In the words of Houston fashion icon and International Best Dressed honoree Lynn Wyatt, "Haute couture is sculpture in fabric."
She should know. At the vortex of the international fashion world for decades, Wyatt has closets brimming with stunning designer pieces and, more importantly, haute couture creations. She is going to share a dozen of those fabulously expensive, museum-quality designs with Houston in October when she loans a dozen gowns for a special Fashion Houston 2010 exhibition in the windows of Neiman Marcus.
Wyatt spoke briefly at the Audi Fashion Houston 2010 press launch at Wortham Theater Center, sharing her take on haute couture fashion. She spoke of the artistry "of the handmade, made-to-measure" garments that "are made from the finest materials inside and out."
"The fittings take hours," she said.
No denying, these are serious investment purchases, she said, which she wears for years. There are pieces in her closets that date back 10 to 20 years. "I still love my golden oldies."
Wyatt's fashion strategy is to mix an older piece with something au courant thereby creating a stylish image. She also enjoys updating older ensembles with modern accessories. One of her favorite ploys, she said, is to mix ready-to-wear with haute couture.
While Wyatt credits her mother for imbuing her with a rich sense of style, it was her father, Bernard Sakowitz, founder of the specialty-store chain Sakowitz, who taught her something greater. "A woman should be at her best inside as well as outside," she quoted her father.
And being at one's best has four key elements according to Wyatt: Femininity, confidence, strength and a sense of humor. Surely, La Wyatt embodies them all. As recently retired New York modeling exec Neal Hamil said at the Fashion Houston 2010 launch, the words "Houston fashion" and "Lynn Wyatt" are inseparable.
No one could be more pleased with Wyatt's participation (look for even greater involvement as plans progress) than Momentum Audi honcho Jared Lang, who serves as president of Fashion Houston 2010.
