Haute Couture as defined by "The Devil Wears Prada"
An attempt at defining haute couture for the layperson is nothing new. Plenty have done it but few have found a uniquely creative way of going about it. Take Vogue’s "An Introduction to Haute Couture, In Numbers" - now that was different. When I got to thinking “How can I make something that has never been done before without it being esoteric?” the first thing that popped into my head was The Devil Wears Prada (2006). Perhaps it doesn’t totally encompass all things haute couture, but The Devil Wears Prada is a shining example of the juxtaposition between a very strict institution and the liberal satire that accompanies any great comedy. Just as Tom Hanks’ character in You’ve Got Mail (1998) used The Godfather (1972) as a reference for all of life’s little vagaries (go to the mattresses Kathleen!), I think most of the memorable lines in The Devil Wears Prada can be applied to the dynamic world of haute couture.
So without further ado, take it away Meryl!
Let’s first start (as most do) by defining “haute couture.” Although it is directly translated to mean “high sewing” in French, it is most often regarded as referring to “high fashion.” But it is so much more than that; it is a two-word appellation encompassing a 150-year-old institution that has prevailed and prospered, now dominating the global fashion industry.
However, not just anyone can deem their brand to be haute couture; you must get approval from the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (Federation of Haute Couture and Fashion). To be considered a haute couturier, you have to: 1) own a workshop in Paris that employs fifteen full-time employees, 2) have an atelier that hosts a minimum of twenty full-time technical staff, 3) design bespoke items for clients with at least one fitting, and 4) present fifty of your newest daytime and evening lines twice a year during fashion week (in January and July).
Technically, if a brand represents themselves as being haute couture without being an official member of the Federation, they are partaking in false advertising and could be the target of a very expensive legal battle. While you may have aspirations to be a haute couturier, until the above conditions are met, you never will be.
What’s so special about haute couture? Well… everything, actually. Haute couture items are made of the highest quality materials by the most skilled craftsmen in the world. The manifestation of one haute couture gown can take anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand hours to create, depending on how embellished and detailed it is. Any couture item is completely bespoke, made to fit the exact measurements and specifications of a given client. No two items are exactly alike.
As far as price goes, these items can fetch anywhere from $10,000 to skyrocketing into the millions. How exactly does one feel confident wearing millions of dollars worth of clothing? I’d imagine it takes quite a bit of finagling and a lot of luck to not messy the product while out at an event or, God forbid, when you need to go to the bathroom at any point.
Because of how time consuming and costly the production of haute couture gowns can be, a fashion house only exhibits their new lines twice a year at Paris Fashion Week (PFW) - their summer collections in January and their winter collections in July. The who’s who are in attendance. As a side note, there are actually multiple fashion weeks, it’s not just the one. The “Big Four” fashion cities (New York, Milan, Paris, and London) all host their own fashion weeks. However, haute couture, being especially over the top, is held on a completely different schedule from the rest.
Although I have yet to receive my invite to any of the sets for haute couture week (my invites must be lost in the mail!), I am still going to Paris just to bask in the ambience of Elie Saab, Ralph & Russo, and Ulyana Sergeenko, if only from afar. Notoriously difficult to get into, admission to any of the Paris Fashion Week shows requires an invitation; tickets can be bought for most others (New York, London, and Milan fashion weeks). If you don’t mind doing some heavy lifting, you could also reach out to the designers directly, offering your services as a volunteer.
If you do get the chance to attend PFW, you had better clear your schedule because there is no way you can miss it. I don’t care if you’re about to go into labor, tell that baby Chanel can’t wait!
Let me think if I’ve forgotten anything. Hmmmm, I don’t think I have so I guess “that’s all.”
Please refer to the GIF below for any questions you might have.
