Haute couture (French for "high sewing" or "high dressmaking") refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted fashions. It originally referred to French fashion and in France, is a "protected name" that can be used only by firms that meet certain well-defined standards. However, the term is also used loosely to comprise all high-fashion custom-fitted clothing, whether it is produced in Paris or in other fashion capitals such as New York, London, and Milan.

Haute couture is made to order for a specific customer, and it is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finish, often using time-consuming, hand-executed techniques. (Answers.com)

自1945年起，法国政府对高级时装定下了一系列清楚的准则，到今天为止只有以下二十间公司获权生产高级时装：Christian Dior、Chanel、Balmain、Carven、Christian Lacroix、Emanuel Ungaro、Givenchy、Guy Laroche、Hanae Mori、Jean Louis Scherrer、Lecoanet Hemant、Louis Feraud、Nina Ricci、Paco Rabanne、Per Spook、Philippe Venet、Pierre Caddin、Lapidus、Torrent、Yves Saint Laurent等。