There are few things grander in the world of fashion than haute couture. Ariodante Travel is offering fashionistas the extremely rare and exclusive opportunity to travel to Paris and have their very own haute couture garment created for them by designers including Luis Vuitton, Hermes, Givenchy, Chanel or Dior, a service only normally afforded to celebrities and royalty. Guests will live and breathe high fashion and for those that need an opportunity to wear their garment, Ariodante Travel will even secure tickets to an exclusive star-studded event.
With a miniscule client base of approximately 4,000 worldwide – made up of heiresses, royalty, high-powered businesswomen and socialites – the practice can seem entirely out of reach and it is extremely difficult to break into the haute couture circle, which requires an invitation and an appointment. Using its unrivalled book of contacts though, Ariodante Travel can arrange for its clients to get exclusive access to haute couture’s leading ateliers.
Guests embarking on Ariodante’s experience will travel to Paris in the height of luxury on private jet from any departing airport of their choice and will meet with the head atelier of their favourite brand. With only 14 designers who bear the label of haute couture, and one item taking up to 700 hours to create, the haute couture experience is an incredibly unique and personal one. The item may be assembled with exquisite beading, hand embroidery, feathers, fur or other embellishments by highly trained artisans.
During the trip, guests will be shown the brand’s current collection and learn about the group’s history, including past collections and old drawings. Guests will also watch a private fashion show curated exclusively for them showcasing new and emerging designers and get the exclusive opportunity to visit the Paris City Hall fashion collection, one of the largest in the world, which is never open to the public.
Accommodation will be arranged by Ariodante in the most luxurious hotel suites in Paris, with options including the Belle Etoile suite at the Meurice Hotel, which has a private rooftop terrace with views of the Eiffel Tower. Ariodante will also arrange dinner reservations in Paris’ most exclusive restaurants and private access to the city’s museums and galleries.
For those who need a special occasion to wear their haute couture garment, Ariodante will go the extra mile and secure the client with invitations to an exclusive event such as the Cannes Film Festival or the Oscars. There is also the option of having a bespoke item of haute jewellery to match the garment, with jewellers including Boucheron, Chaumet and Mellerio.
Originating from France, haute couture has gained a prominent place in the fashion industry. Constructed by the world’s best seamstresses by hand, its pieces utilise only the highest quality or unusual fabrics and difficult sewing techniques. Haute couture literally means high fashion; garments are tailor made and fitted to the client, creating jaw dropping one-off pieces. Designed exclusively for runways and art exhibitions, haute couture is rarely made to be sold; the time, effort and rare materials used to make a single piece means they are often described as having no price tag.
Each Ariodante Travel experience is bespoke, and clients are assigned a dedicated travel manager to oversee the trip and ensure itineraries are planned to the finest of details. Ariodante will arrange any necessary Covid tests ahead of the trip without clients having to leave their home and will be on hand 24/7 to take care of holiday arrangements.
Ariodante Travel’s haute couture experience starts from approximately £100,000 per person. For more information, visit ariodantetravel.com.
