A Handsmade Tale... in Vogue

When I'm feeling a little down or creatively unmotivated, I know that looking at beautiful photos will cheer me up immediately. Especially any photo spreads from American Vogue, styled by Grace Coddington, like this one I thought I'd share: 'Handsmade Tale'. Shot by famed photographer, Patrick Demarchelier for the October 2008 issue of Vogue Magazine, this beautiful photoshoot is stunning as it captures the iconic Parisian couture houses and an array of their extravagant work, each piece a luxury, iconic design that will form part of a very rich womans wardrobe. With Russian Supermodel, Natalia Vodianova posing alongside the seamstresses and creators of the elegant gowns, Vogue visit the Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, Gaultier and Valentino work rooms to bring the magic of Haute Couture to life. And brought to life they are!

You can't help but just let your eyes roam over the photos, taking in each and every detail and the whole setting that compliment the clothes so well. Like couture, Demarchelier focuses on every nook and cranny, providing us with the perfect pictures that will forever be part of the Vogue archives. Couture for me has always been very special. My Great Grandma once owned a vintage Chanel handbag. Yes, I was very impressed when I found out too! Yet it disintegrated so much over the years it was no longer fit for use (extremely sad.) Yet, Couture will last you a life time. Now, my Great Grandma could not afford couture, a lot like most of the population, but for the women who can, these handmade, made to measure pieces will last a lifetime and then some. Every sequin is sewn by hand, the material is of the finest quality, only a small number are made and the customer is never disappointed with the final outcome. That's what makes couture so special. From Dior's glamorous dresses with full skirts and cinched in waists to Valentino's dramatic red bombshells, perfect for the red carpet; you can just tell couture apart from the normal ready to wear collections.

This photoshoot, captures some of the most iconic designers and pays homage not only to the identity of the fashion house, but to the staff who work long hours to create quality and perfection. I absolutly adore the monochrome Christian Dior photo, with the staff strategically positioned outside the ornate Dior headquaters. Understated and speical, I could just stare at it all day, from the dresses laid out on manequins on the pavement to the two happy seamstresses leaning out of the window. Everyone expresses love for what they do, and their process in the creation of high fashion. The Givenchy homage is also fantastic, with the bright pink balloon separating the Natalia and the five seamstresses. 

I can't imagine what it would feel like to wear a couture gown. I mean, could you? To feel that luxury on your skin and to know that it was made for you, and nobody else. This photoshoot is incredible, and shows that we should all respect the world of Haute Couture and protect its identity. It would be such a shame if it disappeared altogether...