The Art of Haute Couture

Haute couture or no couture, that is the question.

With so many beautiful wedding dresses in the market at different price points, it’s worth the ask. What is it that makes one garment haute couture vs. another? What are you getting with a haute couture bridal gown that you are not getting with a typical wedding gown? There are notable differences, and it is worth the price tag.

Haute couture originated in mid-19^th century Paris by an Englishman named Charles Frederick Worth, who combined his vast knowledge of fabrics and garment construction with a strong aptitude for promotion to start a department of dressmakers. He established himself as the only male dressmaker in Paris at the time.

The center of haute couture remains in Paris where there is a strong support structure for workers skilled in hand embroidery, needlework, beading, developing fabric flowers, and feather work. In France, the governing body for the French Fashion Houses is the Parisian High Fashion Syndicate (Chamber Syndicale de la couture Parisienne) who oversee and ensure that the strict qualifying rules for the term haute couture are abided.

Haute couture represents the creation of hand-made garments with meticulous attention to detail and precision. To this day, each haute couture garment is custom cut, fitted and regularly redesigned to fit a particular person. The process involves a team of individuals with specialized skills (the couturier, assistants, fitters and needle workers) to bring a work of art to life. A team of four to eight people may need hundreds of hours to produce an ornately embellished dress. As a result, haute couture designs costs tend to be high, but in the haute couture industry, meeting the standards for design and production take priority over controlling expenses.

If you are looking for a haute couture wedding gown, you can expect the following elements:

Exceptional fit: A haute couture garment is customized and fits flawlessly for an individual customer. Custom gowns ensure that measurements are taken and made exactly as it should be.

Impeccable craftsmanship: Every piece of the garment is treated with the same attention, whether it’s the seam allowance, hand-stitching or finishing of a piece. Quality is paramount on a haute couture gown.

Attention to detail: From the original muslin pattern (or toile) to the embellishments, every design element, such as floral motifs or lace appliques, are perfectly placed and matched so that it looks seamless. With a haute couture gown, it will look as though nothing is out of place.

Extraordinary fabrics: Haute couture designs are sewn in only the most luxurious, exceptional fabrics that normally cost hundreds of dollars a yard, with some costing more than a thousand dollars a yard. Quality fabrics is essential in a haute couture gown.

Strong innovative design: The couturier (or designer) has an ability to interpret the mood of the time and develop a unique style. Regardless of whether the style is classic or exaggerated, haute couture designs are based on basic design principles such as proportion, colour and texture, and balance. The designs tend to be unique and eye-catching.

With a haute couture gown, you will get more than just the typical gown – it is the craftsmanship, fabric quality, and design you will be taking home. In short, it is just magic! And if magic is what you are looking for, then haute couture is what you should have!