haute couture

noun

haute cou·​ture ˌōt-ku̇-ˈtu̇r 

: the houses or designers that create exclusive and often trend-setting fashions

also : the fashions created

Examples of haute couture in a Sentence

a fashion designer who's a renowned master of haute couture

Recent Examples on the Web

This season, Roseberry continued his mission with a haute couture collection that featured replica reptilian textures, protruding tusk breasts, scorpion bustiers and a translucent two-piece skirt suit rendered in hyperreal blowfish scales. —Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 29 Jan. 2026

Kirsten Dunst arrived in a head-to-toe Valentino spring 2026 look for the fashion house’s haute couture show on Wednesday. —Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 28 Jan. 2026

Finally, seated left to right, also taking in the Giorgio Armani Privé haute couture show on January 27, some serious and seriously well-known fashionistas outta Hollywood, via Santa Ana, California (Michelle Pfeiffer); Los Angeles (Kate Hudson); and Australia-via-Poland (Elizabeth Debicki). —Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026

In spite of the grandness of the scale and the weight of the house — and Matthieu’s job, his first haute couture collection felt joyous, intimate, meaningful and extremely personal. —Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, high sewing

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for haute couture

• candidature
• miniature
• photogravure
• rotogravure
• abjure
• adjure
• allure
• assure
• brochure
• cocksure
• coiffure
• contour