Word for fashioning clothes

This is a list of fashion-related words that differentiate the fashion talk of the common man from the fashion elite. You can call it the fashion jargon tossed around by the designers and editors who decide the course of fashion.

The fashion connoisseurs use them as part of their everyday conversation. Some of these words are common terms but some were unfamiliar to me, even technical.

If you want to be part of the fashion crowd you have to sprinkle some of them in your conversation or at least know some of them so that you know what they are talking about.

Common Fashion Terms – your Fashion Glossary

Accent

Emphasis given to a distinctive characteristic of a garment. It can be a colour or trimming or accessory.

Accessories

In fashion, accessories refer to items with a useful or decorative purpose used in conjunction with one’s outfit. They complement and enhance the clothes worn. Include Belts & Suspenders, Bridal Veils, Eyewear, Footwear, Gloves & Mittens, Handbags, Handkerchiefs, Headwear, Jewelry, Legwear, Neckwear, Shawls & Wraps, Umbrellas, Watches.

Acid wash

Treatment done on fabric to fade the colour with bleach solution. Check out the post on different ways (15) to distress your jeans to look fashionable

Academic costume

Characteristic clothes worn by those studying or teaching in colleges/ universities.

Accent shades

Bright dark colours like fluorescent colours. These are used as an emphasis rather than as the whole colour of a design.

Accessory

Refers to things like shoes, hats, jewellery, neckwear, belts, scarfs, gloves, corsets, lingerie, boutonnieres that are added to an outfit to make it more fashionable.

• 30 most important fashion accessories

Accessorizing

The process of adding accessory to clothing on display.

Active sportswear

Clothes worn by the participants in sports events.

Achromatic colours

This refers to having no colour; in fashion, it means black or white colours.

Accouterments

A popular or the latest style of clothing, hair, decoration, or behavior.

Adaptation

Garment/design similar to another original design/model but having some characteristic changes.

Advanced colours

Warm colours like shades of red.

Androgynous style

Androgyny in fashion refers to dressing in styles that make it difficult for the viewer to determine the gender of the person. Gender-neutral fashion. Also called Unisex fashion. A style that is neither strongly feminine or masculine. More details on androgynous style here.

Anime

Anime is short for animation and refers to a dressing style that follows the fashion on Japanese Anime cartoons. Mostly features punk style clothing.

Anti Fashion 

Dressing in styles different from the fashion of the day; showing an indifference to fashion and its varying trends. Other terms used synonymously are anti-establishment, edgy fashion, alternate fashion, counterculture, and counterfashion.

Antique style

A style of the past.

Anti Pill

Treatment done on fabric to increase the wear resistance, preventing uneven and worn look of fabric surface.

Army look

A style that resembles an army uniform (military style).

Art deco

Style incorporating geometric patterns in typical colours of yellow green gold silver and black.

Art Nouveau

Style that incorporates linear and curvilinear designs.

a la mode

French term for fashion. Pronounced as a-lə-ˈmod

American Style

A sporty easy going casual style of clothing.

Apparel

Another word for clothes, clothing and garments.

Apparel manufacturing

Involves assembling, cutting, finishing, grading, labeling, marketing of garments in an industrial set up.

Asymmetrical

One sided, not balanced. Learn more about asymmetrical hemlines here.

Atelier

Large dressmaking organization. Pronounced a-təl-ya

Attire

Clothing.

Athletic clothing

Clothing worn for athletic activities. Brands like Puma specialize in athletic clothing.

Au naturel

This French origin word is used to indicate something in its natural state. Like a nude body.

Avant-Garde

Refers to never seen before innovative designs by designers who are original thinkers bringing change to fashion.

Body clothes

Underclothing

Balance / symmetry

Having two opposing sides of same dimension.

Bespoke

This refers to a made-to-order garment made as per the customer’s characteristic measurements and specifications. Usually said about men’s formal clothes or wedding clothes.

Barfly apparel

Clothing suitable for wearing at cocktail bars.

Baroque

Exaggerated style ; over ornate clothing style.

Beachwear

Clothing suitable for beach.

Beaumonde

The fashionable world.

Black tie event

A dress code for evening events and social functions ; involves a tuxedo, tie and formal shoes. For girls, this is a long gown.

Bling

The term used for flashy ostentatious accessories.

Body-con clothing

Tight fitting clothing eg. Bodycon dress.

Boutique

A store or shop (usually high end expensive store) selling unique items to a specific set of customers. Learn more about starting a boutique here.

Boyfriend style

Meaning borrowed from boyfriend; Clothing style belonging to males adapted to suit females; eg. Boyfriend jeans.

Bib and tucker

Colloquial term for clothes ( wear one’s finest clothes)

Border print

A design that is seen along the border of a fabric.

Bohemian style of fashion (Boho)

An unconventional style of dressing that draws inspiration from bohemian and hippie influences. Boho chic is a stylish bohemian fashion with many celebrities and socialities following this trend. Check out. 

• 15 must-have elements in boho bohemian fashion

Business Formal dress code

Garments suitable for a formal event – suits for both men and women and tailored dresses for women.

Business Casual dress code

Clothes suitable for a semi-formal event – pants and shirts for men, pencil skirts and blouses for women ; not too casual like jeans or too formal like suits.

Bulky clothing

Loose fitting clothing.

Capsule wardrobe

This is a term used for a collection of a few timeless and essential items of clothing . Check out the post on the what you should have in your capsule wardrobe

Cut of a garment

Style and shape of a garment and how it hangs on the body.

Camouflage clothing

Design with elements of camouflage in it like the print / khaki colour.

Care label

A mandatory label found in all clothes that denotes atleast one method of caring for that garment/fabric in lieu of symbols. They usually have fabric details, its content, washing drying, bleaching and ironing instructions. Learn more about the 40+ fabric care label symbols here.

Casual wear

Informal wear; everyday garments.

Catwalk

A platform along which models walk to display clothes in fashion shows.

Channel suit

A prestigious coveted suit for women designed by the Famous French designer Coco Chanel.

Cheugy

The most dreaded word in fashion world these days – it means you are out of fashion in simple terms or the “opposite of trendy”.

Chic

Stylish / sophisticated. Pronounced shēk

Chinois

Chinese style.

Cine mode

A fashion with origin in the movies.

City wear

Street clothes with a sophisticated style.

Cocktail dress code

This is a party event – a suit for men and party dress for women.

Collection

Usually held twice a year in spring/summer and fall/ winter.

Colour coordination

Design incorporating colour theory and colour harmony.

• Shades of Blue color
• Names for all shades of Red color
• Color chart of shades of Yellow color 
• Names of different White colors in fashion
• Green color shades
• Shades of black color – names
• Different color shades of Brown
• Names of Different Grey color shades.

Classic

A style which is deemed timeless. Evergreen fashion.

Clique

As per Wikipedia clique is a small close-knit group of people who do not readily allow others to join them. In fashion clique refers to a group of very fashion conscious people who share a common sense of style.

Collection

A set of creations of a designer for a particular season. 

Colour blocking

This is a technique in which large blocks of solid coloured fabric are joined  (usually sewn) to form the garment; placing blocks of different colours side by side this way provides a visually striking effect. You can learn more about color blocking in this post.

Colour fast

This refers  to a dyed fabric’s ability to resist fading or colour running when it is washed, exposure to sunlight etc.

Colorway

A fashion industry terminology for a product in a specific color.

Core aesthetics

Core aesthetics refers to taking inspiration for one’s style on a core subject or feature of a subject. Eg. Fairycore aesthetic style.

Cosplay

A pastime of dressing up in costume (Oxford dictionary).

Country look

A rustic look ; wearing tweeds.

Cool colours

These are colours in the blue family.

Contemporary style

A current look.

Continental style

This refers to the European style of clothing.

Contrast

In fashion this refers to using colours which are in stark contrast to each other and hence both stand out.

Conservative styles

Traditional dressing style.

Cosmetic colours

Colours that relate to makeup/cosmetics used.

Cosmopolitan

A dress style that is universal rather than localized.

Costume

Garments based a theme or a story.

Couturier

This is a French term for male designers. The female designer is a couturiere.

Craze

A fashion which becomes very popular for a short period.

Composite style

A combination of distinct styles; simple and refined; cool and feminine; feminine and flirtatious ; funky and fun.

Costume jewelry

This is jewelry made to complement a particular fashionable garment/collection ;  usually inexpensive than real jewellery.

Cultural appropriation in fashion

This term is used when some one inappropriately adopts the fashion of a minority and somehow makes a mimicry of it without respecting the particular culture.

Dated fashion

Style of clothing which is Out of fashion (no longer fashionable).

Décolletage

Area from the neck to the chest. 

Diffusion Line

A  modestly priced line of garments made by an haute couture designer.

Distressing

Process in which fabric is artificially aged or worn. Learn different ways to distress a piece of clothing and the 15 different ways used to distress jeans

Draping

The way a fabric falls/hangs on a body.

Drop tail style

This refers to clothing with the back having more length than the front.

Dandy style

This is a term related to men’s clothing – indicating a flamboyant self-absorbent style of dressing.

Deadstock

Clothing that has never been worn, often from a previous season.

Design elements

In fashion, this refers to Color, Shape, line, texture, balance, harmony, proportion, pattern etc which are very important in designing well-liked clothes.

Double Denim Trend

This is a style of wearing more than one clothing in denim at a time Eg. Denim Jacket with denim jeans. Also referred to as Canadian Tuxedo.

Earth colors

Colours in the brown family.

Eclectic style of fashion

This is a fashion style composed of elements drawn from various sources; A mix of various styles.

Electric colours

Brilliant colours.

Elegant dressing style

A sophisticated graceful style.

Ensemble

An outfit ( totally) that is coordinated and harmonious.

Eponymous fashion brand

When a designer decides to name a brand his own name ie the creator gives his own name to his brand. eg LOUIS VUITTON.

Ethnic

Native or traditional

Exotic

A style that is fascinating and evokes the look of a foreign land.

Embellishing

The addition of decorative details or features.

Ensemble

A set of clothes that give out a look of unity and coordination.

Designer

A person who thinks up ideas for making very characteristic garments.

Display

A presentation of clothes.

Effortless dressing

This refers to a style which is high end but looks effortless.

Fabric swatches

Small pieces of fabric used as a sample.

Fabric Finishes

This refers to the application of certain resins/chemicals or making the fabric undergo some processes so that its functional or aesthetic appeal is enhanced.

Fad

A short lived fashion ; the popularity fades pretty fast after a burst.

Fashion 2.0

Fashion in the digital age with social media and websites leading the way for major upheavals in fashion.

Fashion capitals

Refers to high fashion cities like Paris, New York, Los Angels, London, Tokyo, Berlin, Barcelona. Read more about the 15 most prominent fashion capitals here.

Fashion Cycle

This refers to the rise rule and decline of a style.

Fashion Faux Pas

A misstep made in fashion like a wrong choice of clothing.

Fashion Forecast

A prediction as to the fashions / styles/ trends that will be popular in the coming future.

Fashion forward

A person who is ahead and knowledgeable of fashion trends.

Fashion icon

Someone who is very popular for his/her fashion style that everyone looks up to him/her. eg Victoria Beckham, Kate Middleton, Priyanka Chopra, Harry Styles

Fashion Line

All of the clothing a fashion designer produces for a specific category.

Fashion press

Those reporting the fashion events / shows / displays etc.

Fashion show

Displaying Formal collection of fashion styles by designers to merchandisers/ customers.

Fashion house

A company involved in fashion design.

Fashionista

A devoted follower of fashion.

Fashion icon

A term used to refer to someone or something that has become popular for being very fashionable.

Fashion sense

Knowledge of how to dress fashionably.

Fashion police

An imaginary police force that ensures that people dress according to fashion.

Fashion sketch

An initial drawing made for the purpose of garment design. It will give a basic idea about the garment.

• Fashion illustration: 6 types of fashion drawings.

Fashion subcultures

Subdivisions of society that influence fashion and have a heavy influence on fashion elsewhere everywhere. The attitude and beliefs of the subculture are reflected in their clothing. Grunge, punk, goth, alternative, bohemian, rock,  rap, and hip-hop are such subcultures.

• 40 of the most popular fashion Subcultures

Fashion tribe

A group of people who share a common sense of dressing style/ fad/ fashion.

Fabric Prints

These are prominent fabric patterns which are very popular like animal prints, African prints. Check out the post on the 55 popular names of fabric patterns you will usually find on fabric surfaces.

Face of the fabric & texture

The outer surface of the fabric ( also refers to facing)

Fashion Label

A collection of expensive clothes belonging to a particular upcoming designer.

Fatigues

Military combat apparel.

Flat sketches

Technical sketch of a design as if it were lying flat- the details include stitching techniques etc. Also called flats.You can make this by hand or with software like illustrator.

Florals

Fabric printed with floral patterns.

Formal clothing ( evening clothes)

An occasion dressing style; Long evening gown for females and suits/tuxedos for men.

Foundation

An undergarment worn to smooth a figure.

Garcon look

Garconne; A boyish fashion worn by women ; also called flapper look.

Gender-queer

A person whose gender identity cannot be categorized as solely male or female.

Gradation

Shades of the same colour.

Geek Chic

The style associated with the thinking man/woman, technology workers/ professionals. Tailored suits, over sized glasses.

Groufit

Athleisure clothing in grey colour.

Grunge

A messy unco-ordinated style of dressing seen in people who follow or like grunge music. Ripped jeans, layered clothing, black boots

Haberdashery

Sewing notions like buttons zippers etc; also refers to a men’s clothing shop

High stepper

A colloquial term for a person who is very aware or conscious of fashion and how he/ she looks.

Hand of a fabric

The feel of the fabric

Haute Couture 

Expensive, fashionable clothes produced by leading exclusive fashion houses. It means the finest dress making in French language; simply termed as ‘couture’ pronounced kü-ˈtu̇r. Learn more about Haute Couture.

Heavy metal fashion

Fashion adopted by fans of heavy metal music (metal heads or headbangers); skinny fit jeans, jackets, clothes with patches and badges

High Fashion

The designing, making, and marketing of expensive, fashionable exclusive clothes ( as opposed to mass-market clothing); haute couture

Hippie style

An unusual ( to western style) bohemian fashion style characterized by long hair, jeans  bell bottom pants peasant blouses tie and dye fabric, long full skirts etc

Hosiery

Tight fitting knitted garments that are worn on the leg and feet. It is usually made of highly stretchable fabrics like spandex.

Hourglass figure

A female body shape with a narrow waist and proportionately bigger hips ad bust; considered to be the ideal shape for women eg Hourglass figure of Marilyn Monroe

House

In the fashion world, a fashion house is a name used for a company dealing in fashion.

Hot number

A style which  sells very fast at that time

Imitation

A fake or copy ; usually used for describing fur and jewellery

Iridescent colours

Imitating the colors of the rainbow

Impact colours

A color used in a fashion design for an impact

Jewel tones

Deep colours

Kawaii

Kawaii is a cute fashion trend that originated in Japan. It follows the definite meaning of Kawaii – Japanese artistic and cultural style that emphasizes the quality of cuteness, using bright colours and characters with a childlike appearance.

Kitsch

In fashion refers to low quality style; garish style

Knock Off

A design that is a copy of a more expensive clothing

Lagenlook style ( Layered style)

This is a style in which different garments are layered over each other, in different lengths

Limited edition clothing

Also termed Special edition; This is a special designer collection made in limited numbers.

Line

A collection of styles shown to a producer in a given season.

Line sheet

A reference guide used by people connected with fashion detailing garment styles price, colour, fabric details etc related to a line.

Look Book

A book with all the photographs of a model, photographer, style, stylist, or images representing the full clothing line of a designer. It is meant as a catalog for marketing to be presented to the buyers.

Long line clothing

Clothing meant for tall people

Loungewear

Garments worn around the house

Made to measure garments

This refers to the use of  preexisting template patterns and then making the garments out of them after adjusting to the measurements of the customer

Marine style

A style that looks like the clothing of sailors

Mass produced / Fashion

Styles/ fashion that is widely accepted and hence made in large quantities

Masculine style

This refers to women’s clothing made to look like men’s ( also called mannish)

Melange

A fashion which is a mixture of styles, elements or trends

Minimalist

A simple understated look; a fashion consisting of simple styles and plain colours.

Monotone clothing

Clothes of a single colour

Mood Board

A physical or digital collage of design ideas used by fashion designers to consolidate their collections or get ideas. Will have details of an idea, drawings or photos, fabric swatches etc. 

Motif

A design used in a pattern/ print / embroidery etc ; usually found recurring

Muslin

This is a trial garment made to test a pattern ; it is originally made in the fabric muslin cotton

Neutral Colours

Neutral means without colour. In fashion Classic colours like black, white, gray, brown and beige and sometimes blue are called neutral colours. Read more different shades of neutral colors here.

Off the rack

Another name for ready to wear mass-produced clothing in standard sizes that are made in a large number and are readily available in retail stores.

Ombre

This refers to the style in which color graduates from light to dark

Over size

Garments which are of a much looser fit.

Passe 

Refers to anything that is No longer fashionable; out of date fashion.(pronounced pasei) This is deemed an insult in fashionable circles

Paninaro

An Italian term that refers to a lifestyle that is luxurious and is hungry for very expensive designer garments – those who follow this lifestyle will always be perfectly dressed in the latest fashion trends. It is considered today as a symbol of excess and superficiality.

Panache

Style which represents flamboyance or confidence

Pantone colours

Pantone colours refer to a colour reference system developed by the company Pantone Inc that standardizes the colours in the CMYK process. The pantone colours correspond exactly to the inks and dyes used to colour the fabric by various industries, basically for printing purposes and manufacture of coloured fabric.

Pattern

A template used as a guide to make a garment.

Pret-a- porter

Refers to ready to wear clothes by designers. 

Peek-a-boo style

Refers to adding cut out details or sheer elements in garments which reveals parts of the body

Peasant style

A style which is reminiscent of the country women folk with embroidered blouses and long skirts

Placement prints

This refers to fabric patterns with a print that consists of a large motif or design which is a stand out design and which is strategically placed on the garment which makes it a highlight 

Post modern fashion

In this trend decoration is given more importance than function. Jean Francois Lyotard first explained this phenomenon; Vivienne Westwood, Alexande Mcqueen etc were proponents of this style, which had a lot of theatrical style to it.

Power dressing

This refers to a style of dressing that emphasizes one’s power. The word was coined in the 1970s and it meant a smartly tailored dressing meant to impress. Now represents clothes that men and women wear to workplaces and meetings to make them look powerful.

Preppy style

A collegiate look; for boys polo shirts, chinos and navy blazers

Pre-spring collection

This refers to high-end collections of fashion designers marketed to upscale stores for customers expecting to spend the post-holiday season in warm-weather climates.

Print on print

Colorful and vibrant clothing with lots of different prints mixed in.

Punk style

This is a style which epitomizes the punk subculture with its roots in music and emerged into prominence in the western world during the  mid 1970s. Distressed jeans, metal studs, chains, body piercing and leather jackets all are characteristics of this style. 

Resort  wear (Cruise wear)

This is a line of clothing meant as holiday or travel collection; it is meant for a  relaxed living for the affluent people; clothes meant for the poolside life. Also refer Pre-spring collection

Ready to wear or RTW

This is the term for factory made clothing in standardized sizes.

Retro

Style imitative of or derived from the trends of the recent past.

Retrofuturism

Influence of future as predicted in an earlier era – ie past’s vision of the future.

Reversible clothing

Garments that can be reversed and used from both sides. The seam allowances etc will be hidden with clever construction methods.

Rockability fashion

The fashion following the dressing style of music icon Elvis Presley;
characteristics are tight jeans or black pants (drainpipe pants), brothel creeper shoes, motorcycle jackets.

Safari style

The kind of clothing that resembles clothes worn during hunting.

Sample

A garment made to be shown to the retailers/merchandisers.

Silhouette

Outline or shape of a design or garment.

Seamstress

A person who sews.

Selvedge

The finished edge of the fabric ( on opposite sides of the lengthwise fabric)

Sanforized clothing

A shrink control process used on fabric.

Sleek style

The style which gives a slender slim streamlined look.

Slip on clothes

The type of clothes which are worn without any fastenings / just slip on through the head.

Slim fit

Clothing made to fit close to the body.

Sloper

This is a type of basic pattern that is used as the building block for all other pattern making without any ease or design elements (craftsy.com)

Slogan

This refers to the wordings printed or worked across the bodice of a garment. Eg slogans on the chest of a t-shirt.

Sportswear

A casual style of clothing meant for a relaxed look but can be used in a casual business setting too. American style dressing.

Statement Jewelry

Bold and attention grabbing Jewelry meant to grab all eyeballs. Eg Statement necklace.

Street wear

This is basically clothes meant for the streets – skater friendly garments. It is a broad difficult to define fashion and may mean simply urban fashion.More on Streetwear fashion here

Stonewashed fabric

A fabric faded through a specific process. 

Stylist (Fashion)

A person who dresses clients in styles that she /he curates. It could be for editorial purposes, for celebrities, for branding purposes in marketing. 

Surfer look

A carefree dressing style sported by surfers on beaches

Sartorial

Anything related to Tailoring, clothes, fashion or style of dress.;Of or pertaining to tailors and their trade (www.dictionary.com); it is also used in relation to the quality of a dress

Separates

Clothes that are bought separately and cover only part of the body but can be mixed and matched to create combinations. Eg: pants and shirts

Supportive clothing

This refers to clothing that gives support ; eg. muscular support for sports, support for bust, support for legs with ailments like a varicose vein

Style

“Fashion is what you’re offered four times a year by designers. And style is What you choose.” Lauren Hutton

Style Surfing

This refers to shifting from clothing style of one subculture to other; sometimes combining and transforming styles

Sweats

Cotton jersey sports wear

Tailoring

Making of made to measure/custom made garments

Throwback fashion

Fashion belonging to the past

Theme

This refers to a concept behind a collection of clothes designed by fashion designers – usually they have a message or an attitude

Theme board (mood board)

A board with fashion drawings, sketches, swatches used to create a mood about a product. 

Toile

This is a piece of clothing made by a fashion designer or a seamstress for testing purposes – it can be made to test a pattern or a design, to see how the garment will look and drape and whether it needs any alterations or additions. It is usually made in a cheap fabric

Tone on Tone

General term for Colour combinations with shades of the same colour.

Trend

A general direction in which something is developing or changing ( oxford dictionary)

Trendy

An adjective used to describe someone who is very fashionable or stylish

Trunk show

Display of a designers collection in a store

Twin prints

Two prints that share the same colour combination in one garment

Unisex style

Clothing suitable for both female and male gender. Also called Androgynous style.

Up cycled clothing

This is the creative reuse of old clothes by changing certain design elements.

Utilitarian clothing

Functional clothing rather than decorative ; Clothes that serve a practical purpose. Usually points to work clothes. They are practical and functional rather than decorative. eg: a Raincoat protecting from rain

Vintage

Clothing inspired from a previous era. Fashion/Things belonging to the time 20 years or older can be considered to be vintage. 

Wasp waist

Exaggeratedly narrow waist making the hips and bust look bigger in comparison; usually achieved by using corsets. This was the popular way of dressing in the 19th century England

Warm colours

Red, yellow and orange and in between colours in the colour wheel

Weft

In the fabric, fibers that run the width of the fabric.

X-ray Fabric

Sheer fabric used to make clothes.

70’s style

Style of clothing characterized by Wide legged trousers, slouchy silhouettes, big prints.

Abbreviations used in fashion

LBD – Little Black Dress

OOTD – Outfit of the Day

You may also want to check out some other categories and terms very much related to fashion. 

I have skipped these terms in this post, because they are better elaborated elsewhere. But they are also very much related to fashion and you may want to read them after this one is over.

• What is fashion? 8 types of fashionwear
• 45 world famous fashion designers
• 10 important elements of fashion
• Women’s clothing styles
• 40 different types of jeans
• 28 different types of sweaters
• A Glossary of clothes names
• A Glossary of Fabric names with explanations
• 45 Different types of Tops
• 12 basic dress silhouettes
• 15 colour combinations for fashion
• 12 Different types of Pants
• 45 Different types of Dresses
• 17 Different types of shorts.
• 15 Different types of shapewear
• 60+ Different types of necklines
• Different types of collars
• 40+ Different types of sleeves
• Different types of textile fibers
• 10 Different types of fabric printing
• 15 different types of corsets
• Different types of fabric trims
• 26 Different types of bags
• 30 different types of Jackets
• 35 different types of footwear for women
• 20 different types of skirts.
• Different types of Hosiery
• 60+ Different types of embroidery
• Nice Textured fabrics for sewing
• 15 terms related to pant fitting
• Parts of a Bra – 15 related terms
• Parts of a shirt & related terms
• 10 different waistlines in dresses
• 70+ fabric finishes & treatments
• 25 types of fabric pattern repeats
• 40+ fabric laundry care labels you find in clothes explained.
• Japanese traditional clothing names
• Arabian clothing -10 elements
• 7 important female bodyshapes
• Fitting guide for Pants – 15 terms that matter
• 20 different types of fashion belts
• 35 different types of footwear for women
• 15 different types of T-shirts
• 15 different parts of Jeans
• 40 different types of socks
• Top 10 Fashion Magazines in the world
• Different types of Corsets
• 5 Must haves for BIKER FASHION
• Grunge fashion style
• Punk fashion style
• Preppy fashion
• Hip hop fashion
• 10 important animal prints – names
• Names of Indian traditonal costumes
• 25 must-see Costume Museums for a Fashion lover 
• Top 15 luxury fashion brands in the world
• Top 10 denim jeans brands
• 20 Design lines and How to use them in fashion designing

Reference : The Magic of Fashion: Ritual, Commodity, Glamour By Brian Moeran

Updated on January 16, 2023 by Sarina Tariq

Fashion Vocabulary

There is so much to gain when we learn the English language online, and perhaps the best thing of all is when we can use that language in the real world. London Fashion week is coming up, starting on September 14^th, and that opportunity for designers and manufacturers to show their wares is a brilliant opportunity to make use of our new English skills.

There is an enormous amount of English vocabulary surrounding clothing, and fashion in general, so here we have a run down of some of the terms we may come across at the Fashion week. Of course, these are all words and phrases that will be useful whenever we are seeking to talk about clothing.

We will break these down into categories to make them easier to understand.

Headwear

Hats are distinctly in fashion at the moment, and may well feature strongly in London Fashion week. Here are some of the more popular types:  beany (baggy, woollen hat), cap (a casual peaked hat, sometimes called a baseball cap), flat cap (traditionally worn by older people, these are tweed caps, with a firm peak, which are very fashionable), Panama hat (a white or ivory formal hat, usually worn by men, and very stylish with smart casual wear), floppy hat (any hat with a wide, loose brim).

On top of headwear we might come across jewellery. Earrings go, unsurprisingly, in the ears. A necklace, equally predictably, is jewellery that is worn on the neck, usually with a silver or gold chain.

Torso

There are two kinds of t-shirt, which are casual, short sleeved tops. A round neck t shirt has a round neck hole (not really so confusing, this English) and a Polo shirt is slightly more formal, with a collar.  A shirt is a long-sleeved garment (although, confusingly, there are short sleeved types), often made of cotton, with buttons up the front. A blouse is a shirt usually worn by women, with a more fitted styles and a smaller collar.

A jumper is the woollen or cotton extra layer that is worn over the shirt, handy for British winters…and Springs, Autumns and, sadly, often summer. It is also known as a jersey or pullover. A jumper with buttons which opens up fully is known as a cardigan, or cardy for short. A sleeveless jumper is called a tank top.

Less formal tops include sweat shirts, a cotton casual pullover, often with a picture or logo on it. A hoodie is like a sweat shirt, but includes a hood. Outer garments for outdoor wear are called coats. But there are many varieties of these:  bomber jackets (short coats), golf coats, rain coats, overcoats (heavy, warm and formal coats), Mackintoshes and waterproofs – sometimes called kagoules and carried in case of wet weather – are other common types of coat.

A  jacket is a short, fairly smart indoor coat, often worn with a suit or for work or business. It contains a handy amount of pockets for storage.

Jewellery wise, a bracelet is worn on the wrist.  More casual, and often supporting a good cause, is a wristband. A bangle is a wide bracelet, often of ethnic styling. Cufflinks are like removable buttons sometimes worn with formal shirts.

Bottom Half

Trousers are worn to cover the entire bottom half of the body. They might be called jeans (usually made from denim), chinos (smart casual cotton trousers), drain pipes (tight fitting trousers with narrow legs sometimes known as skinny jeans.). Shorts are trousers which end at the knee or higher.  On the beach, swimming shorts or trunks are usually worn by men, and bathing costumes (all in ones) or bikinis (two piece) are worn more usually by women.

The terms skirts and dresses can cause confusion. A skirt starts at the waist, while a dress is full length. A kilt is a heavy, pleated skirt worn by women and traditionally by Scotsmen, allegedly with nothing underneath, although that is probably not true. A sarong is a loose skirt that is tied at the waist. Usually it is worn by women, but occasionally by men. The footballer David Beckham introduced a trend for men to wear sarongs a few years ago.

Sometimes tights (all in one) or stockings (separate for each leg) can be worn under skirts and dresses.

Footwear

There are many styles of shoe; crocks, sandals, brogues, lace ups, trainers, boots, slippers. Under these people often wear socks – very short socks often worn with trainers and shorts are called trainer socks, slightly bigger are ankle socks. In the old days, shorts were worn mostly by men and boys, along with knee length socks. These are called long socks.

Underwear

Again, there are lots of names for basically the same thing. Pants is a general term for underwear in Britain (the word means trousers in the US, which can lead to some embarrassing moments.) Boxers are long, short like pants and Y fronts have a Y shaped material in the front. Knickers is the name often used for women’s pants. A bra (short for brassiere, but that word is rarely used today) is a chest supporter for women. A jock strap is a pouch worn by men to protect and support their genitalia in some sports.

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Buying Clothes

Mostly, we buy our clothes off the peg, in other words from a rack or shelf in a shop. We either know our size, or try the clothes on. More expensive clothing might be bespoke, made to measure, or tailor made. This often includes expensive suits (two or three-piece formal wear, often worn with a tie; or dinner suit, which is worn with a bow tie), dresses and shirts. For these, measurements will be taken, and the names for these relate to the part of the body being measured. For example, head measurement, waist measurement.

Styles and Materials

The most common materials for clothe making in England are cotton and wool (more for winter wear). Cheaper items sometimes contain nylon, or polyester, which many people do not like to feel against their skin. Silk is a soft, shiny material that is often found in ties and more expensive clothes. Often handkerchiefs (for mopping a brow, or blowing the nose) will be made of silk, more commonly though cotton.

There is much vocabulary describing styles – stripes (thin bands of colour); polka dot (summery spots of colour), elegant is a term for smart, and smart casual usually means jacket and trousers, with open necked shirt for men, the term is looser for women. Formal means a suit for men, a dress, blouse and skirt/trousers or trouser suit for women. Formal can also mean a dress suit (or dinner suit) for men – i.e. a bow tie, and a long dress for women.

Useful Phrases when shopping

Buyers might start a conversation by asking an assistant:

Do you have (hold up an example) in a size (give your size)?

They might ask for a shop’s clothing range, usually described by the seasons, for example, ‘Autumn Range’ or ‘Spring Range’.

Another common question helps us to find the clothing we want. ‘Could you point me to… (the hats, the women’s wear, t shirts, etc.)’ is a good way of achieving this.

As with most aspects of using the English language, as we build up our vocabulary around fashion, we can make ourselves better understood. The terms in this article are a good starting point. Enjoy London Fashion week with confidence!

Article related: English In the Shops

Looking for the latest IELTS speaking practice topics? Every year IDP includes new topics and since fashion is a way of expressing one’s self, it is one of the best topics to practice your speaking skills. This blog will acquaint you with the latest Fashion Vocabulary IELTS and terminology to ace your speaking section.

List of Vocabulary Words To Describe Fashion

When asked to talk about fashion and your opinions on it, you can use the following terms:

• wardrobe (n) — the collection of clothes in your closet that you normally wear.
• strong colours (n) — the opposite of pastel colours
• trendy (adjective) — fashionable
• smart-casual (adj) — casual but clean and stylish 
• outfit (n) — a coordinated set of clothes
• pricey (adjective) — costly (informal)
• old-school (adjective) – something that is traditional or old-fashioned (but not very old)
• baggy (adj) — loose 
• antique (adj) — old (about things), unique and traditional style]
• eccentric clothes (n) — unusual, out-of-the-ordinary attire
• trending jeans (n) — ripped 
• Hipster (n) — a trendy person 
• sloppy (adv) — loose-fitting and casual
• brand loyalty (n) — a consumer’s emotionally charged decision to buy a certain brand or known company over and over again 
• Catwalk — the platform on which modals walk to show off the latest ready-to-wear trends

List of Idioms & Phrases To Describe Fashion

Using idioms or phrases can amp up your scores in speaking and writing tests. Following are some idioms and phrases that can be counted in Fashion Vocabulary IELTS:

• Bells and whistles — enticing extra features
• Dress down  — wearing less formal clothing 
• super extravagant — spending too much money or surpassing the limits of reason or necessity 
• To be a fashion slave — someone who feels compelled to wear the current trends on the 
• Hand-me-downs — clothing passed down from older brothers to the younger siblings 
• Dressed to kill — dressing in a way that attracts admirers 
• To dress classic style — to dress in a simple, timeless way that is stylish.
• To mix and match — to try different or new styles or pieces of clothes that are not a part of a pre-made outfit.

Sample Questions on Fashion Vocabulary IELTS Speaking

The speaking test will assess your English communication skills. During the test, you will get 11 to 14 minutes to speak with an IELTS examiner about a variety of topics. Your exam will take place in a quiet environment with an examiner who will encourage you to speak. They will also be able to decipher your accent, ensuring that you get the best grade possible. There are three portions to the speaking test.

Part 1:

Q. What kind of clothing do you prefer to wear? 

A. I love casual clothing that is basic and comfy. A pair of trousers and a button-down shirt would be ideal. I am not the most trendy person. I do, however, dress up for certain events.

Q. What do people in your country wear to work? 

A. Those who work in the corporate world dress in smart casual or business/formal attire on a regular basis. Uniforms are worn by some employees, such as teachers. Other employees are permitted to come to work in casual attire.

Also Read: IELTS Vocabulary for Social Media

Q. Which types of clothing do you despise?

A. Well, I despise wearing sloppy and outlandish attire. Ripped pair of jeans is one example. I also avoid wearing strong-coloured clothing.

Part 2:

Q. Describe someone you know who dresses well.

A. You should include these points in your answers.

• who they are
• how you know them
• what kind of clothes do they wear
• why you like the way they dress

Sample Answer

Let me tell you about a friend who is always well-dressed. Her name is Ayesha. We are the same age, and she is a professor at the department at one of my country’s most prestigious universities. Despite the fact that she is not really in the fashion sector, she dresses stylishly. She is tall, not very slender, and extremely lovely.

She has been a long-time friend of mine since high school. I see her on regular occasions because she also stays in my area. We spend time with friends as well, especially on weekends.

She does not have a particular style or preference when it comes to fashion. I believe she dresses according to the atmosphere as well as the occasion and event; I frequently see her in light-coloured gowns with high-heeled shoes.

She has a thing for stylish accessories. Her shoes are always in sync with her outfit. I believe she has a large wardrobe of nice clothes, shoes, and handbags because I seldom see her wearing the same outfit twice. I have seen her in casual clothes as well, but they do not appear to be plain or boring on her.

She can present herself nicely in any outfit, in my opinion. She appears to be at ease in anything she wears. She maintains a neat and tidy appearance at all times. Her style appeals to me because she does not dress in an ostentatious or offensive manner. She maintains a professional and respectable demeanour at all times.

Part 3:

Q. How important are clothes and fashion to you?

A. I do not care much about clothes or fashion. I prefer to dress in comfy clothes while still looking presentable and tidy. When it comes to clothing, I prefer to be in a practical look.

Q. What do you believe our clothes convey about us?

A. I believe that the clothes we wear can sometimes reveal a part of our personality or position. Clothing, for example, may influence the type of employment a person has. It could be a means of expression for some. Some people are stylish and fashionable, which reflects their creative personality.

Q. How different are your current clothes from the ones you wore ten years ago?

A. So, I can say that the outfits I wear now are very similar to those I wore around ten years ago. For casual days or formal attire for work events, I still wear regular pants and a shirt. However, I believe that as the fashion trend has evolved, so has the type of basic apparel I wear, particularly when it comes to the style of jeans and shirts. I used to prefer straight-cut jeans, but now I prefer modern styles like slim-fit clothing.

Conclusion

Using all of the above fashion vocabulary IELTS and arranging your sentences around it with good visualisation and mind mapping skills, any speaker might spend a couple of minutes without losing out of vocabulary or failing to present or speak the topic for the IELTS test.

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• Culture Vocabulary IELTS 2022
• Personality Vocabulary for IELTS 2022
• IELTS Vocabulary list for Advertising 2022

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