An Overview of Haute Couture in Paris, Episode 291

<p>On today’s episode Annie and Elyse chat about the places you have to go if you’re a fan of high fashion or "haute couture" in Paris. Elyse gives us a brief overview of how haute couture got started in France and it turns out that it's fascinating!</p> <h5><a href="https://www.patreon.com/elysart">Support Elyse on Patreon</a></h5> <p>If you're a fan of fashion you really need to go on a pilgrimage on a couple of streets in Paris (see below). These are high fashion boutiques where they sell high-end "prêt à porter". This means "ready-made". But a shirt might cost you 2,000€ so it's  not exactly affordable for everyone.</p> <h2>Haute Couture as a Label</h2> <p>Appellation d'Origine Protégée (AOP) is akin to the AOC you've probably hear of for wines. These products have to meet requirements that we call "cahier des charges" in French.</p> <p>Designers who want to enjoy the "haute couture" label must have everything done by hand. You have to have two in-house "ateliers" (workshops) where workers craft beautiful pieces. Everything has to be custom-made and custom-fitted. They must also participate in two shows a years. What the French call a "défilé de mode". You can see the official calendar of défilés in Paris <a href= "https://fhcm.paris/fr/paris-fashion-week-fr/calendrier-des-defiles/"> here</a>.</p> <h2>Haute Couture Started with Louis XIV and Versailles</h2> <p>Haute couture is not new in France. As a matter of fact it started with Louis XIV and his lavish palace in Versailles. And it continued after that with Madame de la Pompadour and Madame du Barry and continued with Marie-Antoinette.</p> <p>Back then they wore elaborate wigs called a "poule" (a chicken!). Women always wore jewelry and heavy makeup. Their dresses were 5 feet wide. It was all extravagant.</p> <h3>Nobility All Came to Paris to Buy their Clothes</h3> <p>Everybody who was anybody came to Paris to buy their clothes. This included the royal families or Germany, England, Russia, Spanish, Italy, etc. Yes, even the Italians who developed their fash