Haute couture represents the pinnacle of high fashion, with meticulously handcrafted garments that showcase precision craftsmanship. During Paris Haute Couture Week 2023, we saw houses approach couture in different ways – from serving wealthy clients to driving brand awareness and perfume sales. But the most compelling couture shows focused on innovation and pushing creative boundaries.
At Balenciaga and Schiaparelli, the goal was to flex creative muscle and develop innovative garments that can inspire the industry. Balenciaga’s Demna presented sculptural men’s couture and wool scarves seemingly blowing in the wind, while Daniel Roseberry continued Elsa Schiaparelli’s surrealist legacy. This experimentation makes couture an exciting space for designers to envision the future of fashion.
Couture also intersects with celebrity and pop culture more than ever before. Cardi B caused a frenzy at Schiaparelli in a feathered concoction and crystal bustier at Gaurav Gupta. Her vast social following ensures these avant-garde designs reach the masses. When fashion and celebrity collide at couture shows, it brings heightened attention to the craft.
While the extravagance of haute couture may seem at odds with economic challenges facing society, these shows represent the preservation of rare skills like embroidery, tailoring and dressmaking. By valuing true artisanship, couture maintains important cultural heritage. Brands must use the platform thoughtfully, but at its best, modern haute couture pushes boundaries and keeps century-old techniques alive.