In fashion, what does 'haute couture' mean?

'Haute couture' (French for 'high sewing', 'high dressmaking', or 'high fashion') is the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing. 'Haute couture' is high-end fashion that is constructed by hand from start to finish, made from high-quality, expensive, often unusual fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable sewers—often using time-consuming, hand-executed techniques.

Couture translates literally from French as "dressmaking" but may also refer to fashion, sewing, or needlework and is also used as a common abbreviation of 'haute couture' and refers to the same thing in spirit. 'Haute' translates literally to "high".

A 'haute couture' garment is always made for an individual client, tailored specifically for the wearer's measurements and body stance. Considering the amount of time, money, and skill allotted to each completed piece, 'haute couture' garments are also described as having no price tag: budget is not relevant.

In modern France, 'haute couture' is a protected name that may not be used except by firms that meet certain well-defined standards. 'Haute couture' can be referenced back as early as the 17th Century. Rose Bertin, the French fashion designer to Queen Marie Antoinette, can be credited for bringing fashion and 'haute couture' to French culture.