Jean Paul Gaultier, Couture 2013. Images: elleuk.com

I love Raf Simons, I love Jil Sander, and I love Dior. But Raf, please take note- THIS, (above) is couture. Your first and long-awaited collection for Dior was beautifully elegant, fusing Dior’s ‘New Look’ with modern Jil Sander-esque proportions, but it was nevertheless slightly bland to my eye.

Couture is about showmanship, creating pieces that are distinctly set apart from pret a porter designs. I felt that the Dior Couture collection imbued far too much of a ‘ready-to-wear’ feel. If I was a Dior couture buyer or collector, I would be disappointed by the designs, yet would obviously still purchase as it was a landmark collection from a new designer.

If I think back to Dior in the Galliano days, the collections were always super-sculpted and dramatic, evoking an exoticism whilst still capturing the Dior silhouette with full crinoline skirts and cinched waists. Raf gave us that element, yet I felt that some of the cocoon shapes were very much an example of him bringing the essence of Jil Sander into the collection.

In stark comparison, l’enfant-terrible, Jean Paul Gaultier, was made for couture. He gave us fantasy, panache, and the sheer decadence I’ve long come to associate with couture.

Ultimately, there has to be a sense of excitement in pieces which hardly anyone can have the chance to wear. Couture is about drama and unattainability, and that, for me, is what makes it stand out from the ready to wear collections.

What do you think about the differences between Couture and Ready to wear? And what are your thoughts on this past Couture week? I’d love for you guys to get in touch! Please follow and tweet to me @StyleScoopDaily and on Facebook :)