Carmen Marc Valvo Fall/Winter 2008-09

Girls, if you think you need at least US$20000.00 to get your hands on couture, well, you're wrong.

Now, with as little as US$1300.00, you also can get your hands on the latest couture (yes, couture without the word 'haute') pieces for your extensive wardrobe, thanks to fashion genius Carmen Marc Valvo.

Carmen, whose creations are familiar sights in Ugly Betty, especially the white pants suits worn by Wilhelmina Slater, creative director cum resident bitch played by actress/singer Vanessa Williams, came out with this exclusive couture line after receiving tremendous demands from his celebrity and well-to-do clients.

Incorporating luxury at its very best with great combination of lush fabrics, furs, and intricate embellishments, Carmen's couture collections are simply to die for, and not to mention, far affordable than the rest of couture pieces designed by major industry players of the fashion world.

In other words, it only takes you a fraction of cost to get the same red carpet feel as any to-notch celebrities in Hollywood or the world.

For fall/winter 2008, Carmen channels the glamorous and exquisite fashion sense of Elizabeth Taylor's alter ego Gloria Wandrous in her 60's hit movie Butterfield 8.

Staged at the recent New York Fashion Week, the new collection plays with lots of jewel tones from rubies to emeralds, noted from the character's brilliant sapphire eyes, with yards of plush silks and duchess satin.

Classic and rich Chantilly laces are crafted into superb lingerie-inspired pieces, evening gowns are corseted, and innerwear goes vice versa.

The show kicked off with a black bodycon duchess satin corset dress with embellished neckline, a brown outer coat with velvety texture, and a matching oversized clutch.

The sexy sweetheart neck Chantilly lace corset worn underneath black silk satin dress with long cuffed chiffon sleeves and plunging lapeled neckline evokes the authentic sexy 60's appeal.

Another eye-catcher from this enticing collection was sheer lace corset worn with high-waisted loose trousers and with cropped fur coat and long leather gloves. Think of pop icon Madonna in her "Vogue" days.

The sexy librarian look was projected in forms of sleeveless shift dress with multi-tiered fringed skirt in emerald, two-tone printed and sleeveless shift dress worn with a pair of leather long gloves, black duchess satin long-sleeved dress with wide folded neck, and a fiery ruby sheath dress with fan pleat detail on the front. All these are complemented with a pair of translucent reading glasses.

As the show nearly reached its finale, audiences marveled on the beautiful selection of evening wears, starting with a two piece black corset top and pearlescent brown satin long skirt, finished off with a wide belt that sported embellished buckle.

Origami application was also applied on a white long gown with fan pleat detail on the front as well as a touch of posh embellishment.

Last but not least, this one should accentuate every glamazon's evening wardrobe - midnight blue shift evening dress with a combination asymmetrical satin and lace bodice.

Carmen Marc Valvo's fall/winter 2008 collection will be available at selected high-end retailers all across the United States starting end of August to late September while the spring/summer 2008 collection is in the stores now.

*Photos by Carmen Marc Valvo

Carmen Marc Valvo - Saks Fifth Avenue, 611, Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10022; Bergdorf Goodman, 2, West 58th Street, New York NY 10019; Neiman Marcus, 2 East Maple Avenue, White Plains NY 10601; Nordstrom, 630, Old Country, Garden City NY 11530.