NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Haute couture

Haute couture (French for "high sewing" or "high dressmaking"; IPA: [ˌoːt kuˈtyʁ]) refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted fashions. It originally referred to Englishman Charles Frederick Worth's work, produced in Paris in the mid-nineteenth century. In modern France, haute couture is a "protected name" that can be used only by firms that meet certain well-defined standards. However, the term is also used loosely to describe all high-fashion custom-fitted clothing, whether it is produced in Paris or in other fashion capitals such as London, New York, Tokyo and Milan. Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the â€œInternational Phonetic Alphabetâ€. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... Charles Frederick Worth (October 13, 1826 â€“ March 10, 1895), widely considered the Father of Haute Couture, was an English-born fashion designer of the 19th century. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... This article is about the state. ... For other uses, see Tokyo (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Milan (disambiguation). ...

Haute couture is made to order for a specific customer, and it is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finish, often using time-consuming, hand-executed techniques.

Brief introduction on the history of fashion design and designers Fashion design is the art dedicated to the creation of wearing apparel and lifestyle. ... For other uses, see Fashion (disambiguation). ...

Legal status

In France, the term haute couture is protected by law and is defined by the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris based in Paris, France. Their rules state that only "those companies mentioned on the list drawn up each year by a commission domiciled at the Ministry for Industry are entitled to avail themselves" of the label haute couture. The criteria for haute couture were established in 1945 and updated in 1992. This article is about the capital of France. ...

To earn the right to call itself a couture house and to use the term haute couture in its advertising and any other way, members of the Chambre Syndicale must follow these rules:

However, the term haute couture has been misused by successive ready-to-wear brands and high street labels since the late 1980s so that its true meaning has become blurred with that of prêt-à-porter (the French term for ready-to-wear fashion) in the public perception. Every haute couture house also markets prêt-à-porter collections, which typically deliver a higher return on investment than their custom clothing. In fact, much of the haute couture displayed at fashion shows today is rarely sold; it is created to enhance the prestige of the house. Falling revenues have forced a few couture houses to abandon their less profitable couture division and concentrate solely on the less prestigious prêt-à-porter. These houses, such as Italian designer Antonio Capucci, all of whom have their workshops in Italy, are no longer considered haute couture. Ready-to-wear or prÃªt-Ã -porter is the fashion design term for clothing marketed in a finished condition, in standard clothing sizes (in casual usage, off the rack). ... In finance, the return on investment (ROI) or just return is a calculation used to determine whether a proposed investment is wise, and how well it will repay the investor. ...

Many top designer fashion houses also use the word for some of their collections.

Official haute couture houses

As of early 2007, there are ten official haute couture member houses: [1][2] Gianni Versace S.p. ... Balenciaga is a fashion house founded by CristÃ³bal Balenciaga,1895 -1972 a Basque-Spanish artist. ... On the cover of Time magazine: August 13, 1934. ... Guy Laroche, French fashion designer (born in La Rochelle, France, 1921 â€” died 1989), and founder of the eponymous company. ... Jean Patou (Paris, 1880-1936) was a French fashion designer. ... Jeanne Lanvin (1867-1946) was a French fashion designer and entrepreneur. ... Loris Azzaro (February 9, 1933 - November 20, 2003), was a French fashion designer. ... Rochas Fall 2006 collection Rochas is a fashion, beauty, and perfume house founded in 1925[1] by Marcel Rochas, the first designer of 2/3-length coats and skirts with pockets. ... Maria Nina Nielli was born in Turin, Italy in 1883. ... Paco Rabanne, originally Francisco Rabanedacuervo, is a fashion designer who was born on 18 February 1934 in Saint Sebastian of the Basque Country of Spain. ... Pierre Cardin dress, 1967 For the Canadian Minister of Transport from 1940 to 1942, see Pierre Cardin (politician). ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Julien FourniÃ© is a French fashion designer who was the last creative director of the Haute couture fashion house Torrente. ... Yves Saint-Laurent (born August 1, 1936 in Oran, Algeria) is a French fashion designer. ...

As of early 2007, there are three correspondent (foreign) member houses: [3] There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Not to be confused with Channel. ... Christian Dior (January 21, 1905 â€“ October 23, 1957), was an influential French fashion designer. ... Christian Marie Marc Lacroix (May 16, 1951 in Arles, France) is a French fashion designer. ... Dominique Sirop (born January 1956) is a French fashion designer and grand couturier. ... Emanuel (Maffeolit) Ungaro (born 1933 in Aix-en-Provence) is a French fashion designer. ... Franck Sorbier is a Paris fashion house that achieved haute couture status in 2006. ... Givenchy (pronounced ) is a French brand of clothing, accessories, perfumes and cosmetics. ... Jean-Paul Gaultier (born April 24, 1952, in Arcueil) is a French fashion designer. ...

Ai Tominaga modeling for Saabs Spring 2006 collection Elie Saab (Arabic: Ø¥ÙŠÙ„ÙŠ ØµØ¹Ø¨) (born July 4, 1964), sometimes known simply as ES, is a Lebanese fashion designer. ... Armani redirects here. ... For other uses, see Valentino (disambiguation). ...

History

French leadership in European fashion may perhaps be dated from the 18th century, when the art, architecture, music, and fashions of the French court at Versailles were imitated across Europe. Visitors to Paris brought back clothing that was then copied by local dressmakers. Stylish women also ordered fashion dolls dressed in the latest Parisian fashion to serve as models. (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

As railroads and steamships made European travel easier, it was increasingly common for wealthy women to travel to Paris to shop for clothing and accessories. French fitters and seamstresses were commonly thought to be the best in Europe, and real Parisian garments were considered better than local imitations. Turn of the century sewing in Detroit, Michigan An old sewing machine Sewing is an ancient craft involving the stitching of cloth, animal skins, furs, or other materials, using needle and thread. ...

The couturier Charles Frederick Worth (October 13, 1826–March 10, 1895), is widely considered the father of haute couture as it is known today. Although born in Bourne, Lincolnshire, England, Worth made his mark in the French fashion industry. While he created one-of-a-kind designs to please some of his titled or wealthy customers, he is best known for preparing a portfolio of designs that were shown on live models at the House of Worth. Clients selected one model, specified colors and fabrics, and had a duplicate garment tailor-made in Worth's workshop. Worth combined individual tailoring with a standardization more characteristic of the ready-to-wear clothing industry, which was also developing during this period. Charles Frederick Worth (October 13, 1826 â€“ March 10, 1895), widely considered the Father of Haute Couture, was an English-born fashion designer of the 19th century. ... is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The oldest surviving photograph, NicÃ©phore NiÃ©pce, circa 1826 1826 (MDCCCXXVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year (70th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... , Bourne is a market town on the western edge of The Fens, in southern Lincolnshire, England. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ...

Following in Worth's footsteps were Callot Soeurs, Patou, Poiret, Vionnet, Fortuny, Lanvin, Chanel, Mainbocher, Schiaparelli, Balenciaga, and Dior. Some of these fashion houses still exist today, under the leadership of modern designers. Callot Soeurs was a fashion design house opened in 1895 at 24, rue Taitbout in Paris, France. ... Jean Patou (Paris, 1887-1936) was a French fashion designer. ... Fashon Design by Paul Poiret, 1912 Paul Poiret (20 April 1879, Paris, France - 30 April 1944, Paris) was a fashion designer based in Paris before the First World War, during the Belle Epoque. ... Madeleine Vionnet (June 22, 1876 - 1975) was a French fashion designer. ... Mariano Fortuny y De Madrazo,(May 11, 1871 - May 3rd, 1949), Spanish fashion designer, opened his couture house in 1906 and continued until 1946. ... Jeanne Lanvin (1867-1946), born in Brittany, France, began as a milliner in 1890, but is famous for the robe de style and semi-modern fashion techniques. ... Not to be confused with Channel. ... Mainbocher (1891-1976) (born Main Rousseau Bocher) was an American couturier who operated fashion houses in Paris and later New York from the 1930s through the 1960s. ... On the cover of Time magazine: August 13, 1934. ... Balenciaga is a fashion house founded by CristÃ³bal Balenciaga,1895 -1972 a Basque-Spanish artist. ... Christian Dior (January 21, 1905 â€“ October 23, 1957), was an influential French fashion designer. ...

In the 1960s a group of young designers who had trained under men like Dior and Balenciaga left these established couture houses and opened their own establishments. The most successful of these young men were Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Cardin, André Courrèges, and Emanuel Ungaro. Japanese native and Paris-based Hanae Mori, a woman, was also successful in establishing her own line. Yves Saint-Laurent (born August 1, 1936 in Oran, Algeria) is a French fashion designer. ... Pierre Cardin dress, 1967 For the Canadian Minister of Transport from 1940 to 1942, see Pierre Cardin (politician). ... AndrÃ© CourrÃ¨ges (born 1923) is a French fashion designer, known for his ultra-modern designs. ... Emanuel (Maffeolit) Ungaro (born 1933 in Aix-en-Provence) is a French fashion designer. ... Hanae Mori (森 英恵 Mori Hanae, January 8, 1926 -) is a Japanese fashion designer from the Shimane Prefecture. ...

Lacroix is perhaps the most successful of the fashion houses to have been started in the last decade. Other new houses are Jean-Paul Gaultier and Thierry Mugler. Christian Marie Marc Lacroix (May 16, 1951 in Arles, France) is a French fashion designer. ... Jean-Paul Gaultier (born April 24, 1952, in Arcueil, Val-de-Marne) is a French fashion designer and past television presenter. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

For all these fashion houses, custom clothing is no longer the main source of income, often costing much more than it earns through direct sales; it only adds the aura of fashion to their ventures in ready-to-wear clothing and related luxury products such as shoes and perfumes, and licensing ventures that earn greater returns for the company. Excessive commercialization and profit-making can be damaging, however. Cardin, for example, licensed with abandon in the 1980s and his name lost most of its fashionable cachet when anyone could buy Cardin luggage at a discount store. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... In economics a luxury good is a good for which demand increases more than proportionally as income rises, contrast with inferior good and normal good. ... A shoe is an item of footwear worn on the foot or feet of a human, dog, cat, horse, or doll. ... Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, objects, and living spaces a pleasant smell. ... How to obtain a amature radio licence differs from country to country. ...

The 1960s also featured a revolt against established fashion standards by mods, rockers, and hippies, as well as an increasing internationalization of the fashion scene. Jet travel had spawned a jet set that partied—and shopped—just as happily in New York as in Paris. Rich women no longer felt that a Paris dress was necessarily better than one sewn elsewhere. While Paris is still pre-eminent in the fashion world, it is no longer the sole arbiter of fashion. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Hippies (singular hippie or sometimes hippy) were members of the 1960s counterculture movement who adopted a communal or nomadic lifestyle, renounced corporate nationalism and the Vietnam War, embraced aspects of Buddhism, Hinduism, and/or Native American religious culture, and were otherwise at odds with traditional middle class Western values. ... Categories: Move to Wiktionary | Stub ...

Encyclopedia > Haute couture

Contents

Legal status

Official haute couture houses

History

See also

External links