H is for Haute Couture

As the ever expanding, never to disappoint (ha ha.) Wikipedia says: 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]

I’ll probably only be wearing the “haute couture” that I turn out for myself on my Singer sewing machine. I’m in awe of anyone who can even start a beautiful work of art such as a haute couture dress and dress someone in a way that will never be the same as someone else. I’m far from “capable seamstress”…so I suppose mine’s more, at least in my head, “ought”-to-be couture.

What Haute Couture does bring to my life though is the sense that fashion is art. Put yourself together, casual, work, black tie even. Make your look not only look pulled together and cohesive, but take the time to develop your style. Your “take” on how you portray the designers clothes – even if it’s a value brand – still shows how well you can honor their work by doing it justice. Now, go take the stirrup pants off, it’s time to work it girl.