The Difference Between RTW and Couture

[Tiffy]

This may seem like a really dumb post, but I'm in a fashion class at a non-fashion university and someone gave a presentation on haute couture evening wear. She used J. Lo's Versace dress (the neck plunging one) as an example of celebrity endorsement of a couture dress. But, I thought that dress would be considered RTW and I said this in class. She also said that Ralph Lauren evening dresses would be on par with the Parisian couture dresses and I was like I don't think that's so. Then some know-it-all girl said that dresses displayed on the RTW runway but never mass produced are considered couture pieces. And I just thought that was crazy. So I'd really appreciate if someone could clear up my confusion and be nice to me even if you think it's a silly question

 

[Ceptuouse]

Haute Couture: One off items for clients only, but can be used as an influence for a RTW collection (eg Dior)

RTW: May be influenced from the Haute Couture, and some RTW items are dramatised for the runway, but then toned down for the shop floors, but I dont really think the dramatised RTW items are considered haute couture since they do sell a few...

 

[tott]

HC: Handmade custom pieces, incredibly well-made in fantastic materials. Tailored for you.

RTW: Off-the-rack, Ready To Wear (as opposed to HC which is def. not ready to wear) Cheaper materials and techniques used compared to HC.

It seriously annoys me when people refer to any designer wear as "couture", because couture is so much more than off the rack.

 

[Fuuma]

The "couture" confusion came from americans (no offense meant btw) starting to call really high end and exclusive designer wear "couture" in fashion circles, probably because it sounded "chic".

But you're all correct couture is the female equivalent of high-quality tailor made suits, perfectly fitted to your specifications and built according to your taste.

 

[faust]

This may seem like a really dumb post, but I'm in a fashion class at a non-fashion university and someone gave a presentation on haute couture evening wear. She used J. Lo's Versace dress (the neck plunging one) as an example of celebrity endorsement of a couture dress. But, I thought that dress would be considered RTW and I said this in class. She also said that Ralph Lauren evening dresses would be on par with the Parisian couture dresses and I was like I don't think that's so. Then some know-it-all girl said that dresses displayed on the RTW runway but never mass produced are considered couture pieces. And I just thought that was crazy. So I'd really appreciate if someone could clear up my confusion and be nice to me even if you think it's a silly question

fashion-smack her around...

you are right and they are wrong on all instances.

 

[lolita729]

rtw s nothing compared to couture. imagine there are people who spend hundreds of hours making a dress now that s couture. hand made dresses are the hardest thing to make and couture s a french word for sewing and sewing started off by being done by hand before the invention of the sewing machine. so it s only normal that hand made goods will be called couture.

 

[Ghost]

i want to see the process of making a couture.

 

[sakina]

All one of a kinds aren't couture though, right?

Like the dresses my Mom used to make me when I was 8 aren't couture, although they were 'one of a kind' and made for me.

 

[Morningstar]

Like others have said, a client will come in for several fittings for a couture garment, so it is perfectly fitted for their body. There are also sewing finishing methods that are usually thought of as couture as they are time consuming and must be done by hand, so they aren't see in ready to wear.

 

[Atelier]

Relevant info on this thread:

http://www.thefashionspot.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6846

 

[Tiffy]

Thanks everyone. Those dumb girls had me doubting my fashion knowledge!

 

[Arturo21]

a good article :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haute_couture#French

 

[Ceptuouse]

prices

couture, we will think "that dress is more than my house"

rtw, we will think "thats more than my computer"

 

[funkalicious]

So those Haute Couture collections by Dior are custom made for the models?

 

[Ceptuouse]

^ i think they are, and if you buy one its remade to you shape and style, so if you didnt want "xxx" they would change it for you, please correct me if im wrong

 

[yourbestfriend]

^ i think they are, and if you buy one its remade to you shape and style, so if you didnt want "xxx" they would change it for you, please correct me if im wrong

I believe that is right, if the buyer is wanting slight changes to the design I think they will do it for them.

 

[Deleted member 7575]

^ i think they are, and if you buy one its remade to you shape and style, so if you didnt want "xxx" they would change it for you, please correct me if im wrong

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.

 

[Hana_N]

There's a documentary series called "Signé Chanel" which covers pretty much the whole process of HC, from Karl Lagerfeld to the people at the workshop and then to the fitting, runway and sales.
It's very well made, educationel and entertaining.

 

[Deleted member 7575]

There's a documentary series called "Signé Chanel" which covers pretty much the whole process of HC, from Karl Lagerfeld to the people at the workshop and then to the fitting, runway and sales.
It's very well made, educationel and entertaining.

I've seen bits and pieces of that. It's amazing how much is thrown away!

 

[Ghost]

Can someone please post people wearing Dior couture? especially in those big big dresses from 2003 and 2004 collections...haha ....i'm very curious who ordered them.