House of Fashion jewelry explains: what is "couture". "Couture" means every item is a total creation from the minds of Elaine Coyne and Sheriden Starr. We create each item by first developing a wax form as a mini sculpture or the design is drawn on paper. Then the item is handcut and hand-forged. Making shapes and styles unique to Elaine Coyne Galleries.  Final finishes are done in the same way that our Themed Collections are completed. The metals that are cast or hand forged allow the patinas, antiquing or mirror finish to achieve the highest level of finishing in our studio.   The applied finishes simply take differently on castings and hand forged metals.