The (New) Age of Couture

Valentino

Haute Couture shows are an absolute spectacle - they express infinite possibility, fantasy garments and pure extravagance. However, at a price of around £60,000 a pop it never really makes any money at all - it's all about the showiness of it all, the theatrics. Or so it used to be. With the rise of the super-young and super-rich, couture is selling like never before.

Elie Saab

It's said that the majority of couture's customers are coming from the Middle East, particularly those involved with the BRIC economy (Brazil, Russia, India and China). This new breed of buyer is now going to shows and think nothing of buying thirty-five dresses at one time! The spending power of the new superrich is increasing and therefore they are new customers to couture. Due to the secretive nature of the couture business, it's difficult to find much on who these buyers actually are, but Miroslava Duma, the former editor of Harper's Bazaar Russia and the daughter of a Russian senator has been tipped off as being one of the big spenders after snapping an Instagram of herself and her friends on their private plane on the way to the Paris shows.

Giambattista Valli

So what does this mean for couture? I hope this means there will be more couture shows after many designers pulling out of the couture business during it's downfall. The new market should help couture flourish and become what it once was. For us with a slightly smaller budget, we have the privilege of what could be better and bigger shows to lay our ever-hungry eyes on!

Chanel