Haute couture (French for “high sewing” or “high dressmaking”; pronounced: [ot kutyʁ], English pronunciation: /ˌoʊt kuːˈtʊər/) refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing. Haute couture is made to order for a specific customer, and it is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable seamstresses, often using time-consuming, hand-executed techniques. Couture is a common abbreviation of haute couture and refers to the same thing in spirit.[1]
It originally referred to Englishman Charles Frederick Worth‘s work, produced in Paris in the mid-nineteenth century.[2] In modern France, haute couture is a “protected name” that can be used only by firms that meet certain well-defined standards. However, the term is also used loosely to describe all high-fashion custom-fitted clothing, whether it is produced in Paris or in other fashion capitals such as Milan, Tokyo and London.
The term can refer to:
- the fashion houses or fashion designers that create exclusive and often trend-setting fashions
- the fashions created
Start by sewing the seam the zipper will go in. Invisible zippers can be put in any straight seam. You will leave an opening in the top portion of the seam that is 1 to 1 1/2 inches shorter than your zipper. If you zipper is 9 inches (just the teeth, don’t include the extra below the spot the zipper tab stops) then you will have a 7 1/2 to 8 inch opening. Sew the seam below that point.
Beautiful! I love tutorials! I like to sew with other people because you always learn a new technique or trick!
Yes! Yes! I am always into learning more about sewing techniques. I especially like ones like this that aren't necessarily a whole project, but something you would use in lots of projects. Keep them coming!
Danita
Love it, always heard the term "haute coutoure" and never knew precisely what it meant. I knew it had something to do with clothing but I thought it meant "hot fashion". Thanks for the schooling :o)
And thanks for the step-by-step instructions. After I came home from sewing with you that day I scratched my head and said "what did Jill say?" lol. That first skirt is still sitting there with one lonely seam sewn and pressed. It's on my to-do list for next week!
What an informative post, thank you. As for my zipper foot, ahem… I "lost" it so the new machine suggestion is a perfect one 😉
Holy Wow batman! That is the best tutorial on zipper installation I have ever seen!!! Thank you so much for a great blog!