I Live for Couture Week—Here’s How I’m Re-Creating the Best Looks

Let’s be honest for a moment. Fashion can feel frivolous at times, especially within the context of contemporary couture. It can sometimes feel ostentatious compared to our approachable capsule wardrobe. Because modern couture is inaccessible to most consumers and there’s so much happening in the world, it’s only natural for most to ask, Is haute couture really that serious? I’d never surmise that it would have the weight that so many other topics do in the world, but I’d also never discount its influence. Like it or not, couture has often acted as a reflection of current times—it can tell us what’s happening in the stars and the stock exchange. Long before something blows up on TikTok, you better believe its origins can be traced back to couture fashion week.

The essence of what’s fashionable always comes back to haute couture because it’s about the craft of making clothing. It’s not about hyperconsumption; it’s about the art. That feels particularly topical as more conversations in the cultural canon center on the idea of adopting the quiet luxury ethos—the shift from keeping up with trends to investing in timeless items. Couture offers people a permission slip to escape from the never-ending trend cycle, and it’s a way to fall in love with well-made clothing again. At best, couture can make us see the world in a new light or, at the very least, change our wardrobes. If you’re still not convinced about how couture can apply to your relationship with your own closet, you’ll want to keep reading.

After hours of image research, I’ve narrowed down the six best spring/summer 2024 couture collections based on how they made haute couture feel relatable to our everyday lives. Plus, I’ve identified three looks from each show that are easy to re-create with shopping recommendations. Prepare to become a lover of haute couture.