Luxe, at last

What enfant terrible Ray Kuan's holiday collection is also a bright beacon signaling the return to luxury in this retail infested corner of the world.

Cheap imitations from China and Thailand litter all the malls and shops that one wonders whether this is the effect of the democratization of fashion. Indeed, from Milan to Paris to New York, haute couture shops are on the vanguard against retail diluting the purity of a grandiose fashion collection.

When retail shops have made the cashmere sweater as much as a wardrobe basic as the white shirt, where do designers take luxury next? Their response is to use labor-intensive fabrication, beading, embroidery and other detailing. Often, it's the amount of thought that has gone into creating something that makes it luxurious. Consider Mr. Kuan's predilection to the union between deconstructionism and luxurious treatment.

Look closely that what seems like an elegant pleated dress that has unfinished hem that sways in all directions. Scrutinize a drop dead gorgeous black and blue gown with multidirectional striped detailing and bravely featuring mutilated swatches of chiffon which adorn the bodies. As with all his type of couture, he has frayed jersey tulle longsleeved dress with intricate pleating. A leopard print top and a draped wool skirt speaks of uptight British tailoring but voila! It's edges are also unfinished. So are his other stuff which feature fabrics in various form of dis-array but oh so chic!

Would this be the sign of the times? Luxury reflecting our fragile economy yet luxurious nontheless? You be the judge and ogle this spread of Ray Kuan's holiday style. Bravissimo!