Haute Couture Dresses by Julien Fournié
A haute couture dress is made to measure, by hand, in a Paris atelier, for one client at a time, and only houses holding the legally protected Haute Couture appellation may call it that. Julien Fournié designs his haute couture dresses himself, through private fittings, as sculptural and often one-of-a-kind pieces for evenings, red carpets and weddings.
What makes a dress haute couture?
Haute Couture is not a style but a protected French appellation, granted by the Ministry of Industry on the recommendation of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM). It means a garment made to measure for a private client, by hand, in a Paris atelier. Maison Julien Fournié, founded in 2009, has held the official Haute Couture appellation since 2017 and presents its collections in Paris during Haute Couture Week, in January and July.
Made to measure, from the first fitting to the final stitch
Every Julien Fournié dress begins with the person who will wear it. There is no size chart and no off-the-rack base: after a first consultation with the designer, the dress is built through private fittings around one body and one occasion, then finished by hand in the atelier. The process is explained step by step in “How a Haute Couture Dress Is Made“.
A sculptural, theatrical signature
Sharp geometric lines softened by movement, architectural volumes and a taste for spectacle: each collection is a narrative, translated into wearable silhouettes rather than costume. Recent collections include First Misfits (January 2026, Salle Gaveau), on rebellion and individuality, and Last Queen (June 2024, Musée Grévin), inspired by the last queen of France.
The Collections
The First Misfits Collection
Evening gowns, red carpet and bridaL
The same made-to-measure process applies whether the dress is for a gala, a single red-carpet entrance or a wedding day. Discover our haute couture wedding dresses and our haute couture tuxedos and jackets.
The Wedding Dresses
tuxedos and jackets
Worn by choice, never by contract
Julien Fournié’s dresses are not placed. Actresses, singers and artists come to the Maison and ask to borrow a dress for a performance, a premiere or a red carpet. The Maison has a simple policy: it never pays anyone to wear its creations, and some artists even pay to borrow a dress. Among those who have chosen a Julien Fournié dress are Audrey Fleurot, whose gown entered the Musée Grévin in Paris in March 2023, Marina Viotti and Deborah François, as well as Chinese stars such as Dilraba, AngelaBaby and Bai Lu.
See the dresses, book a consultation
Collections are shown in Paris during Haute Couture Week. Dresses are made on request, and the showroom receives clients by appointment only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a haute couture dress?
A haute couture dress is a made-to-measure garment, made by hand in a Paris atelier for one private client, by a house holding the legally protected Haute Couture appellation. Unlike ready-to-wear, it is built around one body through private fittings rather than produced in standard sizes.
Are Julien Fournié’s dresses genuine haute couture?
Yes. Maison Julien Fournié has held the official Haute Couture appellation since 2017 and shows on the Paris Haute Couture Week calendar of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. Every dress is made to measure by the house’s own atelier.
How much does a haute couture dress cost?
Julien Fournié does not publish prices: every haute couture dress is quoted individually after the first consultation, according to the design, the fabrics and the hours of embroidery.
How long does it take to make a haute couture dress?
Allow between three weeks and six months from the first consultation to delivery, depending on the complexity of the design and of the embroidery.
How do I order a Julien Fournié dress?
Contact the Maison to request a consultation; the Paris showroom receives clients by appointment only. The dress is then designed and built through at least three private fittings, directly with the designer’s team.
How is a haute couture dress different from a couture-inspired ready-to-wear gown?
A haute couture dress is built around one specific person, often as a one-of-a-kind piece. A couture-inspired ready-to-wear gown is produced in standard sizes and adjusted afterwards, and does not carry the legal appellation.
Does Julien Fournié make haute couture wedding dresses?
Yes. The same made-to-measure approach applies to bridal haute couture. See our haute couture wedding dresses.
Who designs Julien Fournié’s dresses, and who wears them?
Julien Fournié designs every collection himself, since founding the house in 2009, with no rotating creative director. His dresses have been worn by, among others, Audrey Fleurot, Marina Viotti and Deborah François.
Does Julien Fournié pay celebrities to wear its dresses?
No. The Maison never pays artists or celebrities to wear its creations. Actresses, singers and other public figures ask to borrow dresses of their own accord, which sets Maison Julien Fournié apart from most luxury brands.
About Julien Fournié Haute Couture
Founded in 2009, Maison Julien Fournié is a Paris haute couture house, officially classified Haute Couture in 2017. In 2010 it received the Grand Prix de la Création de la Ville de Paris for its first collection.