Can't afford Armani or Donna Karan signature designer clothes? Although designer clothes is a term that has come to encompass any name brand, designer clothes is actually the level below couture (custom made attire). Therefore, Armani and Donna Karan are just two of some of the top tier designers clothes in the world. The following are price zones and definitions to keep in mind.

Designer Clothes: This is the most expensive of all price zones. This includes designer clothes such as Calvin Klein, Yves Saint Laurent, Donna Karan, Bill Blass, Giorgio Armani, and Chanel, as well as collections of brands, such as St. John Knit. This category is sometimes described as couture, but it cannot be mixed with couture's true definition which is custom made attire.

Bridge Clothes: Bridge lines are typically also thought of as designer clothes; however, they typically fall between designer clothes and better clothes. They are also known as diffusion lines, such as Emporio Armani and Donna Karan Signature.

Better Clothes: Many people also consider this tier to be designer clothes, but they are technically known as better clothes. This grouping are nationally known names, such as DKNY, Nautica, and Banana Republic.

Moderate Clothes: This grouping is sometimes also known as designer clothes. It includes Guess, Gap, and Lizwear. Lane Bryant, a plus size designer clothes store is also considered moderate.

Budget or mass clothes: This clothing is definitely not considered designer clothes. Old Navy and Target are places to get mass clothes. However, Target's been creating partnerships with emerging designer clothes names. They are offer discount designer clothes at a full price. This way, Target can make designer clothes accessible to practically anyone.

Designer clothes are typically for adults, but now with the emerging popularity of high-end designer baby clothes worn by the likes of Suri Cruise, designer baby clothes are in demand.

As shown by the above system, designer clothes are truly symbolic of status. Although the top three groups have been known as "designer clothes" this is often not the case. Technically, designer clothes are the level below couture. It is funny that the technical grouping of designer clothes often refers to themselves as couture. This misuse of terminology- attempting to consider designer as couture and everything else as designer- merely shows the hunger for status through the attire that we wear today.