What is Haute Couture?

Costume and Fashion history would not be the same without Haute couture.

Haute Couture is a French phrase for high fashion.  Couture means dressmaking, sewing, or needlework and haute means elegant or high, so the two combined imply excellent artistry with the fashioning of garments.  The purchase of a haute couture model garment is at the top level of hand customised fashion design and clothing construction made by a couture design house.  A model haute couture garment is made specifically for the wearer's measurements and body stance.  The made to measure exclusive clothes are virtually made by hand, carefully interlined, stay taped and fitted to perfection for each client. 

High Fashion - High Cost of Haute Couture

Dependant on the Haute Couture design house and the garment, the cost of a couture item runs from about £10,000 for a simple blouse to £40,000 and often beyond that figure.  A Chanel couture suit for example in 2002 might have cost £20,000.  By mid 2004 an evening frock cost £50,000.  If you are not rich it's hard for an individual to understand why the price is so high, but it's for service, workmanship, originality of a unique design and superb materials of the finest quality. 

In addition the client would get a perfection of fit only achieved by painstaking methods of cutting and fitting to the client's body.  The manual labour needed to produce a garment this way takes between 100-150 hours for a suit and up to 1000 hours for an embellished evening dress.  The evening dress might have thousands of hand sewn beads probably done by the expert and famous Parisian embroidery and beading firm of Lesage, founded in 1922 by Albert Lesage.

A couture house like Chanel for example will have about 150 regular clients who buy couture and a house like Dior will make about 20 couture bridal gowns a year.

Exclusive Expensive Haute Couture Fabrics 

The fabrics available to the couture house would be very luxurious and include the latest novelty fabrics and expensive silks, fine wools, cashmeres, cottons, linens, leather, suede, other skins or furs.  In the case of a famous design house the design and colour of a cloth, may be exclusively reserved for that couture house. 

Outside specialists make accessories either by design or inspiration.  Hats, trimmings, buttons, belts, costume jewellery, shoes and innovative pieces are finely crafted to complement the fabrics and fashion ideas being created.  Superb craftsmanship, a fresh idea and publicized internationally renowned names all command a price to match. Those able to afford couture are happy to pay for exclusivity and the privacy afforded by the system. 

Source :www.fashion-era.com/haute_couture.htm#High Fashion - High Cost Of Haute Couture

Old Hairstyles are Making a Comeback

It seems that today's celebrities are now starting to bring hairstyles from the past and turning them into stunning fresh looks. Just be careful because with any hairstyle having the right clothing decor can make or break your hairstyle.
Old hairstyles from the golden days of Hollywood have become popular unique looks for those woman who can pull them off. The retro looks give a very different look but not everyone is going to be able to pull these hairstyles off. These old Hollywood glam hairstyles are more for those already in the limelight and for special events like costume parties and other activities where bringing back a beautiful part of history is just right. Most of the hairstyles from past days of Hollywood glory have unique features that are set in place. Stars like Audrey Hepburn, Betty Grable, and Ingrid Bergman all featured unique hairstyles from their days. There are still some stars today who have captured these hairstyles.

Gwen Stefani's Hairstyle

Gwen Stefani started with punk hairstyles and has been able to capture some of the old Hollywood looks. She tends to combine various looks to create personal ones to meet her own style. Here, Gwen creates a beautiful look by pushing the front up which makes it the centerpiece and combs the rest back. The locks are curled and allow to fall from the back which does not take away from the front wave. This is a unique hairstyle that also captures some essence from the older Hollywood days.

Christina Aguilera's Hairstyle

Christina Aguilera has shown a lot of versatility by starting off with the cute pop girl look, transforming into the wild and sexy diva, and then to the old Hollywood glam style. She has looked beautiful through each transformation and in this picture shows a little twist of the look. She can be seen with better hairstyles that fit the Hollywood glam looks of past actresses but this one adds her own flair. The swept and curled front locks combine well with the extreme curls in the back that are arranged on both sides. This hairstyle is another combination creation.

Scarlett Johansson's Hairstyles

Scarlett Johansson has shown many different hairstyles and has looked ravishing in almost every single one. She shows that her facial features fit well with many different looks by donning this old Hollywood hairstyle. The hairstyle features a sweep and curl to one side with the longer locks curled up to just above the shoulders. The hairstyle opens up the facial area and many people can actually pull this look off but take a tip from Scarlett and match with a classy dress like the one she has on.

Marilyn Monroe's Hairstyle

One of the most mimicked hairstyle from the past has to be Marilyn Monroe's short, curly hairstyle which many people have copied for many events. Her hairstyle will always be a part of history and will continually be remembered as a part of the era. Many stars have used the hairstyles in their own photoshoots and the following 2 are great examples. Here Jennie Garth and Charlize Theron both feature the classic hairstyle in their own way and all three have created a beautiful look.

Do you have a sister?

For those ladies with younger or older sisters not too many years apart and would like to be featured in a future article or our gallery of sisters and their haircuts. Please feel free to email us a high quality picture of the hairstyles. Your hairstyles will be included in a future article or gallery if the hairstyles look great.

Source :http://www.latest-hairstyles.com/articles/old-hollywood-glam.html

Eco Fashion: HUGO Fragrances Initiative

HUGO Fragrances is delighted to announce the launch of ‘One Fragrance, One Tree’, a new sustainability initiative inspired by the increasingly eco-conscious outlook of HUGO Fragrances consumers. For each special edition pack of HUGO Element and HUGO Man fragrance produced, one tree will be planted in the Amazon rain forest in Peru .

To help raise awareness of this cause in the UK , Hugo Fragrances has commissioned 5 artists to create their own eco-friendly interpretation of an urban jungle. Designs will be painted on 100% recyclable card in the form of large pop up trees. With creative support from the artists, people will be encouraged to make their own mark by painting blank trees that will be on display in 5 cities throughout the country.

The tour launched in London’s Covent Garden on Wednesday 17th March and travels to Bluewater in Kent (19th – 21st March); Bullring in Birmingham (26th – 28th March) Meadow Hall in Sheffield (2nd, 3rd and 5th April) and Centre MK in Milton Keynes (9th – 11th April) before returning back to Covent Garden on 15th April for a grand finale, where the pop up trees will turn the cobbled pavements of Covent Garden into an urban jungle for the day.

Source :http://a-man-fashion.blogspot.com/2010/03/eco-fashion-hugo-fragrances-initiative.html