Givenchy to take a break from Paris Haute Couture Week

The French couture label helmed by Riccardo Tisci won't be presenting a collection in January 2013.

A look from the Givenchy haute couture by Riccardo Tisci autumn/winter 2012 collection

In recent seasons Givenchy had opted for more intimate, still life-style showcases but has planned not to share its spring/summer 2013 with press in January, reports WWD.

The label plans to continue making haute couture gowns and will welcome clients to its atelier, but the only glimpse we'll get of Riccardo Tisci's signature gothic glamour is when celebrities will chose to wear creations on the red carpet. Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway and Beyoncé are loyal wearers of the label.

Chanel coat that took 3,000 hours to Make

Ever wondered why couture fashion is so expensive? Let Karl Lagerfeld explain...

Paris Haute Couture week is a world of pure fantasy, where the super-rich congregate to have their wildest fantasies indulged by the world's leading fashion designers. 

As the event draws to a close for another season then, leave it to Chanel creative director, Karl Lagerfeld, to explain why couture customers routinely spend upwards of 170,500 AED for an outfit.

"Couture has to be something nobody can do. You know the tweed is not tweed - it's embroidery, all done by hand. There's a coat with no sleeves that took 3,000 hours to make."

That's right, 3,000 man-hours by the world's most skilled couturiers - known in Paris as Petites Mains - embroiderers, button makers and weavers.

If we imagine for a moment that these craftspeople are working a regular eight hour day, that's a total of 375 days - to make one coat.

Here it is in all its glory and we have to admit, if we had the money, we so would...