Often the latest and most admired style in clothes, dresses, garments, textiles, cosmetics, etc are described as Fashion. Colors and fabrics are the two main integral part of every fashion designer.  A designer can specialize either in cloth’s wear, jeweler or cosmetic. Fashion design is not limited to trend, which is usually branded as the recent look or street wear. It includes everything right from uniforms to headwear. Many people think that fashion is just limited to western culture, high fashion and label names – not true. To be precise all clothing designed for a purpose is termed as fashion design. So, fashion design reflects changes in outfits over time. Today, fashion design is recognized as a form of art.

Haute Couture and Prêt-a-Porter are considered to be the two main categories in the modern fashion design.

Haute Couture
It is Fresh term which means "high" or "elegant." Although, the literal meaning of the word “Couture” stitching, or high dressmaking but it indicates the business of designing, creating, and selling custom-made, high fashion clothes. When an haute-couture collection of a designer is referred it means the creation of exclusive fashions made from stylish designs for affluent and esteemed clients. Therefore, haute-couture is basically meant for private customers. It is prepared in a customized manner, where high quality, costly fabric is used. Extreme attention right from minute detail to finish and is applied while designing haute-couture.

The first couture was designed by Charles Frederic Worth in the year 1858, in Paris. The main idea behind this form of fashion design is an attitude of unlimited creativity where the quality of the art and artistry of a garment is unparalleled. Today, Haute couture collections are no longer just produced in Paris but also in other fashion capitals like New York, London, and Milan. A fashion house can only be labeled as haute couture house, if it’s registered with the Syndical Chamber for Haute Couture in Paris.

At present only few house are known for their unique haute couture collection, which include brands like Christian Dior, Versace, Armani and Gucci. Few new members are also being added to this list like John Galliano, Valentino and Gianni, among others.

Prêt-a-Porter
The term has been derived from a French word which means "ready to wear." These fashion designs are also marketed in a finished condition, in standard clothing sizes. The term indicates the most high-end fashion designers. Today, few fashion houses or fashion designers create prêt-a-porter collection at a mass level and industrially manufactured. Though, there are some designers who offer lines that are very exclusive and produced only in limited numbers. These fashion designs are also available at high prices but aren’t one-of-a-kind. These clothes are not customized as per the client’s need but as per the manufacturer’s intended market, which makes them more suitable for larger productions.

Some of the fashion houses or designers that produce an haute couture line are Dior, Dolce and Gabbana. Majority of these fashion houses also offer Haute Couture, besides prêt-a-porter lines.