Haute couture means  "high sewing" or "high dressmaking" or "high fashion". It is the creation of exclusive custom-fitted  clothing. Also mentioned: high-end-fashion. In either terms, most important is the fact the clothes are constructed by hand from start to finish.

Expensive materials
Haute couture is made from  high-quality, expensive, often unusual fabrics. The outerfabric but also the linings, interfacing and all the notions as. well.  We are talking about real Silk, real metal, wooden or pearl buttons and the best of the best notions: zippers, hocks, the label-material etc. It is in the detail, so even the price-labels, size-labels etc. are full of details, copyright protected names etc.

Work, and work....
Haute couture is sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable sewers. They are often using time-consuming, hand-executed techniques. The difference between basic sewing and couture sewing is a big difference. Mainly the time invested, the location of the ateliers (or factories) and mostly the seamstress. The couture houses are working with very skilled seamstress. Before somebody is allowed to cut the expensive fabrics or to sew an ordered piece of couture by a very wealthy client: they have to be big professionals.

Haute OR couture?
Haute is the name. Haute refers to 'high  'the best' , 'the most professional' etc. Haute couture means the best of the best. 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.
• all about the time, money, and skill allotted to each completed piece
• Haute couture garments are also described as having no price tag
• the best materials for the job
• no budget required

But what about Prêt-à-Porter ?
The real difference between Prêt-à-Porter and Haute couture: Prêt-à-Porter = ready-to-wear.  The same beautiful couture garment is not created for an exclusive client but in standard-sizes.  The clothes are for sale for those who can afford them. Well, it still means the cloths are extremely expensive, but they are for sale....

Chanel couture, if you win the lottery?
Yes, it is expensive with capitals.  We all know a lipstick costs already 30.00 euro even though you can buy a perfect lipstick for 10.00 euro of the other brands.  Mainly you pay for the label-name, the package, the smell, the luxury image and above all: a special feeling to have a CHANEL-lipstick! 
We all know about the handbags. If you own a real 2.55 Chanel handbag, you are walking around with a real investment. Most handbags starts around 5.000 euro and for some (new) models you have to get on a list, wait for months, maybe even years.
And now:  imagine the couture:  Day wear usually starts at around euro 10.000, though it does depend on the brand Chanel Haute Couture usually cost between euro 50.000-100.000, while bridal can easily cost euro 100.000-150.000. So start saving money, or better: start to learn how to create couture yourself.

HAUTE COUTURE YOURSELF!
Couture houses or labels don't mass-produce. They'll make 100 garments a year  instead of 1.000, or even instead of mass production to sell the clothes allover the world.... So now you understand WHY the real Haute couture is so extremely expensive.

The choice between real couture and mass-production cheap clothes is easy. you have to get dressed, so you have to buy what's available down the streets or on the internet.

BUTTTT...... start sewing yourself and you are able to create your own Haute couture.

• Does the clothes fitt? MAKE them to fit!
• Is the material good quality? BUY good quality materials yourself!
• Everybody is walking around in the same clothes...  MAKE something special and personal!
• Can I afford a real beautiful jacket or fitting dress?  YES you can!

MORE INFO

13 reasons why you should make your own Chanel-style jacket
How to know if you have a real Vintage-Chanel jacket or a fake one?
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Read all about Chanel Vintage couture:

We tested the sewingpattern Vogue V9247.
The sewingpattern is easy and a plain simple open-front shaped jacket. The pattern is ideal for variations and we especially love the long-jacket-variation.

Description:
Vogue V9247, Loose-fitting unlined jacket and vest have length, sleeve, and pocket variations. A: Self-fringe and braid. B: Braid. C: Lace trim. D: Self-fringe and lace trim. F: Self-fringe.

Sewing level:  not mentioned

Fabrics: Lightweight Synthetic Leather and Suede, Ponte Knit and Lightweight Demin

Notions: Bias, trims, lace trims and bindings.

We are enthusiast about these PLUS points:  

• Beautiful fitting easy sleeves.
• Love Model B (the short one) and D (the long one) most. 
• Nice shape, makes you look slimmer and taller.
• Easy pattern.

We are a little disappointed about:

• Unlined; it does not wear comfortable in stiff fabrics.
• The darts in the back gives comfort but also looks a bit cheap on the leather and suede fabrics.
• In Bouclé it could work though...

We created the Model D. long jacket but without the long fringes, as this looks a bit too much of a sort of boho-style. The long jacket is a really easy pattern and great for experimenting with fringes, trims and adding linings.

Creative ideas: trims en fringes.

Extra options:
We tried this pattern with a dark green, but very loose, woolen Bouclé fabric.  We also added a Silk graphic lining and quilted it as in The couture cardigan jacket.

A long jacket (or coat?) to wear all day. To travel. For work.  For the colds evenings during Summer. For indoors: an extra layer.
etc. etc.

This jacket might look a bit cheap on the pattern: but it feels like heaven when you create the pattern and use the quilting style on good (not too cheap!) fabrics like a real great Bouclé and a real Silk lining.