by Timothy Hagy
Photos by Marie-Béatrice Seillant
 PARIS, July 6, 2006 - The crystalline winter world of Christian Lacroix haute
couture is indeed a lovely place. It’s a place where a thin, elegant
silhouette, at times invoking the early 20th century, at times wrapped in an
ageless beauty, graced the catwalk late on Thursday afternoon.
As hand fans fluttered away in the École des Beaux Arts, Lacroix sent out a
series of A-line coats, sculpted from layers of ruffles or woven from bands
of fox and lace. Everywhere you looked - a black bodice glazed with jet
embroidery worn atop a twirled silk skirt, a floppy licorice-colored dress
dripping in tiers of glittering embroidery, a coat enveloped in ostrich
plumes, a jacket dusted in silver, sleeves trimmed in fox - you couldn’t help
but notice the essence of beauty.
Of the series of magnificent evening pieces, the gossamer sky blue tulle over
pearl gray satin dress with faille bustle, and the midnight blue jersey gown
with duchess satin stole, floated light as air. Even though these dresses
belonged to a wintertime collection, they seemed as delicate as icing on a
cake. That’s the spirit of couture, and Christian Lacroix knows it better
than most.
Backstage after the show, Lacroix said there was maybe “a little of the 20s
in it”. The part that is clear is that the label has grown enormously since
the 1980s when LVMH launched it. The current owners, the American Falic
Group, must surely realize the quality of their gem.
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