Haute Couture

Haute Couture (meaning high dressmaking/high sewing in French) is the creation of exclusive custom-fitted high-end fashion design. It refers to clothes that are made to fit an individual, using the finest of fabrics and sewn with precise and time-consuming techniques. 
== History ==
Haute Couture takes its roots back as far as ancient sumptuary to the 19th century innovation, and Charles Fredrick Worth is commonly accepted to be its father. An Englishman who opened an atelier (a workshop or studio) in Paris in 1858, Worth enjoyed the patronage of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon lll. It is possible that he is the person who first coined the term "fashion designer". The organizing body of the industry, the Chambre Syndicale de La Haute Couture, was founded by Worth 1868. Once established, its leadership quickly set about defining the qualifications that must be met for a house to earn the moniker "haute couture", which means "high fashion". In order to become a member, the maison (in this context, the word means fashion house) had to produce bespoke apparel, each piece custom made for a client and exclusive to them both in design and fit. Everything had to be made by hand by a team of artisans who were each trained in a specific skill beading, embroidery, pleating, or sewing, and all garments had to be made of the best possible materials, textiles, and notions which have been historically sourced from France. 
Since the reign of le Roi Soleil, Louis XlV (September 5, 1638-September 1, 1715), France has supported its textile industry with the same attention to other nation’s cash crops and economically crucial exports. Jean-Baptise Colbert, that monarch’s minister for finance and economics affairs, understood the impact that fabrics had on his country’s economy and made it priority. Colbert once said that "Fashion is to France what gold mines are to the Spaniards." 
Over the centuries that followed, regardless of the type of government or leader, the production and export of textiles continued to be seen as crucial to achieving "dirigisme èconomique", (direct economy), part of an overaching economic goal of minimizing imports and maximizing exports with the goal of national self-sufficiency. With government support, the development and production of high-quality materials surged in regions across France, and to this day there are geographically specific provinces known for their leather, silk, wool, or other fabrics. It would not be unfair to say that clothing and textiles have been purposefully woven into the French economy. 
Sometime around 1908, the term haute couture was invented, probably introduced by the Chambre Syndicale. In 1921, thanks to a team that included Madeleine Vionnett and Maggy Rouff, L’Association de Protection does Industries Artistiques Saisonnières (PAIS) was founded, to protect designers from their work being copied, and to provide established rules for the workspace. When this body was established, there were hundreds of haute couture houses, not to mention the less prestigious houses that did not quality for the title. Combined with the foreign houses who regularly sent spies to make notes about new collections, it was seen as a necessity to protect the investment in prestige that the French government had been bankrolling for centuries. When war ends, the devastation takes recede, and to protect the maisons which survived the Second World War, a more strict set of rules designating the official definition of haute couture established. This was one of the last contributions of Lucien Lelongs, President of the Chambre Syndicale de La Couture between 1937-1945, who had guided his industry through the dark days of Nazi occupation and prevented the Germans from trying to move haute couture to Berlin. The new rules were much more strict and required at least one in-person fitting for the client in addition to the continuing practice of making only bespoke apparel. Every atelier had to employ at least 20 staff members, and for each season (Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter) a new collection had to be presented with at least 35 new unique designs. In 1946, there were 106 official haute couture houses. In 1947, Christian Dior presented his Corelle collection, which Carmel Snow famously dubbed "The New Look", and which replace war-time austerity with glamour and femininity. In 1966 the first couture boutique appeared, Yves Saint Laurent’s Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, and soon other big names were opening their own freestanding boutiques. By 1970, the members of the Chambre Syndicale had shrunk to a mere 19. No longer did ladies dress different functions depending on the hour day, and number of clients who supported haute couture was shrinking. In addition, mass-produced clothing was becoming a force in the apparel market. 
In today’s fast-paced world brimming with ready-to-wear and fast-fashion, the allure of Haute Couture has surged among a fashion community craving uniqueness and personalization. 
== Visuals ==
Haute Couture visuals is the creation of exclusive custom-fitted high-end fashion designs and exclusive fashions. 
* Custom-Made: Almost anything that is made for someone, including clothes. 
* Haute Couture Makeup: Haute Couture is more refined, elegant, polished, and beautiful. This may includes both bold and glamour eyeshadows, glamour lipstick or lipgloss, and porcelain doll inspired. 
* Couture Jewelry: Couture Jewelry pieces such as crystal necklace and diamond earrings. 
* Haute Couture Fashion Shows: It shows any unique stylish design made to order for wealthy and and high-status clients.
== Fashion ==
Haute Couture (French for high dressmaking or high sewing) refers to the creation of exclusive fashions. It represents a level of craftsmanship, creativity, and exclusivity that is distant from other types of fashion. With huge name brands such as Chanel, Dior, Giambattista Valli, Elie Saab, Jean Paul Gualtier, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Gucci, Versace, Schiaparelli, Valentino, Givenchy, Prada, Balenciaga, Dolce and Gabbana, Burberry, Celine, Balmain, Tiffany & Co, Marc Jaobs, Zac Posen, and Blumarine. 
* High Quality Sewn In Dresses 
* High Quality Skirts
* Designer Handbags 
* Heels
* Suits
* Blazer
* Fur 
* Long Coats 
* Porcelain Makeup
* Silk
* Cotton
* Wool
* Lace
* Tulle
* Silhouettes 
== Media ==
== TV Shows ==
* Met Gala (E!, Vogue Website, and Social Media Platforms) 
* Next In Fashion (2020) 
== Movies ==
* The Devil Wears Prada (2008) 
* Valentino: The Last Emperor (2008)
* Coco Before Chanel (2009)
* The September Issues (2009) 
* Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009) 
* House of Versace (2013)
* Yves Saint Laurent (2014) 
* Dior and I (2014) 
* The Dressmaker (2015) 
* McQueen (2018)
* Haute Couture (2021) 
* House of Gucci (2021)
* Cruella (2021) 
* Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022) 
== Gallery ==
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Category:Fashion
Category:Wealthy
Category:1880s