PARIS, Oct 9, 2007/ FW/ --- The legendary designer Jacques Fath is a contemporary of Christian Dior. And like Mr. Dior, Fath also died at an early age, during the height of his career as a fashion designer. Another similarity is that, for both Monsieur Dior and Monsieur Fath, the fashion houses they founded outlived them.

But while the House of Dior has been as popular as ever, the House of Jacques Fath had seen the ebbs and lows for the past several years. But, for the Spring 2008 season, the venerable French fashion house is being reborn as Mr. Daniel Chocu, the brand’s new CEO and financier stages a quiet revival.

Hence, instead of a catwalk show, a presentation was held during Paris Fashion Week to introduce a collection based on the neutral color palette of black, white and beige, with pink added for a splash o color.

Geared towards the U.S. market, the whole collection is comprised of easy-to-wear pieces that dress a lady from day to night. Mini dresses with hemlines that are about 2 inches above the knee, tailored trousers and blouses plus sunburst-waisted gowns; Jacques Fath wants its very discerning clientele to be ready for all occasions.

Surprisingly enough, though the house has no Creative Director (the collection was designed by an in-house design team), the house code of Jacques Fath was painstakingly followed.

With the rose as the theme, the flower was seen as an adornment on the back of cocktail dress and seen as a 3-D appliqué on a short bolero jacket. A fern that was originally designed by Mr. Jacques Fath himself as embroidery was translated into a print and found its way on the sunburst skirt of a gown.

Every piece in the collection displayed a sublime respect to the code of Jacques Fath because although Mr. Fath had been gone for over 50 years, his designs are still relevant today.

Beautiful as the collection maybe, one could not help but notice that the ‘soul’ of the collection is missing. Though some fashionistas might disagree, the presence of a Creative Director for a legendary house like Jacques Fath is a need, not a want.

True, the revival of the house in 2002, under the helm of Lizzy Disney did not pan out. There could be a number of reasons, yet to revisit them now will not be pertinent simply because it is in the past and in fashion terms, almost a lifetime away.

What we have is today and the future. And to move forward, a sure hand of a Creative Director is very important when reviving a fashion house, especially that Jacques Fath had been in the doldrums for at least 3 years, perhaps more.

Jacques Fath
(courtesy of Jacques Fath)

Jacques Fath
(courtesy of Jacques Fath)

Jacques Fath

Jacques Fath