Fashion Terms

Style- particular design, shape or type of apparel item. Determined by the distinct features that ​ create its’ overall appearance. Styles come and go. Example- a-line skirt, pencil skirt, polo shirt, sheath dress ​

Fashion- display of the currently popular style of clothing. Favored by a large segment of the public ​ at any time. Most accepted or up-to-date clothing. Example- skinny jeans, crop tops, ugg boots, short shorts, rompers ​

Apparel- all men’s, women’s and children’s clothing. ​ Example- outfits, coats ​

Garment- one particular clothing item. ​ Example- shirt, pants, skirt, shorts, dress ​

Silhouette- the shape of a clothing style. They are always changing in fashion. ​ Example- fitted, draped, poofy, skinny ​

Fad- temporary fashion. Becomes popular fast and then dies out quickly. Can be fun if they aren’t ​ too expensive. Example- overalls, rompers (romphims), leggings, crop tops ​

Classic- an item that stays popular even when fashions change. ​ Example- little black dress, black suit ​

Fit- how tight or loose it is on the person who is wearing it. ​

Draped garments- are wrapped or hung on the human body. ​ Example- sari (indian), Greek inspired clothing- toga ​

Tailored garments- made by fist cutting garment pieces and then sewing them together to fit the ​ shape of the body. Example- suit, pants, collared buttoned-down shirt ​

Composite garments- made by a combination of the tailored and draped methods. ​ Example- dress with fitted bottom or top and loose bottom or top ​

Haute couture- Custom made clothing from original designs. Highest fashions. These get copied ​ and other cheaper companies make knock-offs.

Ready-to-wear- Multiple colors and sizes of the same item are mass-produced in factories. You can ​ just go into the store, choose what you want and buy it.

Fashion cycle- periodic popularity, disappearance and later reappearance of specific styles or ​ general shapes. Example- jeans- bell bottoms then ankle, then baggy, then flared and now skinny ​