Fashion Industry Insights: From Haute Couture to Color Psychology
Prêt-à-Porter vs. Haute Couture
Prêt-à-Porter, literally meaning ‘Ready-to-Wear’, refers to high-end garments available for purchase in boutiques, department stores, and online. Many renowned designers, such as Dior and Vera Wang, offer ready-to-wear collections.
Production involves high-quality, factory-made fashion, not necessarily mass-produced, and available in various sizes to fit the majority of people well. Prêt-à-Porter collections are typically released twice a year, produced at faster rates, and in higher quantities. Runway fashion shows are presented one year in advance during fashion week, with exclusive guest lists for celebrities, press, and fashion bloggers.
Haute Couture is generally considered ‘High Fashion’, meaning ‘high sewing’ or ‘high dressmaking’. It emphasizes extreme attention to detail, reserved for one-of-a-kind pieces. Each piece is made to measure for a single client, tailored in style and size. Haute Couture represents the highest quality and price point. To achieve this status, designers must receive official permission from the Syndical Chamber for Haute Couture, based in Paris. They must showcase collections twice a year with at least 35 pieces, and maintain a workshop in Paris employing at least fifteen full-time staff members. The fashion house must design made-to-order pieces for clients with at least one fitting.
This level of quality results in high prices and caters to high-end customers. Haute Couture houses create collections every summer and winter season, presenting both day and evening wear six months in advance. Haute Couture shows are artistic spectacles.
Color Analysis
Determining Your Skin Undertone
Step 1: Determine whether you are a COOL or a WARM type. Skin undertone is determined by hemoglobin, carotene, and melanin. Your undertone is defined by genetics and will never change.
- Foundation Test: Apply a pink-based cream foundation on one cheek and a yellow-based one on the other. The foundation that blends seamlessly is your match. Pink indicates COOL, yellow indicates WARM.
- Gold/Silver Test: Hold a silver-colored and a gold-colored piece of fabric or paper against the inner side of your wrists or another area with rare sun exposure. The right color will blend with your skin, making it look even. The wrong color will make your skin look uneven and speckled.
- Vein Test: Examine the veins on your inner wrist. Blueish veins indicate COOL, greenish veins indicate WARM.
Fashion and Sustainability
The Rise of Slow Fashion
Slow Fashion seeks to reduce pollution, use sustainable raw materials, recycle, avoid waste, and provide necessary guarantees to producers and workers. It is committed to a circular economy, ensuring garments can be recycled. Eco-friendly fashion is increasingly embraced by prestigious names, with many luxury brands renouncing the use of animal leather. Sustainable and respectful fashion requires more responsible consumption habits, encouraging consumers to buy better, not just more.
Expressing Opinions in Fashion Discussions
In my opinion… My opinion (my belief, my impression, my view) is that… I think (that)… What about you? I don’t think (that)… To my mind… What I mean is that… I have the feeling that… As for me / As to me… I have no doubt that… Personally… What’s your point of view? From my point of view… The way I see it… I believe that… It seems to me (that)…
Expressing Agreement and Disagreement
That’s right – quite right! – just so! I agree with you / him/ her… That’s true – It’s true. I think so (too). I agree with you up to a point. Not at all! I don’t agree with… (I disagree). I’m afraid I don’t agree. I don’t think so (either). You must be joking!!!
The Psychology of Color in Fashion
Understanding Color Impact
- Blue: The color of the sky and the ocean, blue is one of the most popular colors. It causes the opposite reaction as red. Peaceful, tranquil blue causes the body to produce calming chemicals, so it is often used in bedrooms. Blue can also be cold and depressing. Fashion consultants recommend wearing blue to job interviews because it symbolizes loyalty. People are more productive in blue rooms. Studies show weightlifters are able to handle heavier weights in blue gyms.
- Yellow: Cheerful sunny yellow is an attention getter. While it is considered an optimistic color, people lose their tempers more often in yellow rooms, and babies will cry more. It is the most difficult color for the eye to take in, so it can be overpowering if overused. Yellow enhances concentration. It also speeds metabolism.
- Brown: Solid, reliable brown is the color of earth and is abundant in nature. Light brown implies genuineness while dark brown is similar to wood or leather. Brown can also be sad and wistful. Men are more apt to say brown is one of their favorite colors.
- Red: The most emotionally intense color, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. It is also the color of love. Red clothing gets noticed and makes the wearer appear heavier. Since it is an extreme color, red clothing might not help people in negotiations or confrontations. Red cars are popular targets for thieves. In decorating, red is usually used as an accent. Decorators say that red furniture should be perfect since it will attract attention.