Why Fashion Podcasts Are A Must: Haute Couture Edition

Since I have been listening to Dressed: The History of Fashion, I have learned about many fashion designers dating back to the time that Haute Couture was even invented. Charles Fredrick Worth, who founded Haute Couture, started his career in fashion in 19th century Paris. He since has invented things such as Princess lined silhouette’s and crinoline gowns, which are known for having a large bustle. Because of this wide set silhouette, they became known as the dress smuggling skirt due to the women in the 19th century who would travel to Europe and purchase all types of clothing, but when it came time to pay the tax for travelling with these new items, the women would hide their new clothes under their crinoline skirt. This method evolved and they became even more creative as to sew pockets in these skirts to hide even more european clothing, although it started to go out of style once people suspected the innocent crinoline skirt wearers as smugglers since this tactic became well known. Once people started learning about these crinoline skirts, they suspected that everyone who wore them was smuggling which often caused offense to the innocent, and the trend went out of style after about ten years. The topic of the crinoline skirt is covered in much more depth in another episode of Dressed: The History of Fashion, but it was one of the most notable inventions of Charles Fredrick Worth. Although the Crinoline skirt is not what brought him to fame nor was it his first creation, Charles probably did not suspect that his creation would be used for such purposes and he went on to create other things as well. Here is a little bit of backstory information on how he began to create Haute Couture. In 1858, The House of Worth and Bobergh was established, where Otto Bobergh who was also a fashion designer, oversaw administration and production at this House and Worth, was the creative director. In time, after much success together they parted ways, making it House of Worth in 1870, when Haute Couture really began. Empress Eugenie was the one to make the first mark on Charles’ reputation in Couture fashion. She even writes about him in a memoir of hers, and she was the one to make popularity out of crinoline skirts, first known for their large silhouette. Since Euginie became Charles’ client, she gained him the title of a supplier to the French imperial court which made him popular  throughout other royals, since Euginie was known for her style which was made by him. After his reputation took off through royalty, he began dressing actresses, opera singers, and other well known celebrities to further his clientele. He maintained his status by dressing well known individuals, but he also had relations with many department stores which agreed to sell his items as well. After the crinoline skirt went out of style, he also moved on to create  what is known as the Princess lined silhouette, inspired by the Princess of Wales. This silhouette is seen in many shows and movies such as ‘Reign,” a netflix series, or the movie, “Marie Antionette.” This style contained vertical seams that went from the bust of the gown, to the thigh to create a narrow silhouette. He also went on to create items with bodices rather than corsets as well, that connected to skirts and became gowns. Around the time of these creations, he reached fifty years of working at The House of Worth, and passed down his position to his sons, Jean-Phillipe and Gaston Worth in 1890. Charles Fredrick Worth died five years later at the age of sixty nine. His sons then brought in an assistant designer for the House of Worth, Paul Poiret, also known as “The King of Fashion'' and that topic is covered in a later podcast of Dressed: The History of Fashion. Since I began listening to this podcast, I have learned so many things that I felt the need to share but the story that really stuck out to me was the one on Charles Fredrick Worth, founder of Haute Couture. There is so much more to learn and more than one hundred episodes of Dressed: The History of Fashion, which means there are more than one hundred reasons to start listening to fashion podcasts. Since my experience with Dressed: The History of Fashion has yet to disappoint, I highly recommend starting out with this one! I have learned so much already and cannot wait to share more!