Total perfection from Yves Saint Laurent .
Haute couture is the most rarefied form of fashion.
In the good old days, couturiers would craft the most exquisite gowns dripping in opulent jewels, lace and embroidery. Today, the twice-yearly Paris shows have morphed into dazzling and often controversial spectacles. This season, the Paris couture collections continued to be a platform for fashion's brave new innovators. Alexander McQueen for Givenchy and especially John Galliano for Christian Dior both tossed out tradition and flashed brilliantly crafted clothes that sent a less haute and more cuckoo-couture message. This article first appeared on July 21, 2000.