The world of couture is a fantastical realm in which a few hundred women buy hand-made clothes that start at £20,000 apiece. These clothes are couture, not ready-to-wear. Simone Rocha's collaboration with Jean Paul Gaultier was the designer's first foray into couture. A. high-fashion designing and dressmaking b. (as modifier).... Click for English pronunciations, examples sentences, video. History In France, the term haute couture is protected by law and is defined by the Paris Chamber of Commerce based in Paris. The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode is defined as "the regulating commission that determines which fashion houses are eligible to be true haute couture houses". Couture, a French word meaning \”dressmaking\” or \”sewing,\” refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing. Couture fashion is characterized by its high quality, unique designs, and meticulous attention to detail.