I’m beholden to the House of Dior and Vogue Runway for the images included in this post. Thank you.

Warning: short but inspiring post. Another warning: you’ll have to watch very short videos from the Dior atelier — too short and worth the time.

I may or may not use these details from the Spring 2022 Couture season, but I am inspired. Yes, I want to copy, knock off and be shamelessly obsessed by the details, and couture techniques.

Let’s do Dior:

1. Queue de rat or, rattail (rat tail?) cord.

English speaking sewists know this as a bias tube strip with a smallish diameter. To my knowledge, our rattail cords have an inner layer which keeps it rounded. Here’s a Dior video which I have watched several times. It’s all hand sewn to the base fashion fabric (hand sewing is a hallmark of hate couture) but I cannot deduce whether it was couched down, or sewn down with slip stitches. You tell me after the video. Watch, please.

2. Narrow lace and tulle ribbons. Without being sickly sweet, this is a masterful use of a very common embellishment. Narrow lace and tulle strips!

Hand gathered and applied to a previously marked base fabric it creates delicious texture and high impact. Note how slowly the gathered lace is machine sewn to the fabric with the use of an awl to keep the presser foot from dragging on the lace. Must watch video.

3. Straight Jacket Silhouette is an obvious homage by the House of Dior to Claire McCardell, (in my opinion) and so very chic and edgy.

Please don’t lift your arms while wearing it. Unless, it’s made with a knit, which I did in 2015. You can see it in a previous post — Mccardell Inspired Wrap.

Hope you enjoyed this. The Couture is such an inspiration.

Samina