Haute Couture

What is Haute Couture? Some say its the crazy designs you wouldn't normally wear, but that are the inspiration for the season's trends and styles. Some say its a form of art and expression. In France, "Haute Couture" is a term and concept that is defined and protected by the law (its serious fashion!). Only a select list of designers and houses can call themselves Haute Couture. To be considered HC, the designer must follow a few rules: design custom, fitted clothing for private clients; have an atelier (workshop) in Paris (employing 15 people); and have a fashion show every season with a minimum of 35 separate day and night outfits. The term Haute Couture has been widely misused for unusual and expensive fashions, but basically, it like a bespoke suit: hand made with extraordinary attention to detail, quality fabrics and expert sewing techniques.

Understandably, Haute Couture, though extremely expensive, is not very profitable, thus many fashion houses have abandoned Haute Couture in favour of Prêt-à-Porter, the ready to wear or "off-the-rack" clothing that you can get at department stores. 


Here is a list and some pictures of current members of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture:


Adeline André

Anne Valérie Hash

 

Atelier Gustavo Lins

Chanel

Christian Dior

 

Christophe Josse

Franck Sorbier

Givenchy

Jean Paul Gaultier

Maurizio Galante

Stéphane Rolland

Foreign Members:


Elie Saab

Giorgio Armani

Valentino

Japanese 3D Nail Art

3D Nail Art is basically gluing pretty things to your nails, or onto a set of fake nails.

Japanese 3D nail art is becoming very popular here, with various celebrities adopting the fashion. Here is Rihanna's subtle version of the trend.

Rihanna

Ke$ha played up the trend in her We R Who We R video, with two different sets of nails.

Ke$ha

Ke$ha's second nail look, and cool full finger rings:

Ke$ha

And a close-up of the nail art:

Ke$ha

For a more subtle looks (with an instruction blog), you can glue lace to your nails. Gorgeous.

Instructions

What better way to create a feathered nail polish look than to glue a feather on?

Instructions

You can glue all sorts of things to your nails. Here is a Lady Gaga inspired pearl look.

Lady Gaga

And a white pearl and lace nail set. Sooooo pretty.

For a more edgy look, try chains.

Or using studs, like Ke$ha.

You can do all of your nails the same, or something different on each one.

Diamonds, for a glam look.

It looks neat with the regular pattern and size. Or you can go the exact opposite.

The look is nice, by the nails are too talon-like for my taste. Fake nails can look tacky really easily, but as long as you stay relatively short (less than 3/4 inch) and rounded or squared (not pointed) then you can go crazy with the stuff you glue on ;).

If you are creative, then this is really easy to DIY. Or you can buy a pre-made set. Just google Japanese 3D nail art for hundreds of fun options like this.