haute

Haute is a French adjective meaning high or elevated. In English usage, it appears most often in phrases borrowed from French, notably haute couture and haute cuisine. Grammatically, haute is the feminine form of haut, used before feminine nouns such as couture.

Haute couture refers to high fashion characterized by custom-made garments tailored to individual clients. The designation is regulated in France and awarded to houses that meet specific criteria, including creating made-to-measure pieces for private clients, maintaining skilled ateliers (often in Paris), and presenting a collection during Parisian fashion events. Haute couture garments are distinguished by meticulous craftsmanship, premium materials, and lengthy construction times, typically accompanied by a premium price and a focus on exclusivity. It is contrasted with prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear), which is mass-produced and sold in standard sizes.

Beyond fashion, haute appears in other luxury contexts, signaling prestige and exclusivity. In gastronomy, haute cuisine denotes refined, elaborately prepared cooking associated with high-end dining and long-standing culinary traditions.

Etymology and usage notes emphasize that haute, as a French word, signals elevated prestige rather than mere expense. In English-language writing, haute couture is treated as a formal, protected term describing a distinct segment of the fashion industry, while haute on its own is typically used to convey a sense of luxury or exclusivity in branding and discourse.