Book excerpt: More than 150,000 people work in haute couture. Many of them labour behind the scenes, applying their talents in ateliers devoted to creativity and meticulous attention to detail. This beautiful book takes the reader behind the fashion scenes, allowing the best haute couture designers, embroiderers, leather craftsmen, lacemakers, perfumiers and jewelers to share their work. The books specially taken photographs show step-by-step the complex processes behind the creation of each piece of clothing or jewelry, while many other stunning pictures capture the beauty of the fabrics, materials, dresses and ornaments.