“If we assume man has been corrupted by an artificial civilization, what is the natural state? the state of nature from which he has been removed? imagine, wandering up and down the forest without industry, without speech, and without home.”
An ever charming Kirsten Dunst ponders over these effervescent words from the philosopher Jean Jacque Rousseau; book in hand, clothed in a ethereal prairie style dress, Miss Dunst is presented as a modern-day Marie Antoinette, escaping into nature, away from the smothering and chaotic world.
Marie Antoinette had her own escape as the Petit Trianon and recently there has been a longing and a demand to “get back into nature.” This idealisation of a simple, wholesome life is encapsulated by the term cottagecore which denotes a “romanticised life within nature.” I can resonate with the alluring aspect of such a routine as it appears to encapsulate freedom, self-expression, comfort and beauty.
This ideal has infused itself into the fashion industry and the A/W, S/S collections from houses such as Elie Saab, Paolo Sebastian, Rodarte, have all alluded to this idea which I call, ‘cottagecore couture.’ The pieces attain their opulence and grandeur whilst encapsulating an affinity with nature.
Elie Saab presented its latest collection in an autumnal woodland, Rodarte presented its spring/summer 21′ collection in a open field and we saw brands such as Moschino create a unique, socially distanced rendition of their traditional catwalk show by staging it with a set of marionette dolls, adorned with miniature pieces of haute couture.
Rodarte Spring 2021 Ready to Wear
“Everything we do is about fantasy and dreams, but we are located in a moment, and we are a part of what is happening now,” says Kate, one of the two sisters behind Rodarte.
The spring collection does not disappoint and aptly communicates a veil of fantasy. Each garment incorporates the brands signature florals, flounces and frills, whilst introducing us to a “paired-back” look with pyjama sets, slips and robes. The picturesque florals express the remnants of an Edenic bliss in Milton’s Paradise Lost.
The silk floral wreaths adorning each model are reminiscent of fairy, woodland nymphs in A Midsummer Nights Dream. The sharp, pie-crust collars are the epitome of a Renaissance, Shakespearean collar.
My favourite piece from the collection is the elegant, pink tulle dress. The wispy material adds an ethereal quality and the dainty pink roses adorning the waist and collar add an element of elegance.
Needle and Thread Bon Voyage
Ready for a seasonal refresh, Needle and Thread has transported us from the ethereal summer to a whimsical winter with its Bon Voyage collection. The name is most definitely apt to casting aside the summer blues as we soon hope to say au revoir to the pandemic! Needle and Thread never fail to create a fantasy from a distant reality…
The collection takes inspiration from the Regency period and the rise of Toile de Jouy artwork from France in the 1800s.
The collection carefully considers a colour palette of champagne, powder blues and rose pinks, combined with romantic textures. With new silhouettes and feminine shapes, expect statement looks that will be sure to transition you into the new season in style.
Elie Saab Fall 2020 Haute Couture
Dubbing the collection “The Sacred Source,” Saab pays tribute to the beauty and resilience of his hometown of Beirut. Committed to envisioning a fairytale amidst a crisis, Saab provides us with a plethora of inspiration.
The collection materialises as something glamorous yet ethereal with decadent embroidery, exaggerated ruffles, fancy feathers, floor-length gowns with ethereal capes, jewels embossed detailing…
Chanel Spring/Summer Haute Couture
Chanel’s SS21 collection produced an array of dreamy pieces. The collection was inspired by the wondrous world of the old Hollywood era, each garment is based on one of Chanel’s female muses.
I particularly adored the white co-ords and pink tweed pieces which are very Jackie Kennedy inspired!
Paolo Sebastian A/W 2021 Couture
Paolo Sebastian never fails to encapsulate and invigorate the senses with his unique, feminine designs and the Autumn/Winter 2021 collection is magic!
“Inspired by a tale of timeless romance and a past preserved in time, the collection follows a young girl as she discovers her great grandmother’s attic. Upon finding an antique locket within her great grandmother’s possessions, the girl uncovers a world that has been hidden from plain sight. Heirloom pays homage to the grandeur of a bygone era, long forgotten under lock and key.”
Giambattista Valli Spring 2021 Ready To Wear
Giambattista Valli’s Spring 2021 Ready To Wear collection emerged with an array of hopeful notes for the New Year. Taking its inspiration from “18th-century porcelain and the crests forged in the cast iron gates of grand Italian homes, its presence came through loud and clear.” Moving away from the iconic, layered tulle dresses and breathing life back into wearable pieces of a simpler, freer time, Valli’s collection is elegant, dainty and feminine, featuring beautiful details such as touches of lace, broderie anglaise – with their signature, iconic black bows adorning the heads of model, signifying the timeless elegance of each look.
Moschino Spring 2021 Collection
Moschino approached its spring 2021 collection on a miniature scale. Who can resist dainty pieces of couture?
Jeremy Scott’s vision behind the collection was “to give the gift of fantasy and take us away from all of it for a few minutes.” Delving back into the archives, Scott was inspired by a plethora of miniature garments created after WW2 to save their businesses from collapse. Scott designed a set of 30-inch puppet dolls showcasing his latest creations, contributing to the allusion of this fantastical dream-like vision.
Every detail is considered and each marionette is dressed to perfection in her minuscule garment ~ the grandeur of haute couture transforms into something tangible.
I hope you enjoyed this my darlings! Please let me know your favourite collection ♡
I’m sending lots of love to you all,
I love all your blogs but I found this one absolutely fascinating. Beautifully written you made me want to look up all these Collections and find out more about them!
Thank you Margaret! I feel my happiest when writing about couture – its so whimsical and takes me away to another world 🌸
dear sophie all the pieces of couture were beautiful.
I loved the illustrations you put in and also the words you used were lovely 🎀🐩
Thank you sweet princess! I’m so glad you enjoyed reading 🌸