5 Designers We’d Love to See Do Couture
Photos: Imaxtree
Couture-worthy looks from the Lanvin and Marc Jacobs Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear collections
With the all those Marc Jacobs to Dior rumors comes the realization that the designer might soon be responsible for a couture collection—an idea escalated by Marc Jacobs International CEO Robert Duffy, who recently told WSJ. Magazine that Jacobs “could do a couture line.”
Which got us thinking: What other denizens of design would we like to see give haute couture a twirl?
Here's our shortlist.
1. Marc Jacobs
Sure, his plate is full. If he did take the Dior job, he’d be responsible for Marc Jacobs and Dior—two powerhouse brands with very different flavors—as well as Marc by Marc Jacobs and Dior Couture (this is assuming he'd leave his job at the helm of Louis Vuitton; no mere mortal could handle three houses). But the designer’s theatrical side could have the chance to get its own mega-stage should he take the reins. Forgetting the actual collection for a moment, we can only imagine the over-the-top staging, hair, and makeup. But where Galliano was often criticized by being stuck in references to the past, Jacobs would almost certainly take his high concepts forward.
2. Lanvin
Another designer name that has been thrown in the Dior ring is Alber Elbaz, a darling of the fashion world whose super-sweet reputation couldn’t be further from Galliano’s rumored diva antics. But behavior aside, Elbaz has turned the house of Lanvin into one that consistently receives both critical acclaim and commercial success. We’d love to see what might happen if he tapped fully into the couture fantasy world: liquid metal draped gowns? Feathered and beaded confections? And the colors!
Photos: Imaxtree
Couture-worthy looks from the Jason Wu, Rodarte, and Balenciaga Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear collections
3. Balenciaga
The historic house of Balenciaga got a complete face-lift when Nicolas Ghesquiere came on board. While he has never lost sight of house signatures like architecture and volume, the designer has wholeheartedly pursued the strategy of pushing the brand into the future with remarkably innovative techniques and textiles (remember those Lego shoes and C3P0-esque gold metal leggings?). It’s an approach that has gained him a loyal following of fans and rave reviews season after season—can you imagine a collection dialed up to the couture level? We can’t … but we bet Ghesquiere can.
4. Rodarte
Kate and Laura Mulleavy have always been known for their craftsmanship. They present collections that are typically small and incredibly focused, with details that seem impossible to have come from a needle and thread (and sometimes, in fact, haven't: They’ve been known to burn, sand and shred their designs). But to create a successful business, clothes need to sell—which is why Rodarte has become ever more commercialized in the last few seasons. A couture collection for the sisters could be their perfect opportunity to emphasize what put them on the map back in 2006—a don’t-believe-it-til-you-see-it artistry.
5. Jason Wu
He’s not yet 30, but Jason Wu is one of the biggest names on the New York Fashion Week calendar. The true boy wonder has built a smart business by showing off his fashion chops in wearable form and taking classic pieces up to the nth degree of luxuriousness (what could be a better example than the cashmere sweatshirt with lace-trimmed sleeves from his Fall 2011 collection?). But when he does custom work, the results are breathtaking—who could forget Michelle Obama’s inauguration gown or the handfuls of looks he’s done for unofficial muse Diane Kruger? A couture collection from Wu could be just the place for hit after hit of spectacular dresses.
