The House of Worth was a French fashion house that specialized in haute couture, ready-to-wear clothes, and perfumes. It was founded in 1858 by English designer Charles Frederick Worth. It continued to operate under his descendants until 1952 and closed in 1956. Between 2010 and 2013 there was an attempt to relaunch the House of Worth as a fashion brand.
The Historic House of Worth
Charles Frederick Worth opened his own design house in 1858, in partnership with Otto Bobergh, in Paris at 7 Rue de la Paix. Worth previously worked at Swan & Edgar and Lewis & Allenby in London, and at Maison Gagelin in Paris. It was at Gagelin where he first established his reputation as a dressmaker. In the 1850s, his designs for Gagelin won commendations at Universal Expositions in London and Paris.[1]
While Worth was still at Gagelin, the house had supplied the trousseau for the newly married Empress Eugénie.[2] After opening his own house, the Empress appointed him court designer. Her patronage increased his reputation and business success. He dressed leading performers of the day: