Do You Know Your Fashion Lingo?
Fashion is so much more than stunning outfits and groundbreaking designers—it’s its own little world! With enough terminology to make your head spin, we’ve narrowed down some classic industry phrases you ought to know before crowning yourself a clotheshorse.
1. Appliqué
Appliqué refers to fine needlework—in a nutshell, it’s a type of embroidery that entails sewing fabric pieces onto larger bits of fabric, often to create patterns or pictures. It’s everything from funky patterns on high-end streetwear to embroidery on a sports jersey.
2. Armscye
Though this looks fancier than it is, armscye is another word for armhole. Whenever anyone refers to it, they’re talking about the fabric edge where the sleeve is sewn. Some spell it in different ways too, but now you’ll know whenever you see it written!
3. Bespoke
Generally referencing men’s clothes, bespoke is any tailored piece made to fit a client’s exact measurements. While bespoke items aren’t necessarily original, they are custom-made for people to ensure the right fit.
4. Bias Cut
Simply put, a bias cut means a diagonal cut across the fabric. Designers often do this to increase a garment’s movement or provide an elegant flow. The cut’s usually made at a 45° angle and you've likely seen it on pieces before!
5. Bohemian
Often called “boho” or boho-chic” fashion, this style dates back to the late 1800s. Think of it as a free-spirited look with earth tones, flowing pieces, and plenty of accessories. You’ve certainly heard the term tossed around and that’s because it’s a popular choice among fashionistas!
6. Capsule Collection
A capsule collection is a small selection of items from a designer’s work. These interchangeable pieces are best known for their versatility, intended for use across multiple outfits rather than one already put together. Donna Karan herself coined the term in the 1980s.
7. Color Blocking
Despite the name, color blocking means pairing several bold colors together, not separating them! The technique brings vibrant colors together to create the ultimate statement piece, often uniting contradictory hues.
8. Cruise Collection
When you think of summer clothes, you’re picturing a cruise collection! Also known as resort wear, these collections are intended to show off a designer’s newest look between spring and summer. It was actually “Coco" Chanel who kicked the whole thing off in 1919.
9. Ensemble
Have you ever seen someone walk down the street in a striking outfit? Someone who obviously took the time to match colors and accessories for the best fit? What you’re admiring is their ensemble, a perfect outfit harmonizing everything from jewelry to footwear.
10. En Vogue
When something’s en vogue, it means it’s fashionable. The latest collections, the hottest designers, and stunning outfits can all be en vogue, and it’s quite the compliment for a clotheshorse.
11. Flat Drawing
Flat drawings are simply two-dimensional sketches. They’re like blueprints for a garment, giving all the necessary details of how designers want their clothes to look. They’re technical drawings that include insight into all the nitty gritty like fastening, stitching, and final appearance.
12. Haute Couture
As much as we’d like to access the collection, haute couture isn’t mass-produced; it’s custom-made clothing often reserved for celebrities. They’re not your average tailored piece either—these looks can take hundreds of hours to complete, made with fine materials and expert detail that separates them from the rest.
13. Lookbook
A lookbook is a series of photographs that display designers’ latest ideas. It’s the holy grail of new collections, featuring styled snapshots that showcase an upcoming line. They’re not quite a catalogue either; lookbooks rely more on aesthetics and less on copy for promotion.
14. Off-the-Rack
Off-the-rack is the opposite of bespoke. The term refers to everyday clothing ready for purchase, all without specific customization or measurements. Picture your average clothing store and you’ll envision ready-made items!
15. Patchwork
You’ve undoubtedly seen patchwork on quilts, but it’s also prominent needlework in fashion. Patchwork is the art of stitching together small pieces of fabric into a larger whole. A$AP Rocky attended the 2021 Met Gala in a stunning example—a piece made by Eli Russell Linnetz and Zak Foster.
16. Pret-a-Porter
Technically, we’ve come across this term already! Pret-a-porter is the French term for “ready-to-wear” clothing. Funnily enough, ready-to-wear is actually synonymous with off-the-rack, as they both refer to clothing available for immediate purchase.
17. Seam
It may “seam” like an easy concept (see what we did there?), but there’s more to it than your everyday definition. On its own, a seam is merely the stitching that holds fabric pieces together. However, there are also several kinds, such as double stitched, flat felled, bound, hairline, and decorative seams (just to name a few).
18. Silhouette
In the fashion world, silhouettes are the shapes of clothes when worn. They’re a vital part of a designer’s final vision, illustrating the outline of a clothed fashion figure. It’s actually a defining feature of flat drawings too.
19. Standard Sizes
Standard sizes are those little letters we see on all clothing: XS, S, M, and the like. It’s a means of universal sizing that dates back to the Middle Ages, advancing to full-body measurements in the 1800s for soldiers’ uniforms.
20. Trend Forecasting
Fashion is as fickle as the weather, and both require diligence to predict trends. The term refers to educated guesses made about incoming fashion trends. It’s usually predicted through marketing and consumer research and provides everyone with a good peek into the latest looks.
