couture vs demi-couture

[claireshaeffer]

Last year I bought a Valentino pants' suit at auction with this label: Valentino Couture. When I examined it, I decided that it wasn't an haute couture suit for these reasons:
the lining was machine stitched at the shoulders and armscyes, even though it was sewn to the facings and hem by hand. I think this is a new ready-to-wear label, maybe slightly better than the usual Valentino rtw or it could be a replacement for the earlier label.

At Givenchy, they've used Givenchy Couture for 10 yrs. or more. This is simply their new rtw label. I have newer Givenchy couture pieces that are not well made.

Today I saw a YSL label Yves Saint Laurent haute couture in an advertisement.

If you have any of these labels, would you examine them and describe what is hand and machine stitched and perhaps the buttonhole type.

 

[cmpollack]

Claire, I have a Givenchy Couture jacket somewhere in storage, so it may be a few days till I can lay my hands on it, but when I do I'll report back!

From what I remember, it was no different from any higher end rtw garment.

 

[claireshaeffer]

Carrie, thanks, Claire

 

[cmpollack]

Sorry it has taken so long to return with the promised info, Claire; we've had the store closed since New Year's Eve in an effort to recover from major burnout! (We'll be reopening next Wednesday).

In any event, the only evidence of handstitching I could find in my "Givenchy Couture" jacket was to the lining at the sleeve cuffs. The lining appeared to be attached by machine stitching to the body of the jacket.

The buttonholes appear machine done, too, but I wasn't sure so am showing pics of both the front and reverse of a buttonhole.

I don't get why they came up with a label with the word "couture" in it, when the garment is 100% rtw...

 

[claireshaeffer]

Carrie,
"Couture" is a marketing tool in the US and most Am. think a designer rtw garment is couture. Yours is a lovely jacket, but indeed it's rtw. Thanks, C

 

[Midge]

Claire, that's good to know - I wasn't aware that some companies now use the term "couture" in rtw garments. That's too bad, really.

Karin