How much of my book is based on reality?

About a hundred and fifty percent.

Couture week in Paris is the creme de la creme.

We're talking about dresses that start in the tens of thousands and go up to the millions.

And only about 2 thousand women in the world can afford to dress this way.

I was lucky enough to spend couture week in Paris with some truly stylish insiders.

Heart Evangelista.

She's really the darling of the Philippines.

She's one of their most acclaimed actresses.

She's also a really gifted artist.

She's had amazing museum shows in the Phillippines of her paintings.

Hi!

So here we are.

And then there's the Yeoh sisters, Michelle and Rachel who are so much wiser than their years.

They grew up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia but I think for the last 7 or 8 years have been living in England.

Thank you for organizing Dior so I could come with you guys.

No we're so excited.

It's such a pleasure to have you.

Such a last minute surprise, like "Cool, I get to come with you guys."

I guess that's part of Fashion Week.

Everything is always last minute.

Exactly.

Feiping Chang is this dynamo.

She, I think, was raised partially in Sydney and in Singapore.

She now makes Hong Kong her home where she's become one of the most important fashion influencers in Asia.

It's always nice coming back to Fashion Week.

And you join your fashion family and see everybody.

It's always a nice little reunion.

I don't think Americans for the most part really understand how this level of Asian women shop.

When I see something come down the runway I know in my gut and in my heart that it's meant to be.

I think that connection makes everything more special.

Everything's really about this private experience.

Couture itself was made to make the client feel special.

It's made for you.

Going to these very exclusive fashion shows and then going for your private fittings.

But then also there are jewelry showings and jewelry parties where they meet jewelers and select stones and really being in that world of helping to create what they buy.

So the spending is on a whole other level.

I really want to see the behind the scenes and the seamstresses are the real heroes.

That's true.

It's so nice to see where all the materials and all the embroidery comes from before it gets to the runway.

Like Lesage, I'm in love with.

Like the embroidery is so beautiful.

And all the shoes for Chanel is like made in Masaro.

Couture is really special because it celebrates the highest level of craftsmanship and creativity.

It's actually like buying art.

It's really art and it's like Couture is wearable art and if you can put it on yourself, why not?

There are only about fifteen haute couture designers in the world because the standards are so high.

Each one of them is personally appointed by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.

These dresses go from the runway to a one of a kind custom fit piece so when these women are buying a gown they know that they are literally buying a piece of history.

You have an appointment and then you just get to try on all these beautiful clothes and decide which piece you want.

Even just going to fittings or like when you're attending shows they're just there putting dresses on you.

It's just so fun.

On average we do sort of three fittings cause I think my body changes during that time anyways.

What are the shows you're looking forward to?

Definitely Giambattista Valli tonight.

He's my favorite as you know, so...

He did your wedding dress right?

Yes, he did.

What was the process like?

I came to Paris a year before my wedding.

At first I was only going to do one dress and then in the end it evolved into two very different dresses which was great.

Because the main dress was a big tulle creation.

And the second one is entirely made of silk, so... and it has these hand crafted petals that he painted each petal on.

So did he supervise the fittings?

Yeah, he was there.

So he's very hands-on?

Yes, very hands-on.

He's really an artist that really cares about his craft.

It's such a beautiful magical experience.

Even if you don't put it on yourself like you can just archive the thing, it's perfect.

I mean it tells a story of this time when I went to Paris.

I got this dress for when you have your kids, it's something you share and pass on.

I'm a collector. I love collecting bags, Birkins, specifically and Kellys.

It's a really good investment.

You do the most beautiful customizing on the Birkins.

So you paint on them don't you?

Well, I do.

When did that start?

I had a lizard skin Birkin and it was orange and I was eating french fries at Chile's.

And they had cheese so I did not notice that it was already under my bag when I brought it home.

I tried to clean it and I asked around and it was just impossible to fix.

So I said, "Okay, why don't I paint on it?"

And I loved it.

Do you get a sense that you are a part of this new generation? of sort of fashion influencers?

I don't know if we are influencers.

I think you are.

We just enjoy the shows.

'Cause I mean we started with Balmain originally when we were like ten.

My love of fashion really came from my grandmother.

She only ever wore Escada and Chanel.

I think anyone that enjoys the beauty in life loves fashion to a certain extent.

You know, there's no other way to put it.

They lives these lives of imperial splendor.