Couture
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You're in New York, cards in hand. Everyone wants that runway. You raise, someone folds, someone stares you down. You win the auction, choose the best pose, and they have to settle for the scraps. In two rounds, they'll be raising to you.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Runways, Auctions, and Ephemeral Glory
Designed by Yusuke Sato and published by Allplay in 2023, Couture brings the glittering and ruthless world of international runways to the table. You play as an emerging model competing to walk in New York, Paris, and Tokyo, building your career through iconic poses, signature walks, and a team of fashion professionals.
At the table, you manage a hand of numbered cards and play them face down to win auctions in the three cities. The winner chooses first from the available cards: poses, signature walks, Glam Squad members. Losers settle for what's left. After seven rounds, you tally points: pose sets, magazine covers, and bonuses decide who becomes the global fashion icon.
What they say abroad
"Fast, light, and surprisingly tense for an auction game in a small box."
Fast, light, and surprisingly tense for an auction game in a small box.
— Meeple Mountain
Couture is an honest game: the winner is the one who can read the table and manage their cards. It's not revolutionary, but it works. The 6-player mode can become chaotic, but with 4-5 players, the pace is perfect. We will update this card after more plays.
— FroGames
Couture
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews, and gameplay sessionsYour Arsenal
What You Build During Your Career
Iconic Poses
Cards representing signature poses (The Power Stance, The Twirl, The Gaze). Collecting sets of identical or different poses unlocks victory points at the end of the game.
Signature Walks
Your distinctive walk on the runway. Each walk gives you permanent abilities or immediate bonus points, and marks your identity on the runway.
Glam Squad
Members of your personal team: stylist, makeup artist, photographer. Each offers tactical advantages or extra points depending on the strategy you are pursuing.
Magazine Covers
The covers of the most prestigious magazines. Obtaining one requires specific requirements, but brings significant bonuses to the final count.
Recommended Sleeves 101 cards in 1 size ▼
If you play often, we recommend protecting your cards with transparent sleeves to make them last longer.
| Size | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 63 × 88 mm | 101 |
| Total cards | 101 |
Come si gioca
Video dimostrativo di gameplay.
🎲How to playThe rules in four steps▼
How to play
The flow of each round
Seven identical rounds, three different cities. Each round lasts 2-3 minutes.
New cards are drawn from the deck and placed face up: poses, walks, squad. Everyone sees what's at stake in this round.
Each player chooses ONE numbered card from their hand and plays it face down. When everyone has decided, they are revealed together. The highest card wins the auction.
The player who played the highest card chooses a card from the available pool first. Then the second, the third, until the last. The chosen cards go into their personal collection.
The cards played in the auction do NOT return to hand (closed hand management). Move to the next city. After the seventh round, the final score is calculated.
⏱️Your first gameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Setup and first hands
Deal the numbered cards, reveal the available cards for the first draft. Everyone studies the options: is that pose worth the highest card? Someone is already bluffing, others are thinking aloud. The table is sizing each other up.
First auctions, first choices
New York, first round. Play cards face down, reveal them together. The winner takes the best card from the draft, the loser collects the discards. Someone has already understood the others' strategy, someone regrets the card they played.
Mid-career, diverging strategies
Paris, third or fourth round. Some focus on sets of identical poses, others collect variety. Numbered cards dwindle, choices become more difficult. Those who spent too early now have to settle for less.
Tokyo and the final rush
Last rounds in Tokyo. Good cards are gone, only tactical ones or decisive Glam Squad members remain. Someone bets everything to snatch a cover, someone plays defensively. A lost auction here can cost you the victory.
Counting and covers
End of the seventh round. Poses, walks, squad, covers are counted. Magazine bonuses overturn the score: someone who seemed behind wins by one point. Someone immediately asks for a rematch, someone else accuses their neighbor of bluffing too well.
🐸Good to know beforeThree honest things, from friends▼
Good to know before
Three things to keep in mind
The numbered cards you play in the auction do NOT return to your hand. You have a fixed pool for seven rounds: if you spend high cards too early, you won't be able to compete for the best cards in the later rounds. You need to pace yourself.
With 6 players, the draft becomes much more random: too many variables, less control over what will remain available. The game works better with 4-5 players, where you can still read the table and plan.
Counting sets of poses, walks, squad, and magazine bonuses takes 2-3 minutes at the end of the game. It's not complex, but it slows down the ending of a game that otherwise flows smoothly. Some might prefer more immediate scoring mechanics.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
After the seventh round, everyone counts their points. The one with the highest total wins and becomes the global fashion icon.
Victory
- Maximize Iconic Poses sets (identical or variety, depending on strategy)
- Get magazine covers that give significant bonuses
- Build a synergistic Glam Squad that multiplies the points of other cards
How to lose ground
- Spend high numbered cards too early and run out of ammunition in the last rounds
- Ignore magazine covers and miss out on decisive bonuses
- Fail to read the table during auctions and waste cards on objectives that others don't want
Couture is an auction gateway that also works with high player counts, takes 5 minutes to explain, and allows for bluffing without overly punishing mistakes. Perfect for quick and competitive evenings.
💬Frequently asked questionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently asked questions
FAQ about Couture
What mechanics does Couture use?
Simultaneous blind bidding (closed bidding), open drafting (open drafting), and closed hand management (hand management). The numbered cards played do not return to your hand, so you need to plan how to spend them over the seven rounds.
Does it work well with 6 players?
Technically yes, but control significantly decreases. With 6 people, the draft becomes more chaotic and less predictable. The best experience is with 4-5 players, where you can still read the table and optimize your choices.
How long does a real game last?
Approximately 20 minutes net with 4-5 players, including final scoring. With 6, it can extend by 5-10 minutes due to the increased number of simultaneous decisions.
Is it suitable as a first auction game?
Yes, it's an excellent auction gateway game. The rules are immediate, the fashion theme aids immersion, and the short round structure keeps the pace high. Perfect for those who want to try the genre without committing to longer or more complex games.
Is it available in Italian?
No, this edition is in English. The text on the cards is minimal (names of poses, walks, and squad), and language dependence is low: the game can be played without reading every single card once the scoring system is understood.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they've done.
Couture is a card game for 3-6 players that lasts approximately 20 minutes, suitable for ages 11 and up. Designed by Yusuke Sato and published by Allplay, it uses mechanics of simultaneous blind bidding, open drafting, and hand management to simulate a model's career on the runways of New York, Paris, and Tokyo. Players compete to acquire iconic poses, signature walks, and Glam Squad members, aiming to win magazine covers that provide decisive bonuses. It's an ideal auction gateway game, light and competitive, perfect for quick evenings. Available on FroGames.it.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
The photos on the website often come from BoardGameGeek and are intended to give you an idea of the game. They may vary slightly from the version you receive. The content declared by the publisher is always binding.
📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
We always strive to provide the correct content, but minor variations are possible due to reprints or updates. The information comes directly from the publishers. If you have any questions, please contact us!
⏳How do pre-orders work?
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