If I hear the word "Couture" misused 1 more time! I will SCREAM! - 11 May 2012

Good. God. Are you all with me when I say that the word 'couture' has been raped of all its original meaning? Its being used EVERYWHERE for EVERY line of clothing whether it be pret-a-porter or even street wear!

So, if you will, I would love for you to read the following (thorough!) article provided by wikipedia (for the entire article please visit the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haute_couture so that no one will ever again misuse or misunderstand or continue to rape the beautiful, glamorous word 'haute-couture'. Enjoy!

In France, the term haute couture is protected by law and is defined by the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris based in Paris, France. Their rules state that only "those companies mentioned on the list drawn up each year by a commission domiciled at the Ministry for Industry are entitled to avail themselves" of the label haute couture. The criteria for haute couture were established in 1945 and updated in 1992.

To earn the right to call itself a couture house and to use the term haute couture in its advertising and any other way, members of the Chambre syndicale de la haute couture must follow these rules:

- Design made-to-order for private clients, with one or more fittings.
- Have a workshop (atelier) in Paris that employs at least fifteen people full-time.
- Each season (i.e., twice a year), present a collection to the Paris press, comprising at least thirty-five runs/exits with outfits for both daytime wear and evening wear.

Does that make everything clear now? Can we all promise to no long say that some cheap off the rack dress looks 'so couture'?! Thank you.

I want to know what you think of the misuse of this word! Email me at ms.sabrina.grey@gmail.com


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Sabrina