A New Fashion Icon

Caroline Graham Swann

Darlings, it seems that a new fashion icon has arrived upon the scene, following the fairy tale wedding of Amal and George Clooney. Amal’s fashion choices are being reported with great detail and I absolutely love this! Her wedding gown, an elegant romantic vision in white lace and Cathedral veil was designed by Oscar de la Renta. The dress was perfect for her slender body and the off-shoulder lace design was so feminine. Perfect, just perfect!

This was an Atelier-Haute Contour gown, meaning : Atelier – clothing salon or work shop of design, Haute Contour- coutour design house with 15 or more staff members full time. To be known as Haute Coutour is to be recognized as one of the very best of fashion design. Body measurements of an individual client are made into a form of the torso and a muslin fabric made first from the drawn pattern, and then fitted on the client for perfection in size.

Fabrics chosen are only the best of the best and are hand sewn. This level of fashion is costly and can easily range into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. That is why after the major Haute Coutour Season presentations in Paris, Italy and New York, the designs are sketched by scouts and sent to the shows to be copied immediately. This is done so the mass market can afford the styles that are copied with less expensive fabrics, machine sewn, and, of course, off the rack, not personally fitted by muslin pattern. These changes make the best styles affordable to all levels of budgets.

Amal’s hat box hand bag is creating a stampede for the style. I personally adore the shape! She has a red one that is used as a neutral with many of her fashions for day time. Designer Kate Spade has the hat box bag for $498.00. I am sure it will be copied by the less expensive designers soon.

So, my darlings, let’s keep up with Amal and her perfect taste.