13 things you didn’t know about Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week Autumn / Winter 2013 kicks off this week with designers including Chanel, Valentino and Elie Saab showcasing their collections.

But what exactly is Couture Fashion Week and why are people getting so excited about it? Here's 13 things you probably didn't know about it... Until now.

1 Adele loves it

The Brit singer topped the best dressed list at the Grammys in a Valentino SS13 Couture frock hot off the Paris runway.

2 It causes drama

Anne Hathaway famously ditched her Valentino Couture gown for the Oscars at the last minute after she saw that Amanda Seyfried was wearing something similar.

In the end, Nicole Kidman wowed in Anne’s original Valentino gown at the Cannes Film Festival… every cloud!

3 It features the world’s biggest models

Cara Delevingne, Jourdan Dunn and the world’s number one model Joan Smalls have all walked the Haute Couture runway.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell kicked things off on the Naomi Campbell so expect to see more top models walk the catwalk - especially Cara, who's one of the most sought after in the business.

[Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week SS13 in pictures]

[Valentino, Elie Saab and Jean Paul Gaultier SS13 couture: Trend round-up]

4 It showcases some of the most outrageous beauty looks

Who can forget Chanel’s eerie smoky eyes on the SS13 Couture runway? Models eyelashes were coated in lashings of black mascara while black netting and wax was used to create a messy, dishevelled look.

Spring Summer 2013 Couture also saw models walk the Dior runway with 3D rhinestone lips and wet-look pixie cuts.

5 It draws in the A-Listers

Hilary Swank, Diane Kruger and Chloe Moretz were just some of the Hollywood stars on the SS13 FROW. Expect to see even more for the AW13 shows although regular attendee Kim Kardashian is likely to be a no show, for obvious reasons…

6 It features some of the prettiest dresses you’ll ever see

The intricate beading, hand-sewn detail, pretty lace, stunning prints, flattering shapes and the most expensive materials make for a runway of dresses you’ll be lusting after for months to come.

7 It’s illegal to say you’re Haute Couture when you’re not

The label ‘Haute Couture’ must only be used by designers with a Couture line. Only a select number of designers meet the strict entry criteria, which includes having a made-to-measure service and personal fittings.

Designers must also have a workshop in Paris to adhere to the rules of the French Ministry of Industry and the Fédération Française de la Couture.

8 It originated in Paris to prevent women wearing the same dresses

Haute Couture started in the 1800s to ensure high-class Parisian women didn’t turn up to the same events wearing identical dresses.

9 It’s the sister of Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week SS13

The Autumn Winter 2013 Couture runway follows Spring Summer 2013 Couture that took place in January this year.

Both SS13 and AW13 Couture follow the ready-to-wear runway shows, which take place in New York, London, Milan and Paris 4-5 months earlier.

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[Paris Fashion Week says ‘adieu’ with Chanel and Dior]

10 More than 2,000 seamstresses work on Haute Couture

The handiwork that goes into Couture gowns is no mean feat – 2,200 people are rumoured to work behind-the-scenes on the expensive gowns.

Many of the staff are loyal to one fashion house and stay there their entire life, reports the Telegraph.

11 It features some of the biggest designers

Chanel! Christian Dior! Jean Paul Gaultier! If it’s big-name designers you’re after, look no further than Couture Fashion Week.

With such a stringent process for designers to be accepted as a Couture designer, it’s no wonder only the biggest names present their collections.

12 The turnaround can be quick

Don’t be surprised to see Couture gowns on celebrities just a few days after they’ve appeared on the runway. Competition for custom-made gowns is fierce and stylists often request gowns straight after Fashion Week.

13 It’s all about the parties

Kate Moss and Jessica Alba are just two of the A-Listers to have graced Paris Haute Couture fashion week with their presence at their after-parties – who will make an appearance this time?

Tell us what you think about Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week over on Twitter now.