Grey marl - the new black?

By Zoe Elia Cropped Jersey Biker Jacket - My Wardrobe

Vivienne Westwood Grey Fortune Dress - My Wardrobe

Best Behaviour Cut Out Jersey Top - Urban Outfitters

Karen Walker Ruffle Cross Over Dress - Urban Outfitters

Grey marl / checked blazer - H! by Henry Holland, Debenhams

Ruffle Hem Dress - Peacocks

Every where I look recently I am confronted with jersey grey marl pieces. I realise that I am probably being slightly boring by announcing that we have yet another 'new black' but with it looking to be such a huge trend for the summer dare I say I think it could be.

Grey marl is something that I have great affections for, perhaps due to its association with my teenage years. In fact I only recently threw away a pair of grey marl trackie trousers that served me throughout my teens and twenties. I love the comfy relaxed look of it, the slightly textured appearance and its neutrality. This season, I am loving even more for it is being mixed up with patterns like florals and checks as well khaki, neutrals, ruffles and tailored pieces (all other favourites of mine).

After spending the winter swathed in thick black clothes, by the spring and summer I am completely ready for an alternative that is lighter and fresher. Grey marl is just that, admittedly it will never be as versatile or slimming as black but it is much less draining on the complexion and adds instant laid back chic to almost any outfit.

Couture - What is the point?

I love the couture shows and the luxury, the drama and the fact that it is all completely over the top. But I am sure many others have written and posted on this subject and I am still not really getting it, what is the point of couture?

By Couture, I mean 'Haute Couture', the very highest end of luxury fashion, the luxurious, hand crafted pieces of artwork made with intricate detail and expert tailoring made by a select few fashion houses as opposed to Juicy Couture, Tesco Couture or anything else which uses the word 'couture' in its name.

I know that unless there are some very dramatic changes in my life (perhaps a very big lottery win), I will never wear couture or probably even get to see it up close. So for me the point has always really been an art form to look at. I have also always thought that couture is important as inspiration for all sorts of other fashion. However, the main point of couture is its attention to detail and craftmanship, if this other fashion can't replicated on a lower budget, then is there any point?

From the fashion brands point of view couture is part of their overall marketing . Whilst they often make a loss on couture is is considered a worthwhile exercise in building the brand and like many branding or marketing activities has a subtle effect that cannot neccesarily be measured by a return on investment. The Haute Couture shows recieve massive press coverage, this is so much more valuable than advertising. But with the current economic situation and so many fashion houses struggling (The loss of the Christian Lacroix label is a real shame), is couture still relevant? and with conspicuos consumption being very out of fashion, will it sell any more?

The latest of the couture collections seem to have set out to prove that couture is still very relevant. Young models to appeal to a new generation of fashion lovers and subtle luxury that is not overtly opulent. They are appealing to a whole new range of customers notably from Asia, so their relevance is evolving and changing all of the time - as is everything in the fashion world.

I think for those select few houses that do have couture collections, it is a sign of their status of being top of their game. With new up and coming labels launching all of the time, Haute Couture allows these labels to stay ahead of the pack. I guess the point of couture is not really whether it sells, I expect they can always give it away or lend it to celebrities for red carpet events. It is a marketing tool and one which the rest of us can enjoy as an art form, so lets enjoy it (even if we can't wear it). Here are some of my favourites from the SS10 couture collections:

Armani Privé

Givenchy

Dior

Jean Paul Gaultier

Chanel

pictures from http://www.style.com/