What is highly exclusive, discreet and can cost as much as an apartment? The rarified world of haute couture. There are only 200 - 500 members worldwide and these ladies are territorial, even if you have the means and desire to afford the most revered clothing in the world, it remains a private club and you have to earn your spot! If you are wondering how this all began, you can thank Charles Frederick Worth. A name you've probably never heard of, but the fashion industry wouldn't be what it is today without him. In 1858 Charles created the first haute couture house, House of Worth. If you made the upper-class and were a wealthy woman, you would be treated to a complete wardrobe: morning, afternoon and evening dresses. Plus lavish nightgowns, and of course ball gowns for those special occasions.

So what does it mean?

The phrase haute couture (pronounced oat-koo-toor) was first coined in 1908 and it essentially means 'high sewing' or 'high fashion' in France. It is a protected phrase, and you can't throw it around willy-nilly. In order to use it, fashion houses must meet the strict requirements, including two collections a year with production occurring in ateliers in Paris that have at least 20 staff members. At the height of this illustrious world, there were over 100 designers presenting collections in 1945. Turn to Fall Winter 2014 that wrapped up this week and members only have 19 collections to choose from. Some notable players like Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Lacroix and Peirre Balmain have fallen into the former member category. Obviously this is due to the expense involved, which has been reported to produce little profit.