If you are looking for more information on couture clothing then, you’ve come to the right place.
A Guide To Couture Clothing
Couture Clothing
The phrase ‘couture clothing’ is one of the most used in the fashion business. Simply put, couture clothing is any clothing that is extremely fashionable, unique, generally made on custom orders for specific clients, and as a result of all this exclusivity, extremely pricey. The word ‘couture’ finds root in the French language, and means “to be sewn”. When the phrase “couture clothing” is used, it refers to “haute couture” fashion basically meaning “high dressmaking fashion”. This means it is fashion that is hand-sewn or custom made by a designer. The difference between couture clothes and designer clothes is that while the latter are available in stores for public purchase, the former is not, and is made to a specific client’s orders.
What Is The History Of Couture?
Couture Fashion Show 1
The history of couture fashion is traced back to the fashion capital of the world, Paris. It is noted that during the 18th century, in Europe women would plan trips to the French capital city for the express purpose of visiting exclusive boutiques and having customized clothes made for themselves. The birth of couture clothing is credited to English dress designer Charles Worth who used to run a shop in Paris. While Charles showcased his collections in fashion lines for the House of Worth, he gained eminence and created the school of couture clothing by designing unique dresses for wealthy women of the time.
Couture In The Present Day
Couture Fashion Show 2
Couture in the present day has extended to slightly larger proportions, with designer brands and fashion couture houses such as Yves Saint Laurent, Dior and Balenciaga producing couture style clothing. Supremely talented designers are recruited by these fashion houses to work for them and the couture lines are different from the mass-production lines. Even though the original designers who began these design houses were themselves couture clothing designers, the design houses have gained significance, international prominence and immense revenue by working as up market luxury brand houses.
Couture Style Lingerie
Since these design houses also create mass production lines a trend of couture inspiring the commercial lines has emerged. If special styles or fashions begin to take prominence in the couture clothes being designer, the designers adapt these styles for the mass production lines as well and create a stylized version of the same fashions for their ready-to-wear lines.
Couture in the present day has grown from its original beginnings in Paris. Now the cities of London, New York and Milan are also couture capitals of the world, though as any woman worth her fashion will have you know, Paris continues to dominate the world of style.
Characteristics Of Couture
For couture clothing to be unique and special, there are specific characteristics that are kept in mind while the garments are being designed. In New York, London and Milan couture fashion is influenced by the current fashions, critics and the industry. However, in Paris, couture is strictly governed by the mandates of the Chambre de Commerce of Paris.
Couture Fashion By Juicy Couture
While the original mandates were designed in 1945 they were recently updated in the mid-1990s. For starters, a fashion house needs to cater to individual clients and create customized clothing with private fittings for it to be declared a couture fashion house. Next, the fashion house must employ over 15 people in the workshop at all times. The couture designer is required to showcase collections to the Paris fashion press two times every year.
