Karl Lagerfeld mastered wearable elegance for Chanel haute couture. Galliano bridged fantasy and glamour for Dior. Christian Lacroix eschews most notion of functionality, reality and comfort - and I adore him for it. His vision of haute couture is so unique and unmistakable that I could not imagine the Paris shows without him. He brings a perspective that is often brushed aside in today’s cutthroat marketplace - that of one not concerned with sales or giving birth to the next “big thing.”
Opulence is the name of the game for his Fall Couture collection. It’s like a trip through Versailles circa 1700 with Russian military and punk sensibility. He gives us a lavish, unattainable vision, but injects elements that are sure to appear in the fall looks of many recessionista in the fall. Dichotomies are the name of the game - frills with strong shoulders and wild hair, black and white, futuristic insect eyes paired with lacy, vintage-inspired full length dresses.
Each season it seems unlikely that someone with such grand, but still masterfully cohesive visions could top themselves, but Mr. Lacroix once again shows why he is always one of the hottest tickets in Paris.
Check out the entire show here.