For example, on January 23rd, the Christian Dior Spring 2012 Couture fashion show was shown to the public. Since John Galliano was fired from 'La Maison' due to an antisemitic incident in which he was involved, Bill Gaytten has been in charge of Dior and his talent shone through the beautiful dresses in the Spring collection. Gaytten was inspired by vintage, 'classic' Dior pieces, and he used those as his inspiration for this collection. This video shows the 'Haute Couture' gowns of the 2012 Spring/Summer Collection. In my opinion, the stitching in itself is absolutely stunning. If you look at the many details stitched on the corsets, they're all so delicate and precise that you wouldn't think they were sewn by dozens of old ladies working fanatically behind closed doors, adding finishing touches hours before the show started. I watched a documentary about Karl Lagerfeld and 'La Maison Chanel' and believe me, the true artists are the seamstresses.
But even if some of these dresses are amazing(and other garments from this collection are really quite ugly, Christian Dior or not) some of the prêt-à-porter pieces could be mistaken for pieces from Zara! Now that could be looked at in two different ways. Dior won't be happy because they don't want their collection to seem 'cheap' or to resemble garments from more accessible shops. They're trying to sell a style! And even more than that, a Lifestyle! They don't want someone to be wearing a nude-colored tulle Zara dress to have the courage of saying "Why yes, it is Christian Dior"and getting away with it! Oh no, quelle horeur! Brands like Christian Dior or Chanel want to be exclusive and prestigious. Period.
Now for people like me(basically jobless teenage girls who happen to like some of these dresses but couldn't afford them even if I saved up for a year) this is great! Imagine walking into Zara or even H&M and finding a much cheaper replica of a dress you've seen on the runway a couple of weeks ago. It's like walking into an ugly closet and landing in fashion Narnia, unimaginable but still something you dream of it constantly!
Unfortunately reality makes this possibility very rare, so usually if you want designer clothes your only choice is the original make. But that's okay, because there are other options. Yes, it would be wonderful to be able to wear some of these gowns but honestly it will probably never happen. When you see an outfit, or a dress or shoes that cost a fortune, don't dismiss the possibility of having one for yourself. Be resourceful and creative. Think. When I see something I really want to buy but can't, I usually search every single store available in Geneva(or if I'm on holiday, in that city) until I find something in that style. Sometimes it takes a long time until you find what you're looking for, but it's worth it in the end.
Here are some tips to use when you're looking for alternative, affordable items:
- Magazines like People Style and Teen Vogue usually have ideas on affordable versions or generally less expensive clothes.
- Look at shops like Zara or Alberto Bini as they always have in-style clothing at reasonable prices, though Zara tends to be more expensive than H&M.
- Look online, there are soooooo many shops with deals and sales all year round!
- Once a year, H&M collaborates with designers to create a limited edition collection. Last year, Versace for H&M was sold out in a couple of hours so my advice would be to get there A.S.A.P!
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