Couture vs.
Off-the-Rack: So What's the Difference Anyway?
Shopping
for your wedding gown should be an enjoyable and fun
experience. But for many girls, it can be quite daunting.
There are a myriad of designers and retail bridal
shops to choose from, not to mention an endless range
of wedding gown designs. Couture, the made to measure
option, has alluring advantages, and yet for some,
off-the-rack has its appeal also. There are quite
significant differences between the two, though, and
knowing these differences will help you to make an
informed decision.
PRODUCTION
The first major difference between couture and off-the-rack
is obvious – couture is made to measure, while
off-the-rack is mass-produced. Many girls prefer the
off-the-rack option, basically because you can try
it on, and if all is well, you can buy it and walk
out the door, end of story. So it certainly can be
quite simple, once you have found the gown you love.
Having your gown made to measure, though, means it
will be made individually for you. This involves a
great deal more than the off-the-rack option. The
process of having a couture gown made begins with
a consultation, followed by a series of fittings,
and finally picking up the finished gown.
FIT
The next important difference between couture and
off-the-rack is fit. An off-the-rack dress will simply
not fit you the way a made to measure gown will. Off-the-rack
dresses are made to standard sizes, and while they
may fit reasonably well if you are within the standard
size range, they can only offer an “average”
fit. The couture gown, however, will be made exclusively
to fit your curves and shape, thus ensuring the best
possible fit. In fact, fit is an art in itself, and
skilled couturiers (that is, designers) pride themselves
in their ability to mould and sculpt a gown to a girl’s
body, like a glove.
DESIGN
OPTIONS
Another major difference is the number of design options
available to you. With off-the-rack dresses, your
selection is limited to the designs available for
sale. Usually if you want to alter a gown by adding
lace, beading, or changing the neckline, a retail
bridal shop may not offer these options. It’s
normally a case of “what you see is what you
get.” Thus finding the wedding gown of your
dreams off-the-rack can be limiting. On the other
hand, having your gown made to measure opens up a
world of design options to you. Once the design is
established, you have a wide selection of fabrics,
colors, and trims to choose from, which are simply
not available with the off-the-rack option.
QUALITY
The quality of couture gowns compared to their off-the-rack
counterparts is also quite significant. Most off-the-rack
dresses are produced with the cheapest and most economical
fabrics, which are usually synthetics. By contrast,
couture gowns are usually made from the finest quality
fabrics available, such as silks, which are natural
fibres. The difference between fabrics is usually
evident in the look and quality of the finished gown.
WORKMANSHIP
The next difference between couture and off-the-rack,
perhaps the most important difference of them all,
is that of workmanship. Couturiers invest vast amounts
of time perfecting their skills in crafting superb
gowns. The hallmark of a couture gown is in the finish
– a perfectly made gown should be so well finished
that it could be worn inside out. The seams should
be smooth, and skim over the body perfectly; the hem
should be hand-finished and invisible on the outside;
and beads should be sewn on, one by one, and with
meticulous care. This work obviously takes a great
deal of time, and many people are simply unaware of
how much time it actually takes to complete a couture
gown. On average, a couture wedding gown can take
around 40 – 50 hours to produce, depending on
the amount of beading and detail involved. Off-the-rack
dresses are in a completely different boat here, as
they are mass-produced, and thus the quickest and
most economical methods of construction are employed.
For example, gluing on beads, instead of sewing them
on; machine-sewing hems, rather than hand-sewing;
and leaving out some internal items, such as boning
or canvas, which are integral parts of the couture
gown. Off-the-rack dresses can be produced in around
ten hours.
PRICE
Of course, this leads to the last main difference
being price. On average, an off-the-rack dress will
cost around $1500. By contrast, the couture gown can
be around $2500 to $4000, or even more for some gowns.
When you consider all the differences mentioned in
workmanship alone, the higher price of the couture
gown is more than justified.
Ultimately,
the decision whether to buy your wedding gown off-the-rack,
or have it made by a couturier, is one that only you
can make. But the differences between the two are
as night and day. Essentially, off-the-rack is ordinary;
couture is extraordinary. Off-the-rack is standard;
couture is superb. Off-the-rack is boring; couture
is glamorous. The off-the-rack dress is a purchase;
the couture gown is an experience.
