Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Fashion Fashion Terms
Fashion Fashion Terms
1. Accessories
Articles added to complete or enhance an outfit.
(Shoes, jewelry, belts, handbags, etc.)
2. Apparel
All men's, women's, and children's clothing.
3. Avant-Garde
A French expression that in the
clothing industry means being
ahead of fashion.
Wild, daring and
unconventional.
“Far Out” and does not
appeal to most people.
Disappears after a few years.
4. Classic
Clothing that
continues to be in
fashion over an
extended period of
time. Sometimes
called “timeless.”
Examples: Dress
pants, sheath dress,
A-line skirt, button-up
dress shirt, jeans, little
black dress, etc.
5. Composite
A garment that is a combination of tailored
and draped construction.
6. Design Detail
The various garment parts that distinguish different styles:
Necklines, collars, sleeves, bodice, lapels, hemlines, etc.
A T-shirt is a garment type, the neckline changes the
style of that garment. (Example: Crew Neck T-Shirt, Henley
T-Shirt, V-Neck T-Shirt, etc.)
Crew Neck Henley V-Neck
7. Draped
Wrapped or hung on the body and usually held
in place with pins, buttons, toggles, sash or belt.
8. Fad
A temporary and passing fashion. It has
great appeal to many for a short time.
Examples: Platform shoes, leg warmers,
jelly shoes, shoulder pads etc.
9. Fashion
The currently
accepted style
that is favored by
a large segment
of the public.
10. Fashion Cycle
A cycle of the rise, popularity, and decline of a
particular style.
Every fashion passes through 5 stages:
Introduction
Rise
Peak
Decline
Obsolete
10. Fashion Cycle
INTRODUCTION
When a fashion is introduced into the market.
RISE
When a fashion gains in popularity.
PEAK
When a fashion reaches its height of popularity.
DECLINE
When a fashion begins to drop in popularity.
OBSOLETE
When a fashion is no longer popular.
11. Fit
The right size or how tight or loose the clothing is on
the person wearing it.
12. Garment Type
A category of clothing.
Dress
Coat
Suit
Sweater
Pants
Etc.
13. Haute Couture
(oat-koo-TOUR)
French for “Fine
Sewing”.
The finest clothing from
fashion houses by
major designers.
Made for individual
customers.
Original, one-of-a-kind
and expensive
designs.
Red Carpet / Met Gala
14. Ready to Wear
Clothing mass produced in standard sizes and
sold to customers without custom alterations.
15. Silhouette
The shape of a clothing style shown by its
outer lines.
16. Style
A particular design, shape or type of apparel item. The
style of a garment is determined by the distinct features
that create its overall appearance.
Specific design details create specific styles. For
example: sheath, shift and princess are all different styles
of dresses.
Sheath Dress Shift Dress Princess Dress
17. Tailored
A garment made by cutting fabric pieces and
then sewing them together to fit the body.
18. Trend
The movement of a fashion into and through the
marketplace.
Changes in: hemlines, waistlines, color, shoe style, etc.
Trends repeat every 20-30 years.
Skirt Length Cycle
19. Wardrobe
All the apparel a person owns including all
garments and accessories.