Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week just ended

Yes, Paris Haute Couture Week just wrapped up. It ran from July 6th to the 9th, so we’re right at the end of it.

Big moments included Duran Lantink’s debut for Jean Paul Gaultier, Pierpaolo Piccioli’s first collection for Balenciaga, and strong showings from Chanel, Dior, and Schiaparelli. Lots of celebrity front-row energy too.

Paris Haute Couture Week just concluded after four packed days from July 6th to 9th, delivering the season’s most extravagant, handcrafted collections. Thirty houses presented, with standout debuts and artistic storytelling stealing the spotlight.

Schiaparelli opened the week with surreal touches like Ghostface-inspired faces and sculptural silicone gowns. Jonathan Anderson brought botanical magic and sculptural pleats to Dior, while Matthieu Blazy took Chanel on a whimsical fairy-tale journey with vines and beanstalk heels.

Big buzz surrounded new creative directions: Pierpaolo Piccioli’s colorful, draped debut at Balenciaga, Duran Lantink’s theatrical and provocative take at Jean Paul Gaultier, and Manish Malhotra’s emotional “Maa” collection celebrating motherhood through Indian craftsmanship and flowing gowns. Maria Grazia Chiuri made her Fendi couture debut in Rome with soft, fluid silhouettes and reimagined furs.

Celebrities turned out in force — Bad Bunny, Cardi B, Sabrina Carpenter, Gigi Hadid, and Zendaya were all spotted soaking up the shows amid a scorching heatwave.

Mark 541 is planning to travel to Milan and Paris in the fall to cover the fashion weeks.

HISTORY OF HAUTE COUTURE

The term “haute couture” is French and literally translates to “high sewing” or “high dressmaking.” When it was first conceptualized in the mid-19th century, it represented the pinnacle of custom, handcrafted fashion — exclusive garments made-to-order for wealthy clients using the finest fabrics, meticulous attention to detail, and superior craftsmanship.

An Englishman, Charles Frederick Worth, is widely credited as the father of modern haute couture. In 1858, he founded the first true couture house, the House of Worth, in Paris. Worth revolutionized the industry by treating the dressmaker as an artist and designer. He introduced live models to showcase collections, created seasonal design portfolios for clients to choose from, and sewed his own label into garments — practices that helped establish Paris as the global capital of fashion.

The term became officially protected in France, with strict regulations formalized in 1945. Today, only a select few houses that meet rigorous criteria — like presenting at least 50 original designs per season and maintaining a dedicated Paris atelier — can officially call themselves haute couture.