I don’t if it’s because of the mass appeal of Juicy Couture or simply the way its meaning evolves as it filters into mainstream vernacular, but "haute couture" although commonly perceived as a custom item of clothing of any sort or price, in actuality is a term protected by law and defined by the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Paris with very specific rights.

Haute couture is a luxury allowed to a privileged few.

Naveed Hussain, brings you his thoughts on the Spring 2011 Best of Haute Couture. – S.H.

A look at the Spring 2011 Haute Couture Paris shows only leads one to further reevaluate the basic relevance of Couture yet again.

While half of the nine designers presumably attempted to maintain Couture’s stale red-carpet appeal, the others managed to produce tepid extensions of their own banal signatures without a single inclination of moving things forward.

MORE: Paris Couture Fashion Week

That being said, the true wizardry of Couture at least lives on in the craftsmanship of the few stand-out collections.

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And while the few favorites we do have for the season couldn’t escape there own banalities, there was still plenty to applaud and admire.

Givenchy

Givenchy Haute Couture- Spring 2011

Givenchy Haute Couture- Spring 2011

Givenchy Haute Couture- Spring 2011

Ricardo Tisci‘s confidence at Givenchy continues to thrive beyond the need for exploration as he is becoming an increasingly indulgent master of his own domain. For him Couture may be an outlet for gratuitously highlighting his much beloved signatures with thousands of hours of treatments, but for the Chambre Syndicale, in my book, he is currently Couture’s most important man. – Naveed Hussain, VagabondNYC

Photos:vagabondnyc

Bouchra Jarra

Bouchra Jarrar Haute Couture- Spring 2011

Bouchra Jarrar Haute Couture- Spring 2011

Newcomer Bouchra Jarrar is currently the only woman in Couture and while there’s need for improvement for this Balenciaga vet, she does have a handle on spare, sensible pieces with a graphic strength.

Valentino

Valentino Haute Couture- Spring 2011

Valentino Haute Couture- Spring 2011

Valentino Haute Couture- Spring 2011

Like Ricardo Tisci at Givenchy, Pier Paolo Piccioli and co-designer Maria Grazia Chiuri have quickly assembled a strong vision for the Valentino girl and Spring’s effort was an ethereal update to their many signatures. And like at Givenchy, while the shapes and neutral palette relied on soft simplicity, the true focus lie in rigorous craftsmanship.