Alta costura is a 50s Spanish drama detective story, more a drama than a typical noir. It is not specially well acted, nor a bad film either. Its main interest is seeing fashion models by famed couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga. The film shows plenty of them, as it mainly happens in a fashion house during the afternoon the new collection is shown to prospective clients.

The modeling show is interspersed with the stories of the designer, who is foccused on selling his creations, and those of his mannequins, which represent different types : the newcomer raised to fame who is marrying for money and tries to clear out her past (Lyla Rocco), a reconverted tell-it-like-it-is gypsy dancer (Laura Valenzuela), the experienced world-wise Kiki, top model of the moment, who takes advantage of her position to get from life what she wants (María Martín), the practical and disillusioned one (Dina Sten), and the one who is marrying for love (Mónica Pastrana), whose only concern is her boyfriend´s position. When an ex-boyfriend is killed, the police appears at the business, and the girl´s troubles are told while he waits for the fashion show to finish.

María Martín, who plays Kiki, has a typical Spanish type that offers a funny realistic contrast with those of her costars (Lyla Rocco had been Italy´s beauty queen), in this not outstanding movie that could have been better if the detective´s part had been enhanced, the murderer being disclosed during the last minutes and contributing only the excuse for the story. Thus, its main interest is seeing the models.