Why super rich fashionistas are not crying for cancelled Paris shows

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Why super rich fashionistas are not crying for cancelled Paris shows

Haute couture's made-to-measure creations can cost the price of a luxury sports car

Published: July 07, 2020 16:07 AFP and Compiled by Christian Borbon, Digital Content Editor

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Copy of 249254-01-02-1594123118371 — One very select group of fashionistas were not crying into their cocktails when the Paris fashion shows were cancelled because of the coronavirus. | French fashion designer Julien Fournie (C) and his workshop premiere, Madame Jacqueline (L) are pictured with model Michaela Tomanova Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 249240-01-02-1594123120953 — The tiny group of super rich women who buy the ruinously expensive handmade creations that adorn the runways of Paris haute couture week knew that meant their favourite designers would have to come to them. | Model Michaela Tomanova wearing the "Storm over Paris" dress. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 249262-01-02-1594123115826 — "I thought they would be upset," the French courtier Julien Fournie told AFP as he prepared looks for his film for the French capital's first virtual fashion week, which starts Monday. "But it was quite the opposite," he added. | French fashion designer Julien Fournie poses with his Czech model Michaela Tomanova. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 249227-01-02-1594123133997 — Haute couture's made-to-measure creations - which are only shown in Paris - can cost the price of a luxury sports car. With no glitzy shows to go to this time, the jetset queens that usually patronise them expect their own personalised presentations in their palaces and penthouses. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 249263-01-02-1594123129075 — Fournie, who trained as a doctor before turning his passion and considerable anatomical know-how to couture, said he was used to flying to the Middle East and Asia with the head of his studio, Mademoiselle Jacqueline, for fittings and adjustments. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 249264-01-02-1594123113328 — The difference between couture creations and those you buy off the rail is between night and day, he insisted. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 249268-01-02-1594123107859 — "While you have to get into ready-to-wear clothes" - adapting your body to the norm - "in haute couture, the clothes are made to wrap you," the designer said. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 249260-01-02-1594123105176 — And Fournie only makes one-off pieces to ensure the exclusivity that his very well-heeled clients crave. "Once a client from a royal family cancelled an order after seeing a similar creation worn by Lady Gaga," said the house's director, Jean-Paul Cauvin. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 249234-01-02-1594123131779 — "For them, exclusively is everything, and they don't want that tainted by fame or vulgarity." Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 249252-01-02-1594123139208 — For that reason, Fournie tends to avoid lending his dresses out to stars for red carpet events, except when the singer or actress has a style that really chimes with the "DNA of the house". Fournie's film for his virtual Paris show on Tuesday is more of a teaser than a classic run through the collection. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 249267-01-02-1594123110734 — "We are not showing too much," Cauvin said, to avoid any unseemly competition that might sometimes arise after shows when "clients really set their heart on a particular look and want to put an option on it" before anyone else does. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 249238-01-02-1594123123592 — This time, without a formal show, it will be more about pampering the client, Cauvin added. | Model Michaela Tomanova wears a lace dress, embroidered with 1940 sequins. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 249253-01-02-1594123141943 — "The couturier will have dresses in mind just for them. Fournie is known for designing for "real women" with "breasts and hips and not for gamines" or the androgynous clothes-hanger models that often dominate the catwalks. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 249226-01-02-1594123126386 — "We don't create fashion, we create personalities," he told AFP as he put the finishing touches to his "Storm dress", a silk gown entirely embroidered with goose feathers. "Whoever wears this after the coronavirus will be like an angel returning to Earth," Fournie declared. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 249244-01-02-1594123136336 — "I want to help my clients fulfil their destiny, support them, and help them take flight," he added with a flourish. Image Credit: AFP

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