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

      couture clothes

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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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
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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
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Example Sentences

It’s because a couture seamstress spent 15 hours sewing them.

From Time

Cardin saw the astronomical expense of producing haute couture collections as an investment.

From Fortune

Even though the clothing’s pharaonic prices didn’t cover the cost of crafting the made-to-measure garments, the media coverage generated by his couture shows helped sell lower sticker-price items, like hats, belts and hosiery.

From Fortune

As with haute couture, some brands charge higher prices in accordance with their reputation - not because they are offering some special feature that will make going for a run in them better or safer than wearing anything else on the road.

I’ve been making a few kinds of couture masks for fun, for myself, and we’ve had so many people ask for them.

From Time

But the phenomenon of counterfeiting is as old as couture itself.

But while that level of ‘haute couture’ is building the market, we want to be seen as more prêt-à-porter.

Earlier this week, Martin Rouleau-Couture ran his car into two Canadian soldiers in Quebec, killing one and wounding another.

Rouleau-Couture and Zehaf-Bibeau were both reportedly born in Canada and lived in Quebec before recently converting to Islam.

Martin Couture-Rouleau, the suspect in that incident, was arrested in July while trying to travel to Turkey.

Couture was always welcome at the home of the courtesan, who dreamed, perhaps, of making him her husband.

At the time of his transient wealth Couture splendidly maintained Jenny Cadine.

Couture is a very minor character, a financial speculator, who only hung on the fringe of the viveurs.

It was at this time that young Puvis entered the studio of Couture.

See M. Thomas Couture's narrative at the end of this chapter.

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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?

What are some synonyms for couture?

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

 

 

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

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.

 

 

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.

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