Haute couture facts for kids
Haute couture (pronounced 'OHT koo-TOOR') is a French term for high fashion. It means creating special, custom-made clothes. The term can also refer to the fashion houses or designers who make these unique and often trend-setting clothes.
Haute couture clothing is made only for one specific customer. It uses very high-quality, expensive fabrics. Skilled workers sew these clothes with extreme care and attention to detail. They often use time-consuming hand-sewing techniques. Couture is a shorter way to say haute couture.
In France, haute couture is a legally protected name. Only companies that meet certain strict rules can use this term. However, the term is also used to describe all high-fashion custom-fitted clothing in other major fashion cities. These include Milan, London, New York, Tokyo, and Madrid.
The Start of Haute Couture
The fashion designer Charles Frederick Worth (born October 13, 1826 – died March 10, 1895) is often called the "father" of modern haute couture. He was born in Lincolnshire, England. But he became famous in the French fashion world.
Worth changed how dressmaking worked. He made the dressmaker into an artist, a fashion designer. He created special designs for his rich customers. More importantly, he showed his new designs on live models at his fashion house, the House of Worth.
Clients would pick a design they liked. Then, they would choose the colors and fabrics. Worth's team would then make the outfit just for them in his workshop. Worth combined custom tailoring with some ideas from the ready-to-wear clothing industry. This industry was also growing at the time.
What is a Couture House?
To be called a "couture house" and use the term haute couture, fashion houses must follow specific rules. These rules are set by the Chambre syndicale de la haute couture.
Here are some of the main rules:
- They must design clothes made-to-order for private clients. Each outfit needs one or more fittings to make sure it fits perfectly.
- They must have a workshop (called an atelier) in Paris. This workshop needs to employ at least fifteen people full-time.
- Twice a year, for each fashion season, they must show a collection to the Paris press. This collection needs to have at least thirty-five different outfits. These outfits should include both daytime wear and evening wear.
It is very hard to become a member of this group. Many successful fashion houses are not part of the Chambre syndicale. Instead, they focus on prêt-à-porter, which is the French term for ready-to-wear fashion. These houses have their own group called the Chambre syndicale du prêt-à-porter.
Related pages
Images for kids
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The annual Met Gala is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan. Organized by Vogue magazine, it is one of the biggest haute couture fashion events each year.
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Chanel Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2011–2012 Fashion Show by Karl Lagerfeld.
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Chanel Haute Couture jacket, Fall/Winter 1961.
See also
In Spanish: Alta costura para niños
