couture

[ koo-toor; French koo-tyr ]

noun

1. the occupation of a couturier; dressmaking and designing.
2. fashion designers or couturiers collectively.
3. the clothes and related articles designed by such designers.
4. the business establishments of such designers, especially where clothes are made to order.

adjective

1. created or produced by a fashion designer:

   couture clothes.

2. being, having, or suggesting the style, quality, etc., of a fashion designer; very fashionable:

   the couture look.

couture

/ kuːˈtʊə; kutyr /

noun

1. 1. high-fashion designing and dressmaking
   2. ( as modifier )

      couture clothes

Word History and Origins

Origin of couture¹

1905–10; < French: literally, sewing, seam < Vulgar Latin *cō ( n ) sūtūra, equivalent to Latin consūt ( us ) past participle of consuere to sew together ( con- con- + suere to sew ¹ ) + -ūra -ure; suture, accouter

Word History and Origins

Origin of couture¹

from French: sewing, dressmaking, from Old French cousture seam, from Latin consuere to stitch together, from suere to sew

Example Sentences

But no one who saw the South African singer Tyla ascend the stairs in May in a one-off Balmain couture gown made of sculpted sand will ever forget it.

From Los Angeles Times

My French touch or Parisian touch comes from an intellectual approach and experimentation with craft techniques from couture, close to all the big brands on the calendar.

From Los Angeles Times

French fashion house Dior, which designed several of the looks worn by the ceremony headliners, also took fans behind the scenes for the making of Dion’s haute couture gown by creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri.

From Los Angeles Times

They are a middle finger to the gods of couture and good taste.

From Los Angeles Times

Chanel said it will present its haute couture fall and winter collection as planned on June 25 at the Opéra Garnier in Paris.

From Seattle Times

More About Couture

What does couture mean?

Couture most commonly refers to or describes clothing that was designed by a fashion designer or has that level of quality.

Couture can also refer to fashion designers collectively, their profession, the clothes designed by them, or their businesses. Couture is found in (and can be used as a shortening of) the term haute couture, which refers to the world of high fashion and custom-made garments.

Example: She’s known for wearing couture looks that are straight from the runway.

Where does couture come from?

The first records of couture in English come from the early 1900s. Couture is a French word that means “sewing” or “dressmaking.” The phrase haute couture translates as “high sewing” or “high dressmaking” and is synonymous with high fashion.

In France, clothing cannot be labeled haute couture unless it meets certain standards set by an official organization. Couture sometimes refers to haute couture garments, but it can also be used in a more general way to refer to high fashion clothes. Still, garments that are considered couture are often handmade, or at least designed by a fashion designer. Couture is often custom-made for the people who will wear it, typically models and wealthy clients. While couture is often used as a noun, it is also used as a modifier in phrases like couture look and couture collection. It is also often used in high-fashion brand names.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to couture?

• haute couture (noun)

What are some synonyms for couture?

• very fashionable
• high fashion
• dressmaking

What are some words that share a root or word element with couture? 

 

• couturier

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing couture?

• fashion
• designer
• garment
• clothing
• collection
• look

How is couture used in real life?

Couture is always used in the context of fashion, especially to refer to the most high-end or exclusive designer and designs.

Rihanna looks amazing in that Givenchy couture look i just wish she would have worn the tights like on the runway

— Shelton Boyd-Griffith (@flyrebel) February 23, 2020

⚡️ “Gigi Hadid Stuns in This Season's Best Couture”https://t.co/d20sGETKi3

— Harper's Bazaar (@harpersbazaarus) March 16, 2020

Take a look at the Paolo Sebastian Spring 2020 Couture Collection 😍😍😍 pic.twitter.com/XoGt7qJflb

— Spread Love and Kindness 🙏 (@FashionweekNYC) March 14, 2020

 

 

Try using couture!

Is couture used correctly in the following sentence?

The couture that has been featured at fashion week took hundreds of hours to make by hand.