
Erotokritos
Robert Clergerie Nulux
- Lesley Scott
(Runway photos from Style.com)
