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Couture Fashion Collections Through the Years, From the Archive [PHOTOS]

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Couture Fashion Collections Through the Years, From the Archive [PHOTOS]

Founded in 1858, the first Couture house in Paris was established by designer Charles Frederick Worth, known as the “father of couture,” who took the art form beyond the confines of royal courts to become the pinnacle of fashion. In the mid-1800s, Paris established the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture to safeguard the art of high-fashion.

By the 20th century, Paris had become home to a number of grand couture houses, including Cristobal Balenciaga, Coco Chanel, Madame Gres and Elsa Schiaparelli, among others. Despite the fact that most ateliers were closed and halted by WWII, Christian Dior would reinstate the craft to its proper place after the war in 1947. The untimely death of Dior in 1952 led to the emergence of a young visionary, 21-year-old Yves Saint Laurent. His creations revolutionized the world of couture for women of his generation. Along with Valentino Garavani, Emanuel Ungaro, and Pierre Cardin, he would usher in a new era in couture.

Designers such as Gianni Versace, John Galliano and Thierry Mugler carved their own niches in couture fashion during the 1980s, combining classic style with a contemporary edge, with Mugler at the forefront of technology and storytelling. Giorgio Armani and others come to the roster in the 2000s with a host of noted names like Maria Grazia and Pierpaolo Piccioli bringing their talents to continue the work of many storied couture houses.

This fusion of tradition and modernity continues to be a distinctive feature of the couture today. Here, see photos from the archives of couture collections through the years.

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