Portraits of haute couture: Ebony fashion fair - new evening gown fashion

Ebony, June, 1993 by Eunice W. Johnson

Taking fashion's new softness into the night, world-famous models moved along the Paris runways appearing like beautiful portraits in an art gallery, classic and regal, as each couture designer showed his ultimate in elegance.

The assumption in France is that while a desinger does indeed create daytime clothing, his real arena is in attire for the evening. That's where the world luxury has its real meaning. One particular designer says, "In the luxury business, couture is still the best way to create and sustain an image."

In a very successful show, desingers paraded great and dazzling evening and ball gowns: Lacroix with his inventive yet harmonious creations, Dior with his classic elegance, and Ungaro with a flight into fairyland. The show ended with Ungaro's wedding dress with polka dots and puff sleeves that could have been made for a fairy-tale bride back in time.

But it was the wealth of fabrics shown that gave the show the luxurious feel: rich, regal, rarified fabrics, brocades with opulent embroideries, embosssed lame, crushed and cut velvet, appliqued satins covered with layers of lace.

The result was a fascinating collection of fabrics that contributed to the new femininity and rendered beautiful Portraits of Haute Couture!