By definition: Haute couture is the French term for high fashion and refers to the creation of exclusive made-to-order clothing. The pieces are made from high quality, expensive fabric and sewn together with painstaking detail by the most experienced and capable seamstresses and tailors.

 

Where does the creation of haute couture take place? In an atelier, of course. The French word translates to workshop and usually denotes one that is used for the arts.

 

Why it matters: Even today, haute couture collections from the likes of Atelier Versace, Christian Dior, and Chanel are the crème de la crème and like its masterful predecessors, high fashion is still the most artful and glamorous display of style.