Azzedine Alaia's "Semi-Couture" Fall 2011 Collection showing in Paris Fashion Week Today




Azzedine Alaia Couture

 

What is a Semi-Couture Collection? Some designers don’t fully fit under the category of Couturier but if their work is Couture quality they are given a chance by The Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture to show a semi-couture collection during Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris France. It also means that the collection shown has to follow a lot of the guidelines that Couturiers have to follow including handmade garments and top notch quality.  Azzedine Alaia announced that he will show a “semi-couture” collection in Paris today as granted by the Couture powers that be.  The looks will be available in different sizes as opposed to the Couture sizes 2 or 4 and it will be an off the rack experience. This is a perfect entry level Couture collection for the almost explicitly successful business woman who is a size 6 that doesn’t quite fit into the Couture pieces from the runway collection. Oh, and for a certified Couture collection you WANT to fit into those sizes because the specific pieces that are actually worn on the runway are 40% off! That could literally mean a savings of up to $40,000.00! Talk about motivation to hit the gym.



Fashion Visionary, Azzedine Alaia

The amount of Couturiers is dropping and this is creating a gap between Couture and Ready-to-Wear. Perhaps Semi-Couture will be the next Couture and Couturier’s will be a thing of the past? I certainly hope not though as it is the truest form of fashion that exists from old world fashion designer to client relationship and if that leaves it will be a very sad day for all of fashion as Haute Couture controls what will be in style around the world.

Even after that scary thought I am excited to see the Alaia collection Semi-Couture fashion collection and I hope it is as good if not better than his Couture collection from Spring 2003.    If his celebrity following is any indication, it will be (Celebrity Fans: Naomi Campbell, Victoria Beckham, Michelle Obama, and Madonna to name a few).

Look forward to tomorrow's recap of this long awaited showing!