The Difference Between RTW and Couture

[Arturo21]

Many times the models who will model the clothes have to come in for frequent fittings before the show. It isn't uncommon that they actually build the clothes right on the live model. No patterns are made in Haute Couture (at least not for Dior) and so when a client orders they start from scratch for each dress. One major thing about HC is that each dress for the clients simply isn't "a different size". They change the entire architecture of the dress to make it look perfect for the client. The "same" dress could be made very differently but you would never know it by looking at it. Clients will talk with a special liasion attendent between the client and the atelier about the details they do or don't "ooh I love this emboridery can I keep it just in the train?" or "oh I love this fabric and this shape can leave out the hand painted accents?".

I have an interview with John Galliano and he dicusses the process for HC at Dior. It's quite educational.

Oh please do post!!

 

[funkalicious]

Gwen Stefani wore alot of Dior's Hc gowns for her video "What You Waiting For"

 

[dizzytacks]

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO, you all are crazy, just kidding i didnt take the time to read all the posts, mcqueen only shows rtw but his dresses can be couture equivalents, one of a kinds, inspirational for european designers and brides alike but now what can i say about him,it costs alot to put on a show andif you can do it all at once, why not

 

[tott]

^ RTW is not equivalent to HC, no matter how interesting or advanced the designs/cutting is.

The difference is technique and the level of customization. On a HC jacket, the shoulder pads might be cut and sculpted from layers of the outer fabric and not the common pre-made shoulder pads. Interfacings are handstitched, and not the regular fused variety and so on.

 

[funkalicious]

So what's the difference between High Fashion and Haute Coutre?

 

[tott]

High fashion just refers to more or less expensive "designer wear", as in designers showing in Paris/Milan/London/New York. It can be RTW or HC.