A guide to haute couture | CNN

CNN values your feedback

1. How relevant is this ad to you?
2. Did you encounter any technical issues?
Thank You!
Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated.
Close
Ad Feedback
Arts
Design
Fashion
Architecture
Luxury
Beauty
Video
More
Arts Design Fashion Architecture Luxury Beauty Video
Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
Edition
US
International
Arabic
Español
Edition
  • US
  • International
  • Arabic
  • Español

Arts
Design
Fashion
Architecture
Luxury
Beauty
Video

Follow CNN Style
Download the CNN App

  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Elections 2026
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • Redistricting Tracker
    • Epstein Files
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • World Cup 2026
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • Featured
    • CNN Fast
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN 10
    • CNN TV Schedule
  • Listen
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • Terms of Service with Clare Duffy
    • CNN 5 Things
    • All CNN Podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Download the CNN App

Sequined sneakers, celebrity casinos and punk: This is Haute Couture

By Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN
Published 12:24 PM EDT, Fri July 10, 2015
Link Copied!
While you would never call couture "DIY," there was a nod to (pink) punk attitude on the runway at this season's Armani Privé AW15 show during Paris Couture Week (July 5 to July 9).
Couture can still be PUNK —
While you would never call couture "DIY," there was a nod to (pink) punk attitude on the runway at this season's Armani Privé AW15 show during Paris Couture Week (July 5 to July 9).
Thierry Chesnot/Getty Images
Hair stylist Charlie Le Mindu presented a cabaret-inspired show in Paris' Crazy Horse venue, proving couture extends beyond clothes. <br />
Haute "Coiffure" is a thing —
Hair stylist Charlie Le Mindu presented a cabaret-inspired show in Paris' Crazy Horse venue, proving couture extends beyond clothes.
Francois Durand/Getty Images
Charles Frederick Worth was English and established his first haute couture house in Paris in 1858. Mon dieu...
The Godfather of couture was not French —
Charles Frederick Worth was English and established his first haute couture house in Paris in 1858. Mon dieu...
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
During Paris Couture Week SS14, Canadian-born Rad Hourani showed couture's first unisex collection. <br />
Couture also joined the fluid gender debate —
During Paris Couture Week SS14, Canadian-born Rad Hourani showed couture's first unisex collection.
PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Images
If you're Karl Lagerfeld. The creative director of Chanel shocked crowds during the SS14 shows when models stormed the runway in sequined sneakers.
Sneakers are couture-approved —
If you're Karl Lagerfeld. The creative director of Chanel shocked crowds during the SS14 shows when models stormed the runway in sequined sneakers.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
The phrase (translated in English as "high sewing") was used for the first time in 1908. <br />Here, fashion hits new heights at Jean Paul Gaultier's AW15 couture show.
Haute Couture is 107 years old —
The phrase (translated in English as "high sewing") was used for the first time in 1908.
Here, fashion hits new heights at Jean Paul Gaultier's AW15 couture show.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Chinese "encore" shows are becoming more regular as couture houses head east after Paris. <br />This photo was taken at a Dior couture show in Hong Kong.
Couture in China is on the rise —
Chinese "encore" shows are becoming more regular as couture houses head east after Paris.
This photo was taken at a Dior couture show in Hong Kong.
Jessica Hromas/Getty Images
After being <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Flifeandstyle%2F2011%2Fmar%2F01%2Fjohn-galliano-sacked-by-christian-dior" target="_blank" target="_blank">dismissed by Dior in 2011</a>, John Galliano made a triumphant return to the world of couture less than four years later with his debut collection for Maison Margiela. <br />This photo was taken from his second couture collection for the house during the AW15 shows.
Couture can be very forgiving —
After being dismissed by Dior in 2011, John Galliano made a triumphant return to the world of couture less than four years later with his debut collection for Maison Margiela.
This photo was taken from his second couture collection for the house during the AW15 shows.
Francois Durand/Getty Images)
The youngest artistic director to join a haute couture fashion house remains Yves Saint-Laurent, who took the reigns from the late Christian Dior in <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vogue.co.uk%2Fspy%2Fbiographies%2Fchristian-dior" target="_blank" target="_blank">1957 at aged just 21</a>.
Couture is not a youth club —
The youngest artistic director to join a haute couture fashion house remains Yves Saint-Laurent, who took the reigns from the late Christian Dior in 1957 at aged just 21.
Keystone /Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The Chanel SS13 couture collection took <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessoffashion.com%2Farticles%2Fopinion%2Ffashion-means-business-haute-couture" target="_blank" target="_blank">200 people some 2,000</a> hours to produce.
Couture takes way more than two —
The Chanel SS13 couture collection took 200 people some 2,000 hours to produce.
LOIC VENANCE/AFP/Getty Images
Atelier Versace was forced not to show between 2004 and 2012 <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.harpersbazaar.co.uk%2Ffashion%2Ffashion-news%2Fthe-history-of-haute-couture%23" target="_blank" target="_blank">due to the recession</a>. <br />Here, model Karlie Kloss poses during the AW15 couture show.
Couture felt the recesssion too —
Atelier Versace was forced not to show between 2004 and 2012 due to the recession.
Here, model Karlie Kloss poses during the AW15 couture show.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
At least according to Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf it is. This AW15 they presented their "Wearable Art" collection in the Parisian art gallery Palais de Tokyo.
Couture is art —
At least according to Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf it is. This AW15 they presented their "Wearable Art" collection in the Parisian art gallery Palais de Tokyo.
Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
There were 26 designers in this season's Paris couture schedule -- low if you compare this to the 106 couture houses <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.harpersbazaar.co.uk%2Ffashion%2Ffashion-news%2Fthe-history-of-haute-couture%23" target="_blank" target="_blank">recorded in 1946</a>, but a rise from the 19 recorded in 1970. <br />This photo was taken backstage at Elie Saab's AW15 show.<br />
Couture is a dying art... or is it? —
There were 26 designers in this season's Paris couture schedule -- low if you compare this to the 106 couture houses recorded in 1946, but a rise from the 19 recorded in 1970.
This photo was taken backstage at Elie Saab's AW15 show.
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
Karl Largerfeld shows have taken us to supermarkets, brasseries, and the woods but this season we found ourselves in a celebrity-packed casino. <br />This photo shows Kirsten Stewart, Julianne Moore, Lily-Rose Depp, and Lara Stone gambling in head-to-toe couture.
Celebrities gamble in couture —
Karl Largerfeld shows have taken us to supermarkets, brasseries, and the woods but this season we found ourselves in a celebrity-packed casino.
This photo shows Kirsten Stewart, Julianne Moore, Lily-Rose Depp, and Lara Stone gambling in head-to-toe couture.
FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images
The fashion darling closed the show for Chanel and also walked alongside Lara Stone and Karlie Kloss during the Atelier Versace couture show this AW15. <br />Here, Kendall is pictured backstage at Atelier Versace AW15.
Couture loves Kendall Jenner too —
The fashion darling closed the show for Chanel and also walked alongside Lara Stone and Karlie Kloss during the Atelier Versace couture show this AW15.
Here, Kendall is pictured backstage at Atelier Versace AW15.
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • Elections 2026
    • Redistricting Tracker
    • Epstein Files
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • World Cup 2026
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • Featured
    • CNN Headlines
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN 10
    • CNN TV Schedule
  • Listen
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • Terms of Service with Clare Duffy
    • CNN 5 Things
    • All CNN Podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account
Follow CNN Style

Download the CNN app
Download the CNN app

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Ad Choices Accessibility & CC About Newsletters Transcripts Sitemap

© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from Google Play.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.