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Monday, April 19, 2010

Often Misused Words: I

An overused word.
Used so many times the word almost has lost meaning.

cou·ture
(kōō-tŏŏr', -tür')
n.

  1. The business of designing, making, and selling highly fashionable, usually custom-made clothing for women.

  2. Dressmakers and fashion designers considered as a group.

  3. The high-fashion clothing created by designers.


[French, sewing, from Old French cousture, from Vulgar Latin *cōnsūtūra, from Latin cōnsuere, cōnsūt-, to sew together : com-, com- + suere, to sew; see syū- in Indo-European roots.]
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couture

- 3 dictionary results

cou·ture

   [koo-toor; Fr. koo-tyr] Show IPA
–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, esp. where clothes are made to order.
–adjective
5.
created or produced by a fashion designer: couture clothes.
6.
being, having, or suggesting the style, quality, etc., of a fashion designer; very fashionable: the couture look.

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In the end, when fashion designers say: "This has a very couture look!" What does that really mean? Why can't they say fashionable? Do they mean high fashion? And if so, what is high fashion?

I wish people would say what they mean and mean what they say more.



couture. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved April 19, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/couture
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