We all know couture, we all love couture, but how has couture come to be?

It all begins with Fredrick Charles Worth, a British tailor working in a Parisian textile company in the mid-1800s. As he succeeded in his position, Worth was eventually given the opportunity to begin making dresses. With his incredible attention to detail and breathtaking unique designs, his dresses caught the eye of Empress Eugenie de Montijo of France, a trendsetter in the French royal court. Almost immediately, Empress Eugenie, along with a long list of European <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/10-real-life-young-royals-to-know" target="_blank" rel="noopener">royals</a>, began commissioning Worth as their dressmaker; shortly thereafter the House of Worth, the first couture house, was established.
Along with the founding of the House of Worth came the beginning of what we know to be the term &ldquo;fashion designer.&rdquo; Worth was the first dressmaker to use labels in his dresses and real models instead of mannequins to present his clothing. Although today these practices might seem pretty standard, they were actually quite revolutionary and strongly influenced the modern-day fashion industry.

In 1868, La Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture was founded in order to regulate the guidelines for what could be considered couture, as well as to monitor the copying of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/balenciaga-exhibition-50th-haute-couture-shanghai-tank-museum-demna-gvasalia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">couture</a> designs. The qualifications required that designs be made-to-order for the client, hand-made of the best materials and for each design to be unique&mdash;nothing could be copied for another client.
The main clients for couture were based in Europe, and given the high price of the clothing, were generally from high-status backgrounds.
Once the world of couture was established it was destined to thrive. By 1945, 100 labels were recognized by La Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture as houses of couture, meeting additional qualifications regarding the house itself. For example, some of these qualifications require the houses to have a minimum of 20 full-time staff members based in Paris, that the designs are made for private clients with fittings, and that they must present a minimum of 25 designs per year.
By 1970, however, the amount of couture houses numbered only 19; with the rise of mass-production in fashion, it became harder for houses to adhere to the strict qualifications of a couture house.

As of 2022, there are only 14 fashion houses that are considered couture, such as <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/dior-by-john-galliano-fashion-history-book" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dior</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/chanel-22-bag-numerology-virginie-viard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chanel</a>, and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/givenchy-chito-nft-charity-auction-ocean-cleanup" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Givenchy</a>. Although a lot has changed in the fashion world since the establishment of the House of Worth and La Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, the qualifications of a couture fashion house have in fact not changed. But despite old rules, designers like <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/schiaparelli-red-carpet-2021-beyonce-lady-gaga" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daniel Roseberry of Schiaparelli</a> and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/pyer-moss-fall-winter-2021-haute-couture-collection" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pyer Moss' Kerby Jean-Raymond</a>, who showed for the first time last season, are bringing a fresh point of view to couture.
Another distinguishing factor of couture is its presentation&mdash;couture houses are known for their exquisite runways and displays. The annual <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/hair-jewel-bedazzled-accessory-trend-met-gala-red-carpet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Met Gala</a> and other <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/best-celebrity-red-carpet-fashion-style-2021-zendaya-angelina-jolie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">red carpet</a> events have also become a large spectacle for couture, as invited celebrities and other tastemakers don the world&rsquo;s finest couture.
As the world of fashion evolves and the rate at which clothing is manufactured continues to increase, the ideas behind couture seem simultaneously more foreign, as well as more coveted.&nbsp;

The Evolution of Couture, From the House of Worth to the Met Gala

Related Articles

Fashion

Balenciaga's 50th Haute Couture Collection on Display in Shanghai

Fashion

The Best Celebrity Haute Couture Style Moments

Fashion

The 13 Most Avant-Garde Moments in Haute Couture History

Recommended posts for you

Fashion

An Inside Look at Thom Browne’s 10,000 Hour Creations for Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo

Pop culture

7 Things To Know About 'Emily in Paris' Star Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu

Pop culture

Charli XCX Takes on New York in Style Ahead of Saturday Night Live

Pop culture

F1's Hottest Drivers, On and Off The Track

Fashion

New NYC Store Openings in 2024

Film & TV

Everything to Know About the New 'Dune' TV Series, a Must-Watch

Travel & Living

The Most Chic Places to Have Thanksgiving Dinner in NYC

Fashion

Carolina Herrera's Resort 2025 Collection Captures the 'Intensity' of Mexico City