Valentino - worth the hype or worth a miss?

Let's get this straight, I am a massive lover of Vintage Couture - I don't care who it's by; Balenciaga, Dior, Chanel, Valentino - It's pretty, high fashion, bejewelled and like a magpie, I love it.
So I always venture into Couture fashion week with baited breath, but so far have not been let down. Armani, Dior and Gaultier have all proved their worth and have secured their place in fashion history for one more year.
But Valentino, where do I begin....?



When I was a poor fashion student undertaking a National Diploma with little knowledge of fashion designers, I set myself a task of researching designers and Valentino was the first one I came across. And I instantly fell in love. What he achieved was true couture, it was daring and exciting. The colours, the fabrics and the volume all went up a notch with Valentino.

As you can see - the current creative directors have a lot to live up to in my eyes. And I don't quite think they make it to be honest. This weeks couture show was a little... well, boring. There was no pizazz, it just looked like a ready to wear collection with more expensive fabric being used. It was sumptuous, i'll give them that. There was lace, silk and chiffon. But I can't help thinking that this was not what the great man would have envisaged all those years ago.

Gaultier - wow!

Now, we know the term 'Haute Couture' was coined with Jean Paul Gaultier in mind and I for one didn't think he could get any better. But yesterdays show takes the biscuit.

On paper, french can-can girls and british punk rock do not mix, but, Gaultier has worked his magic in the only way he knows how. Topping the show off in style with a classic bridal piece, modelled in a less than classic way.

Gaultiers new muse was the star of the show, not shocking you might say, all designers do that. Yes they do, but do they let their male muse star in their womenswear couture show? I think not.

But Gaultier gets away with it, he's french, Avant Guarde may aswell be his middle name - so it works, and to be honest would you really know that Andrej Pejic is a man if you hadn't been told beforehand?

Words cannot describe the love/hate relationship I have had with Gaultier over the years (I am not a fan of the old Madonna pointy bra effect and never will be), but the reason I keep coming back is that he just keeps us guessing - and that's exciting, that is what true couture should be.