You may BE wondering what sets Ralph Rucci apart from other designers? Why is his line considered couture, but all other collections, from Calvin Klein TO Marc Jacobs, are not? It can BE even more confusing with television fashion personalities running around calling anything with a label, "couture". A simplistic answer would BE that Americans offer ready-to-wear versus THE French Haute Couture houses, who still champion THE dying art OF custom-made clothes. What makes Rucci newsworthy, earning THE spot of THE finale show IN the gargantuan Fashion Week line up, is that IN 2002 his obsession with intricately detailed made-to-measure clothing (his line is named after a ritualized Japanese tea ceremony OF 331 steps) earned him THE respect of THE Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture IN Paris, who extended an invitation TO Rucci TO show on their couture calendar. This was THE first time IN fifty years that an American had BEEN invited TO partake IN this elite event. A classic elegant look at Chado Ralph Rucci A custom-made dress can take up TO four months TO construct. THE lining is often as strikingly beautiful as THE outer garment because THE most highly skilled tailors, seamstresses, lace-makers, AND other fine embellishment-makers spend hundreds OF hours making THE dress by hand TO the specifications of THE client's personal measurements. FOR those who can afford THE price tag ranging from $60,000 TO $100,000 FOR a dress, AND sometimes into THE millions, even obtaining entry into THE couture fashion show circuit can BE tricky. Why bother? Howard Koda, curator of THE Costume Institute, passionately makes THE case that couture is worthy "because it is breathtakingly beautiful. It is beyond anything you see IN your life! It's like Vermeer versus THE Washington Square art show." A perfectionist impervious TO trends, Ralph Rucci's clothes are considered works OF art, (often with THE same price tag) AND have BEEN collected for THE last 25 years by a select group of THE world's wealthiest fashionistas. Currently Rucci's work is being feted at THE FIT Museum. Layered smoky chiffon bound TO appeal TO younger clients Rucci's task at hand is TO make his collection appealing TO a younger crowd. Some of THE looks IN his lineup yesterday had a Red Carpet consciousness, AND point IN a more youthful direction. His elegant AND sumptious show, underscoring THE quality that American fashion has TO offer, was THE perfect way TO end THE whirlwind OF fashion shows. As I sign off from Fashion Week, I just want TO say thanks FOR reading--I hope you had fun touring THE shows with me. Wishing you lots OF luck AND happy Fall 07 shopping!