couture envy

Roberto Cavalli Tries to Get In On the Whole Couture Thing

It’s only natural on the second day of Couture Week that Roberto Cavalli feel a little envy. He’s not a member of the Chambre syndicale de la haute couture, which are the only labels legally allowed by France to call their clothes “haute couture.” But he’s launching a “made-to-measure” service for his richest customers — excuse us, clients — anyway. Ladies can get custom Cavalli dresses made in the atelier above his Rue Saint-Honoré store in Paris. Prices start at 30,000 euros for a cocktail dress, which is about $42,000 — more than some pieces in the Givenchy spring 2009 couture collection, for example. Heightening the exclusive, luxuriant feeling of this new service, Cavalli plans to produce only 35 of these creations each year.

Such services are already available to Cavalli’s celebrity clientele. “Clients who want a special outfit from Cavalli now will know that they can obtain it,” Roberto’s wife, Eva, said. What is she talking about? Every piece of Cavalli is special.

Cavalli Couture [British Vogue]

Roberto Cavalli Tries to Get In On the Whole Couture Thing