IN PHOTOS: Jennifer Lopez leads Paris' haute couture revival

PARIS (AP) — Just a few years ago it was on the brink of extinction. Now, haute couture — the 150-year-old Parisian tradition of making unique, astronomically-priced handmade gowns — is back.

 

The fall-winter 2014/15 collections started with brio Sunday with the Atelier Versace show, graced by Jennifer Lopez. The calendar has expanded to five days from three this season to make room for 12 major houses as well as a whole swath of up-and-coming names.  Additions in recent seasons include the return of big-hitters Donatella Versace, Giorgio Armani and Maison Schiaparelli.

 

So why did the tide turn?

 

"With so much focus from fashion's powerhouses on heritage and traditions, couture has returned to center stage as it is the embodiment of savoir-faire," suggested Long Nguyen, co-founder and style director of Flaunt magazine.

 

"There is also a resurgence of clients coming from new markets — Asia Pacific, Middle East, Russia — that supplanted the dwindling traditional European-based customers," he added.

 

One reason for the couture revival is the return of the top fashion houses and their A-list celebrities — one of fashion's most effective marketing tools.

 

Jennifer Lopez caused a media frenzy as she entered Donatella Versace's show near the Champs Elysees wearing a shoulder-less white Versace hourglass dress and tightly pulled-back hair.

 

This isn't the first time Versace and the American singer have been linked. Lopez wore an unforgettable plunging exotic green Versace silk chiffon dress to the 42nd Grammy Awards ceremony in 2000 that critics have said represented the turning point in Donatella Versace's career following the murder of her brother, Gianni.