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What theories have not been expressed at different times about the meaning of the combination "haute couture". Someone adhered to the version that from couture - it's like 'from Jimmy Choo' - that is, from a specific fashion designer. Someone believed that "couture" is the status of a product or even any beautiful dress.
The expression began to be used in the middle of the 19th century, when fashion salons and couturiers appeared. One of the founders of the concept is Charles Fredrick Worth, who opened his own house of models, and later created the Haute Couture Syndicate, an organization that unites Parisian fashion houses and represents their interests.
In January 1945, that is, almost 100 years after the first steps in the world of high fashion, the Syndicate registered the designation "Haute Couture" as a legal fashion term indicating the origin of the thing and the features of its production.
@maisonvalentino Cucue stuff is:
@jeanpaulgaultier
In addition to the rather strict requirements for the clothes themselves, the status of "haute couture" also provides requirements for the brand or fashion house that claims this title:
@dior
If the designer and his company meet all the requirements - welcome to the world of haute couture, where only one couture dress costs up to a million euros.
Interestingly, despite the amazing prices for dresses, blouses and couture skirts, the profit hardly covers the costs, since expensive, rare fabrics, the best accessories and decor are used for the production of outfits, as well as a lot of manual labor of the highest paid specialists in the fashion world.
Fashion houses show their couture collections at Haute Couture Week, organized by the Federation of Industry of France and the Fashion Syndicate. For the couturier, this is a kind of advertising campaign and demonstration of the general views of the company.
Haute Couture Fashion Week, like Fashion Weeks in Paris, Milan, New York and London, is held twice a year. Specific dates are set annually, but approximately - these are January and July.
After the show on the catwalk, models of clothes can be sold - they are bought by politicians, world celebrities, businesswomen - all those who can afford a dress for a couple of hundred thousand euros for 1-2 times. In the photo below, for example, actress Blake Lively in a couture dress from Chanel in 2014 at the Cannes Film Festival.
An important component of high fashion and couture outfits is, of course, the couturier - the very creator who creates unique and original things.
A couturier, from the French couturiere , is a seamstress, dressmaker or tailor. But in the fashion world, and even more so when it comes to couture, there can be no ordinary tailor.
@mrkimjones
The first couturier was the previously mentioned Charles Fredrick Worth. Later, the title was awarded to Christian Dior, Coco Chanel, Giorgio Armani and other well-known figures in the fashion world. Only a member of the Haute Couture Syndicate and only one who sews couture outfits can call himself a couturier.
The process of sewing a simple pencil skirt for couture or other things is long, and takes from a couple of months to 1.5 years. The duration of sewing is due to the predominance of manual labor, in terms of speed significantly inferior to machine stitching. Of course, the deadlines also increase at the preliminary stage, when it is important to come up with and draw a future couture outfit.
@mrkimjones
The list of fashion houses that produce haute couture outfits is constantly updated – the Syndicate accepts new members or enters into agreements with invited brands – corresponding members.
Chanel is a fashion classic. Even couture models do not go beyond the boundaries of sophistication, femininity and exceptional taste. For example, in the latest collections there were many classic tweed costumes – this is the hallmark of Chanel. At first glance, you can not say that this is a couture suit - no feathers, a scattering of stones and bulky structures.
Couture dresses turned out to be bolder, but, again, within the DNA of the fashion house.
Chanel, for example, is easily recognizable by its simple cut, straight shapes, minimal design and love of tweed.
The collection haute couture autumn-winter from Dior also turned out to be democratic, from the point of view of styles - a laconic cut, the closeness of products, a restrained color scheme. For example, a couture skirt of asymmetrical cut looks no more elegant than pret-a-porte models from COS.
A dress from the category of "high fashion" looks like a classic dress invented by Christian Dior - fitted, with a lush skirt and closed knees.
But here, of course, the main thing is not extravagance, but manual labor, expensive fabrics and exclusivity - this distinguishes clothes "from couture" from the rest.
But the small fashion house Maurizio Galantek loves experiments. Couture things are created, as they say, on a grand scale - unusual styles, interesting finishes. To understand that in front of you is a dress or couture skirt, in this case you do not need to be a professional - everything is clear without words.
Fendi is a corresponding member as the fashion house is based in Italy. Fendi's couture dresses delighted the audience – there is no shame in going out on the red carpet or attending some social event.
Kim Jones also thought out an option for mini lovers - for example, a translucent couture skirt with a lace jacket.
And this is how a couture trouser suit can look like - at first glance it is simple, but all the charm and originality here is in the details.
Dolce & Gabbana are another Italian on the French couture podium. Of course, the fashion house is a corresponding member, like Fendi, so within the framework of the shows, high fashion collections are "torn off" for the whole.
It is difficult to even imagine where to wear such a couture dress, except for the carpet - extravagance and originality in all its glory.
Couture collections are characterized by an exaggerated reflection of current trends. The already mentioned autumn-winter season added voluminous sleeves to the list of trends. In a couture blouse, they look like this:
Also, couture outfits are produced - GIVENCHY, Maison Margiela, Giorgio Armani, Valentino, Elie Saab and other fashion houses and brands.
As you can see - couture clothing is not always something unimaginable or strange - it all depends on the fashion house and the vision of fashion designers. Chanel and Dior release conservative couture collections with great success, Maurizio Galante boldly embodies unexpected fantasies in clothes, and Fendi bets on details.
@londonfashionweek
The second term, which goes along with blouses and couture dresses, is ready-to-wear.
Ready-to-wear clothing can also be referred to as Ready to Wear - from English this combination is also translated as ready-to-wear. These are absolutely equivalent, denoting the same concepts.
@cameramoda
Of course, prêt-à-porter clothes do not claim exclusivity - models of dresses, skirts, blouses and other clothes are sewn in different sizes and colors, after which they fall on store shelves.
All brands sew Ready to Wear clothes without exception - for this you do not need to be in the Syndicate or open an atelier in Paris - Haute Couture has nothing to do with the concept of "ready-made clothes" and does not dictate conditions in this area.
@nyfw
@hautecoutureweek
@hautecoutureweek
What is more expensive than couture or pret a porte?
Of course, couture is after all exclusive piece goods, while pret-a-porte is mass clothing that you meet on the shelves of Zara or Mango.
How much do couture items cost?
The price of the products is set by the fashion designer, taking into account the materials used, the time spent, the originality of the dress, skirt or other thing. The cost can fluctuate from a couple of thousand to a million euros.
Where is the demand for haute couture clothing highest?
More often, outfits are bought by residents of China, the UAE, India, as well as the countries of the Middle East. In Russia, there are not many connoisseurs of high fashion. Buyers of haute couture items for 2020 are about 4,000 people.
What age are couture clothing suitable for?
Couture outfits are strongly associated with adult women from 40-45 years old, already established in life. However, Ralph Toledano, president of the Haute Couture Federation, said in a recent interview that the age limits are decreasing - among the buyers there are more and more young people 20-35 years old.
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