…was a concept invented by Worth to sell more clothing to the wealthy and elite. “Haute Couture” invented the term “costume” which dictated that each different function or activity should have it’s own “costume”.
Worth encouraged wealthy women of all the European countries and the U.S. to make at least 4 changes of “costume” per day, meaning each one had a full wardrobe of Worth fashion.
(Photo: Pauline of Metternich, a very good Worth customer bought many “costumes” in the 1860’s; this in 1865 showing a fairly common design theme of that mid Victorian era day dress with the panels and overlapping wide fabrics (see Worth’s design sketch for another customer which is quite similar from same year below:)
