outré

Outré is an adjective borrowed from French, in which outré means beyond or outside the ordinary. In English, it describes art, literature, theatre, fashion, or behavior that is deliberately unconventional, shocking, or extravagant. The term carries a nuanced critical tone, often signaling appreciation for boundary-pushing work while acknowledging its tendency to provoke or challenge prevailing tastes. In English usage, outré is typically pronounced oo-TRAY.

Historically, outré has been used by critics to characterize late 19th- and early 20th-century movements that sought to push beyond realism, sentimentality, or bourgeois propriety. It appears in discussions of avant-garde theatre, Symbolist and later modernist visual arts, and other cultural practices that embrace the uncanny, the bizarre, or the sensational as a mode of inquiry or expression.

In fashion and design, outré denotes looks or outfits that emphasize theatricality, excess, or nonconformity. Designers and editors may employ the term to describe ensembles that combine unexpected materials, exaggerated silhouettes, provocative silhouettes, or unusual color and texture pairings. The label can be celebratory, signaling creative courage, or critical, implying that the styling overshadows coherence or wearability.

Contemporary usage retains the dual sense: outré can mark innovation and daring, or critique and ambivalence regarding taste and social norms. It is often associated with transgressive or boundary-testing aesthetics across media, including art, performance, and street culture.

See also: avant-garde, transgressive art, extravagance.