Haute Couture – Fashion Shows & Fashion Week

Haute couture means “high art of tailoring” and comes from the French. Every item of clothing is a handmade masterpiece. When you immerse yourself in this world as a model, you enter the highest level of fashion, which is reserved for only a few.

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Models in haute couture

If you get a job in haute couture, it’s a great honor. This type of fashion is only created by the best fashion houses in the world, and each piece is specially tailored for the customer. This means that you walk the catwalk in an absolutely unique piece that is often only worn once.

Most exclusive fashion shows in the world

The “Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode” determines who can call themselves haute couture. This organization dates back to the 19th century, when Frederik Worth founded the first fashion house and revolutionized the fashion industry with his fashion shows. Only fashion houses that meet strict criteria, such as showing collections of at least 35 models twice a year, are awarded this status. Walking on the Parisian haute couture catwalks is considered a great honor and an absolute career highlight for every model.

Requirements for a haute couture job

• Perfect fit: Haute couture is all about precision. The clothes are made to your exact measurements, so as a model you often have several fittings before the outfit fits perfectly. Patience and collaboration with the designers are crucial here.
• Elegance and expression: On the catwalk, you not only have to present the clothes, but also the designer’s vision. Haute couture is often dramatic and artistic, and you need to be able to embody this particular mood.
• Care of the clothing: As the garments are extremely valuable and often decorated with intricate details such as beading or embroidery, it is important that you handle them with great care. Even when putting them on, there may be special techniques to avoid damaging anything.

The highest form of fashion

The fashion shows take place in breathtaking locations such as historic buildings or luxurious settings. It is also common for such jobs to take place during the famous Paris Haute Couture Week, where the whole fashion world is watching. As a model for haute couture, you are not just presenting fashion, but works of art. It’s an opportunity to play in a league that most people are denied.