While logos flash from shop windows and trend-chasers line up for the latest drops, there exists a tier of fashion known only to the most discerning. In the world of true luxury, fashion ceases to be seasonal. Here, garments are made in smaller numbers, sometimes only a single piece, and the pace is slower, with some couture gowns taking hundreds of hours to complete. Creativity lies in the heart of every detail, from fabric sourcing to embroidery to silhouette.
These pieces are not promoted with the usual fanfare; they pass quietly from the hands of stylists and couturiers to a select clientele or find their way to auction, where collectors and connoisseurs of these artistry garments enter bidding wars to secure them.
The Uppermost Tiers of Fashion
Yet within the luxury tier, there are distinctions, from couture houses and tailors to ultra-luxury streetwear. Some of the most hallowed maisons of haute couture present their hand-stitched gowns and made-to-measure silhouettes to an invited few in Paris twice a year. Unlike the ready-to-wear collections, they often require approval from the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris.
A Supreme trunk embossed with Louis Vuitton’s monogram, a Warhol print, a Dior gown stitched for a royal bride, each offers a glimpse into different corners of fashion’s elite world.
Through the ateliers of Hermès and Chanel, and the shadowy brilliance of Vetements and Chrome Hearts – in places like Dubai, Paris, or even London – we explore why certain garments rise above the rest.
Haute Couture and Luxury Fashion Houses
Far from fashion labels in the conventional sense, these houses represent the meaning of luxury brands in the world of fashion from the salons of Avenue Montaigne to the atelier of rue Cambon.
Chanel
Established in 1910, Chanel has long embodied the spirit of haute couture. Its iconic pieces feature eye-watering prices. One such example is the “Diamond Forever bag”, crafted from white alligator skin and set with 334 diamonds (totalling 3.56 carats), with hardware made of 18K white gold. Only 13 pieces were ever made, making it one of the most expensive Chanel bags in history, priced at $261,000 at release. A custom haute couture gown or full look from the house can reach six figures. Chanel’s runway looks and showpieces, available only to select clients, represent true Parisian refinement.
Hermès
Founded in 1837, Hermès is famed for artisanal craftsmanship and legendary bags. In addition to accessories, their high-fashion collections include bespoke leather jackets and outerwear pieces that routinely exceed $50,000. At the ultra-luxury level, Hermès produces limited-run garments that rival fine jewellery in value, characterised by precise hand-finishing and timeless elegance.
Dior
A pillar of haute couture since 1946, Dior’s custom gowns and eveningwear collections are priced well above $20,000, with certain embroidered couture dresses reaching $100,000+ depending on fabric and complexity. These garments are not off-the-rack or prêt-à-porter, as the Parisians call it, but handcrafted pieces reserved for a privileged few, often spotlighted at iconic red-carpet moments or royal events.
Louis Vuitton
Although more widely recognised for leather goods, Louis Vuitton’s bespoke fashion pieces can command extraordinary prices. Examples include fox-fur coats and exotic skin garments in the $25,000–$80,000 range, as well as custom runway looks created for VIP clients and celebrities. The brand's couture arm continues to expand, maintaining its classic luxury with hand-executed details, while still being fashion forward and adopting unconventional cuts, creative fabrics, and striking patterns.
Gucci
Gucci's ultra-exclusive runway garments and made-to-measure pieces, including exotic leather jackets and crystal-embellished gowns, have exceeded $30,000–50,000. The house has previously unveiled special-order crocodile and python pieces in this tier, especially in custom sizing or private commissions. Gucci has always balanced Italian craftsmanship with flamboyant luxury.
Versace
Versace's couture gowns, known for red-carpet glamour, can easily surpass $50,000, especially when adorned with crystal mesh or gold-thread embroidery. The house frequently collaborates with celebrities on custom pieces that command six-figure prices, blending theatrical flair with precise sartorial execution.
Exclusive Tailors and Couture Niches
These include discreet tailoring houses, from Naples to Savile Row, where suits are cut over weeks using fabrics rarer than gold.
Alexander McQueen
McQueen's atelier is known for theatrical couture; it has produced pieces exceeding $100,000, including royal commissions and avant-garde runway showpieces. One of the most famous is Kate Middleton’s wedding gown, estimated at $400,000. McQueen's bespoke eveningwear continues to cater to the elite, and the secret lies in its ability to pair striking designs with fine handmade tailoring.
Brioni
A legendary Roman tailor, Brioni is favoured by heads of state and Hollywood royalty. Their top-tier suits, especially those made from Vanquish II fabric, retail at around $43,000. Brioni's bespoke service is famed for its use of ultra-rare cloths, impeccable hand-stitching, and discreet luxury tailored to perfection.
Kiton
The Neapolitan tailoring house produces some of the world’s finest suits. Kiton's "K-50" model, named for the fifty hours required to complete it, is crafted from rare vicuña wool and retails for up to $60,000. Every piece is made by master tailors in Italy, often for elite collectors who deeply appreciate the sartorial artistry.
Ralph & Russo
Specialising in haute couture for a global clientele, Ralph & Russo's handmade gowns often exceed $60,000, with bridal couture surpassing $100,000. Each piece is made by hand over hundreds of hours, using the finest silk, crystal, and embroidery techniques, offering an aesthetic that blends classical glamour with architectural detail.
Thom Browne
The designer’s hand-finished garments and catwalk ensembles, especially those involving crocodile leather and intricate beading, are priced from $15,000 and can reach $50,000+, depending on exclusivity. The brand’s surrealist aesthetic and tailored silhouettes make each piece a highly sought-after expression of eccentric luxury.
Ultra-Luxury Streetwear: Auctioned Icons and One-Off Statements
Though streetwear started as a casual and inclusive mode of dressing, a select tier of ultra-rare items and one-off collaborations has redefined its status among collectors and buyers of luxury fashion. Supreme x Louis Vuitton's 2017 collaboration marked a major turning point. Trunk cases, leather jackets, and co-branded hoodies from that collection have sold for $20,000–$100,000+ at auction, with the Malle Courrier 90 Trunk originally retailing for $68,500.
Sotheby’s sold Kanye West's Nike "Air Yeezy 1" prototype for $1.8 million, proving that even sneaker-adjacent items can surpass traditional luxury benchmarks. Chrome Hearts, particularly in collaboration with Rolling Stones, Off-White, or Matty Boy, has produced custom jackets frequently priced above $15,000–20,000, sought after by musicians and collectors.
Other standouts include the Balenciaga x Adidas destroyed hoodie, resold for $12,000–15,000, and crystal-encrusted pieces by Cactus Plant Flea Market and Vetements one-offs, often listing above $10,000 in art-fashion marketplaces. These items are typically sold through prestigious houses like Christie's, Sotheby's and Phillips, or via platforms such as Grailed, 1stDibs, and Farfetch Private Client Services. In cities like Tokyo, New York, and Dubai, invitational showrooms offer bespoke access to the most rarefied hypewear in existence.
Dubai: A Luxury Fashion Scene That Mirrors Its Lifestyle
In Dubai, the culture of luxury makes it the perfect setting for the world’s most exclusive fashion houses. The discreet and elite from across the globe now regularly shop at Dubai’s Fashion Avenue or in the boutiques of Alserkal and DIFC, where private showrooms and VIP lounges cater to an elite clientele. Dubai has now joined the ranks of the world’s fashion capitals, for those who are looking for a custom Dior gown or selecting a six-figure Hermès coat.
Conclusion
Just like rare wines or watches, luxury garments accrue value over time, prized by collectors who understand how heritage and rarity intertwine in pieces of such artistry. That’s why Sotheby’s have opened categories dedicated solely to fashion collectibles, and why buyers in Dubai, Paris, and Tokyo now treat private fittings the way others approach an art acquisition.
Even if some fashion icons are stitched in Paris, hand-cut in Naples, or embellished by an LA cult label, what unites them all is the belief that fashion, at this level, becomes a form of art, something to pass down through generations – like heirlooms in silk and leather, stitched with identity and legacy.
