Fashion Week in Milan!

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I have some excellent news!

Remember when I told you I taught Ester (the new Upstairs Maid) how to dust very carefully around the Missus' computer and printer every day, and to check for paper jams?  Ha!

Well, today she came downstairs with a big smile on her face!  Seems she saw a confirmation print-out for commercial airline tickets -- and apparently the Lady of the House will be going to the apartment in Milan from February 21 through the 29th!  Yes!


These dates just happen to correspond to 'Fashion Week' in Milan (February 22- the 28th this year),which she always loves to attend.

It's winter in North America, and just off hand we'd think she was going to see the Spring and Summer shows, right?  But season-wise, for fashion, it's just the opposite.

What she'll be viewing are the new Autumn and Winter fashions for 2012!  (The Spring and Summer shows were held in September and October. 2011.)

These half-year gaps in the fashion world gives everyone time to get ready for the next season, six months down the road -- the Press, the Buyers, the Manufacturers and the Retailers.

There are fashion shows all over the world nowadays.  Singapore, Miami (swim wear), Tokyo, you name it.  But there are still the "big four" Fashion Capitals of the World:  New York, London, Milan and Paris!

And the week-long shows in each of these cities begin in New York first, then move on to London, then to Milan, and finally finish up in Paris.  (Some people, especially the Press, spend this entire period going from city to city, following each and every show and all the designers lined up in each place!)

But the Missus usually just goes to the shows in Milan.  Although occasionally she'll attend some of the Haute Couture shows at the end, in Paris.  (And there are dozens of Haute Couture in her closets upstairs!)


High Fashion vs. Haute Couture:

If you buy a gorgeous off-the-rack, ready-to-wear cocktail dress at Neiman Marcus for $4,000 or $5,000, then have it altered for a perfect fit -- this is generally referred to as 'High Fashion'.

But if you hire a renowned, top designer to make something especially for you (that no one else can get their hands on), and cut to your own measurements, this is referred to as 'Haute Couture' -- or more affectionately as just 'Couture'. 

And you'll be paying anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 for this garment, depending upon the designer!  (Apparently Madonna wore 'Couture' for her dazzling half-time performance at Super Bowl 2012 -- but I've not yet heard the price tag.)

Although 'Haute Couture' is a legally-protected term by France, the two terms 'High Fashion' and 'Couture' are often loosely interchanged. 

So if you want to refer to that cheap $5,000 cocktail dress you just bought at Neiman's as 'Couture' -- it'll be ok.  Ha!  (After all, you did pay $600 to your tailor for alterations, right?)

If you'd like to keep up with the four major shows and what designers will be displaying their wares, you could hit this link to Vogue, and just click on "Shows".

Hope this was fun to read!  It sure was fun to write!  Ha!

Thanks for stopping by tonight!

Andrew