Coutures
/kuːˈtjʊəz/noun
Plural of couture, referring to styles, garments, or practices of high-fashion dressmaking.
Did you know?Couture entered English from French, whose root traces back to Latin consuere, “to sew together,” linking elite fashion to an ancient craft of literally joining separate pieces into one.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*syū-
“to sew or stitch together”
Classical Latin
Latin
suere
“to sew”
Classical Latin
Latin
consuere
“to sew together or stitch into one”
Late Latin
Latin
consūtūra
“a sewing together or seam”
Old French
Old French
costure
“sewing, stitching, or needlework”
19th Century
French/English
couture
“dressmaking, especially fashionable or custom dressmaking”
Modern English
English
coutures
“multiple forms, styles, or instances of high-fashion dressmaking”