Rive Droite

Fashion historians date the birth of Parisian haute couture to the creation in 1858, in the Rue de la Paix, of the maison of Charles Frederick Worth, the favorite couturier of the Empress Eugenie, of the most elegant women of the Belle Epoque, ranging from actresses to high-priced prostitutes. The popularity of the quarter, in the wealthy VIII arrondissement on the right bank, or Rive Droite, of the Seine, only grew during the years that led up to the period between the two world wars. Among those who were drawn there were Poiret, Chanel, Nina Ricci, Schiaparelli and the Spanish designer Balenciaga. In the two decades that followed World War Two, when new creators were proliferating there and, alongside the haute couture, luxury prêt-à-porter began to take root, the Rive Droite continued to be the world fashion crossroads. It all revolved around two streets there: the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne. Overlooking the first of the two streets is the Elysée, but for the average tourist, any interest that the French presidential palace might hold was overshadowed by the adjoining shop windows of Cardin, Féraud, Lanvin, Azzaro, or Versace. Equally renowned is the Avenue Montaigne, where one sees the original house of Christian Dior, alongside those of Nina Ricci, Ungaro, and Scherrer. In the immediately surrounding area, you will also see Balmain and Balenciaga, in the Rue Franµois I, and Carven at the Rond-Point des Champs Elysées. In the 1960s, haute couture however slid into a period of transition, which was only to be accelerated by the youth revolt of May 1968. The creation of the unisex style, and various social, economic, and technical evolutions, along with the general shift in lifestyles caused the sector to decline. Today, high fashion serves to encourage other, more lucrative activities, such as selling perfumes or name prêt-à-porter. Only 18 maisons still belong to the Syndicat de la Haute Couture.