“The couture is what a certain kind of clientele wears. But it's amusing to do because you do it piece by piece. It's another concept. It's much more work.” - Karl Lagerfeld

I look forward to the new collections brought forward every year, twice a year, Spring and Fall. They show me what the creative geniuses behind the various houses and labels have been laboring at and what they think we should be wearing in the year ahead (rightly or wrongly). I love the colors and vibrancy of the Spring collections and the sharp tailoring and muted tones of the Fall collections, marveling at the reflection a change in seasons has on fashion and moods.

But most of all, I look forward to the haute couture collections.

Not many designers do a haute collection because it is deemed nonviable for business reasons. Its sheer flamboyance and often dramatic voice comes with a hefty price tag, which only a very select niche of customers can afford. And even so, they only wear it once for the impact, and it is then relinquished to the back of a very expensive wardrobe or bequeathed to a couture museum for posterity.

Christian Lacroix is one such designer.

Below are some of his more wearable pieces :

Christian Lacroix 2009 CT

Christian Lacroix 2009 CT

The former is an interesting spin on a nautical theme, classic yet trendy at the same time. The latter is a complete kaleidoscope of colors that seem to come together beautifully like a tropical bird, something that wouldn't look out of place in the Caribbean.

His RTW collections contain interesting elements and one can see very clearly where he got his inspirations and how they are modernised and adapted for the woman on the street :

Christian Lacroix Spring 2009 RTW

Christian Lacroix Spring 2009 RTW

The former reminds one of Aboriginal Australian art while the latter brings to mind a Spanish matador, both very different yet somehow fit together under Monsieur Lacroix's deft direction.

The Fall collection too is an interesting one, simple yet elegantly chic :

Christian Lacroix Fall 2009 RTW

Christian Lacroix Fall 2009 RTW

Lace seemed to have played an important role in his Fall collection and instead of succumbing to greys, blacks and browns he has chosen to use mustard and champagne, enhanced by the texture of the fabrics used, amongst them silk and velvet.

Creative and functional, c'est Monsieur Lacroix.