I love and appreciate fashion at almost every level, but there is just nothing in the world like couture. No dessert, no hotel, no painting could ever rival a hand sewn Chanel, Lacroix, or Dior couture gown – Ok, maybe some things could/do, but to me, the level of intricacy and the vivid fantasy portrayed through every detail in a couture piece is nothing short of breathtaking.

I have long loved the work of Christian Lacroix, and this season (possibly his last, hopefully not) did not disappoint. Much more restrained than, say, his fall ’08 couture collection (which I’d die for), this one offers more wearable pieces. Aside from the stunning gowns, lots of the skirts, jackets, etc. can easily be paired with RTW pieces and worn out in the real world. Of course my favorite look, seen to the left, couldn’t really be worn anywhere, although I’m confident I could at least make good use of the lace underpinning.

See Lacroix’s full collection at Style.com

More on the Fall 2009 Couture Collections to come, including Chanel, Givenchy, Dior…