What is Couture?

A Couture is used to refer high fashion, but contains specific meaning in France. In France, the term Couture is considered to the custom of making garments by top notch design companies for their clients. This is done through staff and workshops members who are based in Paris. Find out more on what is Couture?

Outside France, this term is used to any type of highly expensive fashionable garment even if it has been custom fitted. Due to the high demand of rich quality ready-to-wear fashion, this term has been popularized but once was not much famous among the wealthy class. However, the tradition has gained momentum among people on later stage particularly among celebrities who want to look extraordinary and beautiful in public.

Brief

The word couture is a French phrase which means high dressmaking, but is used to refer custom-made garments. It emerged in mid-1800s and popularized as womenswear though some designers also create menswear lines. This type of garment must be fitted to specific clients, like made for a particular person for perfect or correct look. The companies must and do maintain a workshop in Paris along with French staff members together present a collection of garments during annual fashion weeks which are held in January and July.

Materials

There is one specific reason for which the couture fashion can command really high price. It is because of long going tradition of high fashion in France and the materials used to work on them are finely ordered for each item. Different pieces are created for perfect fitting on each client or the models who wear unique collection in a fashion show. The garments are designed to look completely stunning on models/clients by keeping in mind several points such as way of model’s movement, client’s body, and personal style. Also the price of such high fashioned garments is determined as per the quantity of materials used to form them. When it comes to high fashion, there is no limit to the types of materials or fabrics used. Be it leather, fur, cashmere, or silk, a wide range of fabrics are used to make the attire absolutely stunning and unique.

To make the fabric more extraordinary, they prefer detailing like hand-made embroidery or beading. In this matter, hand-made is highly preferred for unique designs. Also colors and patterns have to be unique and highly attractive.

Designers

Coming to designers who participate in Couture Fashion Week, they always introduce distinct look and feel to the show. In order to differentiate them from others, they rely on different styles including tailored style, using luxuriant fabrics, and classic. Some of the designers such as Gustavolins, Stephane Rolland, Franck Sorbier, Christian Dior, and Christian Lacroix are often heard to produce couture lines.

Couture Fashion Shows

Apart from the exclusivity presented on shows, many fashion houses show couture collections at times of industry events like fashion weeks held regularly in Milan, Paris, New York, and London. Other than being used on catwalks, the garments are used in many shows that act as advertisement for brands. Also popular is the ready-to-wear line which is modified and less expensive form of fashion.