With extravagant runways and fabulous galas, the fashion world is a competitive and lucrative industry. Only a handful of clothing brands can stand out above the rest. So, if you’re curious about which brands are at the top of the pyramid, look no further - we’ve got everything you need to know!
From couture houses to luxury sportswear, we will be counting down the 18 most expensive clothing brands in the world. These brands will certainly have you rethinking your wardrobe choices and maybe even revitalise your style.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of these brands.
18 of the Most Expensive Clothing Brands
The following brands use only high-quality materials for their clothes and are considered household names, attracting plenty of famous faces to showcase their work. From the likes of Elizabeth Taylor in her little black dress to Harry Styles’ dress on the cover of Vogue, these brands all keep us in check when it comes to the latest fashion trends.
Tom Ford
Tom Ford is an American fashion designer and film director. He launched his iconic fashion brand in 2005, which now includes ready-to-wear garments, beauty, eyewear, and accessories.
Before starting his own company, Ford had worked for Gucci and Saint Laurent as a creative director, where Ford actually helped transform Gucci into a multibillion-dollar brand. It’s, therefore, no surprise that Tom Ford would also follow as a successful luxury brand, as it is currently worth an estimated $2.8 billion.
His clothes are often described as sexy and glamorous, but they do come with a hefty price tag. One of Tom Ford’s most recent iconic fashion moments is the metallic fuchsia pink breastplate which was later worn by actress Zendaya. A Tom Ford suit can cost upwards of £4,228.35, while a dress can set you back £2,537 or more.
You’ll undoubtedly feel sleek and stylish with Mr Ford.
Versace
Founded in 1978 by Gianni Versace and taken over by sister Donatella Versace, this Italian luxury fashion house is now one of the most recognisable brands in the world. The company is known for its flashy designs, which take influence from classicist art and injects a sense of sexuality and freedom. With its signature gold detailing and other eye-catching materials, Versace is known best for its bold colour schemes, baroque prints and theatrical costumes.
Over the years, Versace has embraced several high-profile figures and supermodels, such as the likes of Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell, into wearing some of its most glamorous garments. Perhaps their most famous client, however, was Princess Diana, who wore Versace to countless galas and royal events during her life.
The company is worth around $1 billion, with a Versace dress costing £1,691.74 or more.
Versace is as relevant today as ever before and definitely one of the world’s most expensive brands!
Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren is an American fashion designer, philanthropist, and business executive. He is the founder of the Ralph Lauren Corporation, a global multibillion-dollar enterprise whose designs are sold in more than 150 countries.
For over five decades, the company has held a pristine reputation in the fashion industry. They’re most famous for their polo shirts, catering their fashion more to menswear and sport in general.
About his work, Lauren once said that he cares more about “longevity, timelessness [and] style - not fashion.” Ralph Lauren’s style is certainly not bold, colourful and risque, but it is powerful and sophisticated - bringing fashion into everyday life.
You’ll certainly feel like a CEO wearing Wool-Blend Jersey Suit Trousers for $595 and a $1,300 hooded cashmere jumper. Ralph Lauren’s wealth stems from its quality material, brand reputation and limited collections, which makes it worth an estimated $7 billion.
Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana is a high-end fashion house founded in 1985 by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, who co-own the fashion label. The brand's style has been described as Mediterranean, taking influence from Italian realism and designers like Stefani Sandrelli, Sophia Loren and Claudia Cardinale, whose work is unapologetic.
From brasseries and corsets to lace and lingerie, Dolce & Gabbana often opt for soft, figure-hugging garments which complement the body.
The brand aims to embrace certain aspects of traditional femininity, where a lot of its fashion uses crocheted lace, wool and silk. Despite this, however, the brand has made an effort not to appear vintage or retro, instead aiming to transform the traditional into something modern.
Dolce & Gabbana’s collaboration with Madonna in the early 2000s helped raise the brand's popularity within the fashion world and the mainstream eye. Their most expensive fashion item comes from the Collezione Genesi NFT collection and is called the Glass Suit, valued at $1 million.
On average, a dress from this glamorous company can cost anywhere from £845.32 to £4,226.60. Other expensive items include a studded red dress worth $32,000 and a shearling coat for men worth $13,000.
You’ll be feeling chic in no time with Dolce & Gabbana!
Valentino
Valentino is an Italian fashion house founded in 1960 by Valentino Garavani. The brand generally focuses on creating works of beauty in fashion, which are often found in their Haute Couture and Prêt-à-Porter lines. Its reach stretches to over 100 countries, with the company itself aiming to maintain a level of handmade craftsmanship in its designs.
Red has become synonymous with the Valentino brand ever since it appeared in the company's debut collection in 1959. Magenta, yellow and a tiny bit of black encapsulate Valentino's aims for creating an elegant but passionate reputation.
Some iconic ladies who have worn Valentino include Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly.
In terms of cost, a Valentino dress can fetch upwards of £8,457,30. Other expensive items are coats which can cost upwards of $6,350, and bags worth $2,850.
Givenchy
Givenchy, an haute couture brand, is a French fashion house founded in 1952 by Hubert de Givenchy. They are known for sophisticated designs, which are often favoured by celebrities - and the modern aristocracy in general. Perhaps the most notable is Audrey Hepburn, who can be seen wearing a black Givenchy dress in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. That same dress has an estimated cost of $923,187!
It is with Givenchy that we develop the concept of the “little black dress”, a fashion staple. There is no doubt that this brand is extremely wealthy, with an estimated net worth of $200 million.
Givenchy is undoubtedly one of the most expensive designer brands in the world.
Elie Saab
Elie Saab is a Lebanese fashion designer who launched his luxury clothing brand in 1982. The brand is known for its beautiful eveningwear, and its prices reflect that.
His best-known work was a sheer crimson gown worn by the actress Halle Berry at the 2002 Academy Awards. This was a significant moment both for Berry, who won for best actress and Saab, who became the first Lebanese designer to dress an Oscar winner.
Saab originally designed garments for brides, often incorporating lace, crystals, silk and detailed embroidery. Their most expensive couture wedding dress can cost around $300,000, and since its partnership with Amazon, Elie Saab has increased its net worth to $6.3 billion.
Oscar de la Renta
Oscar de la Renta was a Dominican-American fashion designer who founded his eponymous brand in 1965. The brand is known for its luxurious designs, with prices to match. A dress from Oscar de la Ranta can cost more than £4,228.35.
With handmade embroidered pearls and french lace, Amal Clooney wore an off-the-shoulder wedding dress worth $380,000. Despite having a speciality for wedding dresses, the brand also caters to eveningwear and suits for women with a distinctly Latin flair.
Opting for voluptuous shapes and rich colours, Oscar de la Renta is worth around $200 million.
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton is a French fashion house founded in 1854 and known for its designer handbags and luggage, such as luxury luggage trunks. It also produces clothing, shoes, and fashion accessories. While Louis Vuitton's clothes are not as expensive as some other brands on this list, they still come with a high price tag.
A dress from the brand can cost upwards of £1,691,20. Even a simple Teddy Bear can cost $2.1 million. The company is also now owned by one of the richest men in the world, Bernard Arnault, a french business magnate.
Gucci
This luxury Italian fashion brand is what first springs to mind when you think of expensive fashion. Gucci luxury fashion house was founded in 1921 by Guccio Gucci, a hotel worker who loved all the leather handbags the customers owned would, which was what sparked his interest in the industry.
Gucci started his brand during World War II, the company has certainly gone through its fair share of scandals, from family feuds, bankruptcy and even murder to the recent cinematic depiction of the brand in the film “House of Gucci”.
The brand is known for its high-quality leather goods and offers clothing, shoes, and accessories. Some notable fashion moments include Beyonce’s $12,900 gold sequin dress, Kanye West’s I-Digital watch he wore for the Grammys and a Stuart Hughes Belt which fetched around $250,000.
Brunello Cucinelli
Brunello Cucinelli is an Italian luxury clothing brand founded in 1978. The brand is best known for its high-quality cashmere garments but also offers other clothing and accessories made from premium materials.
Prices for Brunello Cucinelli clothing can be pretty high, with cashmere sweaters costing upwards of £1,691.20 and leather jackets priced at £4,228.35 or more. Customers are willing to pay these high prices because they know they are getting top-notch quality that will last for years to come.
Zegna
Zegna is a high-end Italian fashion house that was founded in 1910. The brand is known for its luxurious and well-crafted menswear. Over the years, Zegna has become one of the most prestigious names in the fashion industry.
Interestingly, Zegna has never actually sold its products in department stores. Instead, the brand operates its own stand-alone boutiques, allowing the brand to control its image and pricing more carefully.
Due to its exclusive nature, Zegna's garments come with a hefty price tag. For example, a simple dress shirt can cost upwards of £420, whilst a tailored suit can easily cost £4,000 or more.
Balenciaga
Balenciaga was founded in 1919 by Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga and is known for its avant-garde designs and use of innovative techniques, such as using puffed sleeves and creating the cocoon coat.
Balenciaga has been worn by some of the most iconic figures in history, including Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn. Today, the brand is coveted by celebrities and fashionistas alike. Prices for Balenciaga clothing can range from £845.60 to over £8,459.40.
Fendi
Fendi is an Italian luxury fashion house that was founded in 1925 by Adele and Edoardo Fendi. The brand is known for its fur and leather products, as well as it's signature double-F logo.
Fendi's clothing line includes ready-to-wear, accessories, and couture. The brand has a reputation for being one of the most expensive clothing brands in the world, with prices reaching up to £21,127.95 for a single piece.
Fendi has been worn by celebrities such as Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, and Beyonce. The brand has also been featured in numerous films and television shows, including Sex and the City and The Devil Wears Prada.
Hermès
Hermès is a French luxury goods house that was founded by Thierry Hermès in 1837. It focuses on leather, home furnishings, lifestyle accessories, perfume, jewellery, and ready-to-wear. The Hermes logo, since 1950, is of a Duc carriage with a horse.
Hermès was founded by Thierry Hermès (1799–1878) in 1837 as a harness workshop in the Grands Boulevards quarter of Paris, initially specialising in equestrian equipment.
The company took its name from its founder but also evoked the image of Hermes Trismegistus (Hermes the Thrice-Great), who was revered by medieval alchemists as the patron deity of Alchemy.
Hermès is definitely one of the most expensive clothing brands in the world thanks to the world-renowned Birkin bags - the most costly being the Hermès Himalayan crocodile Birkin bag, recently priced at $432,000.
Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani is an Italian fashion designer, particularly known for his menswear. His clothing brand is one of the most expensive in the world, with an estimated worth of around $9.6 billion.
Armani started working in fashion in 1961 when he worked as a window dresser at a department store in Milan. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a buyer and then a designer for the store.
In 1974, he founded his own label, "Giorgio Armani S.p.A.," with his friend Sergio Galeotti. The company originally just produced men's clothing but eventually expanded to include women's wear, accessories, and fragrances.
Despite being one of the world's most expensive brands, Armani designs are often understated and elegant, and he is credited with popularising the unstructured jacket (often called an "Armani jacket"). His clothes are favoured by celebrities and businesspeople alike; former US President Barack Obama was frequently seen wearing Armani suits during his time in office.
If you’re looking for an Armani suit, Giorgio Armani’s luxurious Napoli Line double-breasted suit is the priciest you can buy online at £3,600.
Chanel
There are few fashion houses more well-known than Chanel. It's one of the oldest fashion houses. It was founded by Coco Chanel in 1909, and Karl Lagerfeld is the creative director. Chanel is known for its little black dress.
The French luxury brand has been synonymous with high fashion for over a century, and its garments come with a correspondingly high price tag. It's worth around 7 billion dollars.
A Chanel jacket can cost upwards of £8,408.12, and even a simple Chanel dress can set you back £2,537.61 or more. If you're looking to splurge on some haute couture, Chanel is definitely the brand for you.
Chanel is one of the most expensive clothing brands - no surprises there!
Christian Dior
As one of the most influential haute couture designers of the 20th century, Christian Dior's namesake label is unsurprisingly one of the most expensive clothing brands in the world.
The French fashion house is known for its ladieswear collections that feature exquisite materials, intricate details, and feminine silhouettes.
While dresses and gowns make up a large portion of the brand's offering, Christian Dior also designs and sells ready-to-wear items, leather goods, shoes, accessories, Baby Dior, Dior Homme (male clothing line), jewellery, fragrance, and skincare products.
With such a wide range of products available, it's no surprise that Christian Dior comes with a hefty price tag. The brand's clothes are typically made from high-quality fabrics like silk and wool, and its leather goods are crafted from the finest calfskin.
Dior bags are some of the most expensive items you can purchase from this designer brand. The current priciest feature is a Dior Trunk, sitting at £10,000. Of course, these are simply recommended prices, and designer items can go for much more at auction or private sale.
Discover a Life of Luxury With Slingo
If you’re looking for luxury brands, Slingo’s Lifestyle blog is the place for you. Take a look at our recommended blogs below, or check out online bingo games here at Slingo or the best online slots in the UK!
