Suzy Menkes: Christian Lacroix A/W 89 Haute Couture

‘Every flower in the hair, every fur trim, all these things were part of telling a whole story. There’s one thing about this early Christian Lacroix show which is so exceptional: a sense of joy.'

The esteemed fashion editor and critic recalls Christian Lacroix's A/W 89 haute couture show, detailing why the designer was foremost an artist drawing on childhood memories. Looking back to her first round of shows as a reporter, Menkes describes how Lacroix created approachable clothes rooted in a sense of colour, texture and ultimately, joy. Giving a glimpse into the world of couture in the eighties, Menkes recalls what it meant to both fashion buyers and the French nation.