Featured Designer - Charles Frederick Worth

|THE DEN|

Charles Frederick Worth, an English fashion designer who lived from October 13, 1825, to March 10, 1895, founded the House of Worth, one of the most prestigious fashion houses of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Many fashion historians believe him to be the originator of haute couture. Worth is also credited with modernising the fashion industry. His fashion salon, which he opened in Paris in 1858, quickly drew European monarchy, and wealthy society soon followed where they led.

A creative designer, he modified 19th-century clothing to make it more functional for modern life, allegedly at the request of his most illustrious client, Empress Eugénie. Nearly all of his clients visited his salon for a consultation and fitting, transforming the House of Worth into a gathering place for society.

He was the first to sew branded labels into his clothing and replace the fashion dolls with live models to promote his garments to clients. His fashion house employed 1,200 employees at the conclusion of his career, and it had a significant influence on fashion taste. Among his key innovations in women's fashion 'was the line of garments and their length’.

Garment shape

At the height of his fame, Worth transformed the crinoline, a style that was enormously popular. Worth wanted to create a more functional silhouette for women, so he narrowed the crinoline and shifted the bulk of it to the back, freeing up the front and sides of the wearer.

Shorter Hemline

Empress Eugénie recommended Worth make a walking skirt with a lower hemline since she liked taking long walks but disliked wearing long skirts. Due to its ankle length, this was at first considered excessively unconventional or even alarming, but with time it gained popularity due to its usefulness.