Christian Lacroix could become affordable

I almost broke into tears when we learned that Christian Lacroix went bankrupt last year, I was about to try waterproof mascara when heard that the couture fashion house failed to find any investors.

Lacroix, truly believed in couture and every single of his fashion shows were fully charged of the extravagance and the real concept of couture, including the challenge of making money when tailoring über expensive clothes for a few clients.

But I turned into a Wal-Mart-ish smiley when learned that Sascha Walckhoff, who was named creative director of the French fashion house after 18 years there, would not have a problem into creating a line for a mass chain store like H&M or Target.

Walckhoff told to the Hufftington Post that he is open to the idea of doing a collection for such outlets.

"... its part of what I've been wanting : to get people to touch Lacroix at last. Brands like Target and H&M would be ideal for that," the designer said. "Of course, I won't do a couture dress for a mass retailer , but to do a small collection for one would be lovely," he added.

Wackhoff recently presented his first collection for the brand: menswear for spring 2011. The collection, developed as a license, received good reviews.

While the designer thinks that "Lacroix is luxury" he also recognizes that "the brand's DNA, as the Spring 2011 collection shows, is about mixing the luxurious and the rough. This creates a large territory to play and craft something everyone could love.

This movement can certainly mean some fresh air at Lacroix, a territory common to Walckhoff, who has been there since 1992. It's similar to Sarah Burton, who took Alexander

McQueen after 16 years there and has managed to keep the late designers legacy and taste.

Lacroix is certainly all about richness and extravagance, Mr Lacroix, now busy designing coins for the French mint, already gave up part of his name to the masses when he designed limited edition bottles for evian, Chivas Regal and even a fragrance for Avon.

While Lacroix is no longer in the couture house he created, Walckhoff is giving it all to revive the brand he certainly knows. And also he is willing to step into new territories, which may include a stationary line, to pay all the bills that the great French couturier left.

I don't know what do you think, but I would certainly line up in many days in advance to get some affordable Lacroix.