couture

noun cou·ture \ kü-ˈtu̇r , -ˈtᵫr \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Examples: couture in a Sentence

1 : the business of designing, making, and selling fashionable custom-made women's clothing

the world of Paris couture

2 : the designers and establishments engaged in couture

dresses made by the couture

3 : the clothes created by couture

The actress was wearing couture.

See couture defined for English-language learners

Examples of couture in a Sentence

The book discusses the relationship between culture and couture.
I can't afford to wear couture.

Recent Examples of couture from the Web

But at her first official outing with Queen Elizabeth in Cheshire on June 14, the Duchess of Sussex gave us fashion flashbacks to Rachel’s fabulous courtroom couture looks.

— brittany talarico, PEOPLE.com, "Meghan Markle Channels Suits Character Rachel Zane for First Official Solo Outing with the Queen," 14 June 2018
However, these Balenciaga shirts are pushing the envelope even by couture standards.

— lisa marie segarra, Fortune, "Balenciaga Is Selling These Crazy Double Shirts for More Than $1,000," 29 May 2018
Stephen Grace Atelier offers couture bridal gowns in an elegant setting that also includes a full range of bridal accessories, jewelry and shoes.

— patricia dillon, Houston Chronicle, "Business Briefs — The Woodlands for May 25-June 1," 25 May 2018
Oscar de la Renta, 24 Newbury The couture clothier opened its first Boston pop-up location earlier this spring, and will sell a cross section of its most popular designs, chief executive Alex Bolen says.

— janelle nanos, BostonGlobe.com, "Here’s a look at the new shops opening on Newbury Street this summer," 25 May 2018
By Grace, Mr Ncube of course means Mugabe, the couture-loving wife of Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s leader until his removal last November.

— The Economist, "Satire is booming after Robert Mugabe’s fall," 24 May 2018
In fact, couture label Ralph & Russo was long considered the front-runner; a rumor bolstered in early May when Ralph & Russo's haute couture atelier team visited the Royal School of Needlework, which helped craft Kate Middleton's wedding dress.

— lauren hubbard, Town & Country, "Clare Waight Keller Didn't Even Tell Her Husband She Was Designing Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding Dress," 21 May 2018
On Sunday, Fonda attended the premiere for Sink Or Swim in another sparkling gown, this one Givenchy couture.

— erika harwood, Vanities, "Jane Fonda Is Having an Exceptionally Fashionable Cannes," 15 May 2018
Marguerite served as her model and mini-me; the inseparable pair were often spotted parading around Paris in coordinating couture outfits.

— kimberly chrisman-campbell, The Atlantic, "The Curious History of Mommy-and-Me Fashion," 13 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'couture.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of couture

French, from Old French cousture sewing, from Vulgar Latin *consutura, from Latin consutus, past participle of consuere to sew together, from com- + suere to sew — more at sew

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1908

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year