For students of architecture, it is obvious even to the naked eye the preciseness of the fine points of the Louvre’s exterior.

Though the buildings are massive, they are soft to the eyes, and have synergy with its environs. With a sprinkle of rain, the buildings seem to breath, and when the sun started shining, the buildings gave a feeling of warmth. They also create the essence of strength and stability.

Originally built as a castle by King Phillippe Augustus in 1200 outside the city wall of Paris and rebuilt by King François 1 a palace in the 16th century, it took 400 years to construct it.

Yet, the different architects and builders through the centuries continued to take into account that the ‘eye of the beholder’ should flow from one item to the next without interruption. Hence, although the Louvre had been built and rebuilt several times over, it looked seamless.

Fashion and architecture are completely different professions. Yet, there are a lot of similarities between the two, something that became apparent to me while attending the Valentino show at the Theatre National Chaillot.

As the models paraded the exquisite clothing designed by Valentino, the same flow of design that I found at the Louvre was also present. Curves from the shoulders to the arms were done without hard lines. Sharp details were softened with colors and organza.

The effects that were created were the same in both the buildings and the clothing – “make the eye of the beholder flow from one feeling to the next without the viewer realizing it.

After the show and outside the Theatre National de Chaillot, I was treated with the magnificence of the Eiffel Tower. At that point, I was sure. Haute Couture could have only started in France.

Long before anyone was creating anything with the idea of flow and internal feelings, the French were perfecting it. I can only assume the natural progression of time caused Haute Couture to come into being. The French have a need to share their feelings with the viewer through their respective professions. I guess when a people have a talent for sharing their feelings; it will find its way into everything they do.