cou·ture (kü-ˈtu̇r), noun - the business of designing and producing fashionable, high quality, custom-made clothing.

Couture sewing is all about the *custom* fit and finishing details. Honestly, do you think you're going to get that at F21??? You're not going to get "couture" at Saks, Neimans, Nordstroms or Barneys. You get "couture" from a custom dressmaker or a designer. Couture does not come "off the rack". This is a term that's thrown around very loosely... too loosely.

I love couture sewing techniques and I try to incorporate them in just about everything I sew. In the February/March 2008 issue of Threads Magazine, there is an article by Susan Khalje on using couture methods to sew a "LBD".