Dear fashion-lovers, can you tell me truth: do you like fashion weeks and various fashion shows? The same with me. And, no doubts, you’ve heard such a notion as haute couture? But, do you really know what does it mean? Well, I guess not everybody, because most of my friends, have a vague idea, what it means. Now, we all have a perfect opportunity to get acquainted with it a little bit closer.
So, to start with, let’s find out, what haute couture is.
Such a sophisticated phrase can be easily interpreted from French to English as HIGH FASHION. Actually, couture means to sew, to make clothes, to create things and haute is something that is elegant, excellent or high. Haute couture clothes are hand made by leading fashion houses. As a rule, each haute couture thing is made in a strict accordance with person shape and curves.
Cost of haute couture clothes
Do you remember, there is no such thing as a free lunch? So, don’t even try to find one. Of course, the price depends on many factors, such as popularity of brand, sophistication of designing and so on, but, to tell the truth, you will hardly find a thing, cheaper than £10,000. As a rule, each item price goes higher than £50,000. If you are not a daughter of Bill Gates, definitely, it seems to be completely unexplainable, how a person can spend more than £50,000 for a single dress. But, here we deal with status and luxury, exclusiveness and innovative designing, not with a sum of money. For example, Chanel couture house has more than 150 regular clients.
Fabrics for haute couture clothes
Truly speaking, fabrics are extremely expensive. They are mainly: expensive silks, cashmeres, linens, cottons, suede, leather and, of course, all kind of furs. Moreover, a designer can need only a special colour of fabric.
Creating of haute couture clothes
As you already know, haute couture clothes are made from highly expensive fabrics, so in order not to spoil even a meter of it, fashion designers make samples of garments, or so called toiles. The cutting and the finishing is made in one room and there is always a manageress, that is responsible for this garment exclusiveness (thus, she must keep its design it a secret).
The seamy side of haute couture
It is not a surprise, that haute couture industry is not a flourishing industry at all. Just calculate, how much time, efforts and people are needed in order to create a single garment? But, fashion houses still make expansive extraordinary shows and sales only a limited number of garments. So, what is it all about? It is all about prestige and chic and also, it is a some kind of advertising campaign. They sell a dream, a dream, that a person (if he or she can afford to buy such a thing) is really cool and all-mighty and, what is more, can possess and expensive elite garment or a bottle of fragrance, isn’t it cool to feel yourself one in a million?
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Great article. I knew a bit about haute couture, but mostly just from watching America’s Next Top model
Thanks for the info!
-Kate
no no… America next top model cannot even give u a good idea wht Couture is… couture is really a dream, a true Luxury.
Hello, Kattie, you are welcome. I am so glad, that you found out something new for you!
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So,it is great,I’ve known what is haute couture but I need more to know about the culture comprasion of countries and clothing culture.If I read like that articles, it will be more good!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the info!Kate
Indeed, couture dresses are very expensive, and haute couture ones especially. Nevertheless, the chic and luxurious look and tender touch worth the price.
Do you know where I can find figures about annual sales of haute couture or how much each country spends on it?
Hi
I have a question
are there limited number of pieces of each haute couture dress ??
hi , i a like haute couture techniques and need to learn more about do you now how i can improve my self or you know someone to teach me
thanks
Thanks for this retrospective! Now haute couture has much evoluated… With Lady Gaga and her clothes wishes for exemple (MCQueen, On Aura Tout Vu, Armani… )
There was an Alexander McQueen grecian gown that cost $11,500 and a Burberry dress that cost $23,995. These ready to wear dresses cost as much as haute couture dresses. Those ready to wear dresses are extremely expensive.
I am designing a collection of Haute Couture inspired by Latin-American dancing clothes for my Thesis and I will make 3 dresses from my collection…. So excited:)