Sunday, March 13, 2011

Sunday Sessions in Haute couture-style

Unfortunately, the term "Haute couture" (French for "high sewing" or "high dressmaking") is illegal to use unless you meet certain criteria set by the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris.

The rules are as follows:
  • Design made-to-order clothing for private clients, with one or more fittings.
  • Have a workshop (atelier) in Paris that employs at least fifteen people full-time.
  • Each season (i.e., twice a year), present a collection to the Paris press, comprising at least thirty-five runs/exits with outfits for both daytime wear and evening wear.
......I don't quite qualify, so I will settle with the term Haute couture-style, and while I may not have 15 employees or hold Paris runway shows, I do have a truck-load of photos of my dress's progress:

1/4 of the material necesary for the skirt lining alone
Lining and extra long tulle before the additional tulle underlayer is added to make the skirt fuller
petalo numero uno
additional layer of turquoise silk decided against
tulle, tulle, silk, tulle, tulle