couture

[koo-toor, 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

Our fascination with reality stars rests in the illusion that, if not for their endless money and couture bags, they’d be just like us.

From Salon

He’d been able to save some money from working construction jobs and parlayed that into a chance to build a retail business, lugging suitcases of exotic couture from Europe back to Los Angeles by himself.

From Los Angeles Times

"Before, it was women who could buy couture who were interested in what Vogue had to say," she says.

From BBC

The 1960s middle classes could not afford haute couture, but yearned for a stylish, distinctive look of their own.

From BBC

He directed a couture show in Paris in July 2025, but did this remotely from his home in Milan.

From BBC

When To Use

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.