DEFINING FASHION: Couture VS Haute Couture

Ok let’s define the difference between these two often interchangeably used fashion terms, so that you can use them correctly yourself.

Couture:

Literally meaning "dressmaking" in French, couture is often used to describe all and any high-end, hand-crafted clothing, as well as any garment that looks high-fashion or expensive. Couture in fact refers to garments that have been made to measure for a client, the dictionary definition is “the design and manufacture of fashionable clothes to a client's specific requirements and measurements”. Think anything custom made for you by a friend, a dress maker or a tailor - it doesn't have to have a luxury fashion brand name on the tag to be couture.

Haute Couture:

This term is used pretty interchangeably with couture, in reference to high fashion clothes, bougie clothes, and luxury brands but in proper use there are really specific rules around the construction of the garment that have to be met for an item to qualify as Haute Couture. The term is actually protected and enforced by law in France. This is the criteria set to define Haute Couture in 1945:

• Designs must be made to order for private clients

• These designs must include at least one fitting

• They must have an atelier, or workshop, in Paris

• They must employ at least 15 full-time staff members

• There must be at least 20 full-time technical people in at least one atelier

• They must present a collection to the public

• It must be done every fashion season (January and July each year)

• That collection must be of at least 50 original designs

• It must include both day and evening wear

Which is why Couture Week is its own thing!

Now you know!