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Fashion Glossary - A

Alice band
A band worn accross the front of the top of the head holding hair from the face. Named after Alice (Alice in Wonderland) from Lewis Carroll’s classic book Through the Looking Glass.

A–line
Skirt or dress shape that kicks out from the bust or waist to make an ‘A’ shape silhouette, very popular in the sixties.

Aloha
The Aloha shirt, often confused with the Hawaiian shirt by non-natives, is a style of dress shirt originating in Hawai. Often short-sleeved, Aloha shirts are brilliantly colored with floral patterns or generic Polynesian motifs and are worn as casual, informal wear.

Alpaca
A natural wool yarn derived from the long silky fleece of Alpaca (large domesticated mammal of the llama family.) Traditionally a natural yarn but also manufactured from Rayon and cotton mixes.

Androgeny
A look of indeterminate gender, often featuring traits associated with the opposite gender to the wearer.

Angel sleeves
Long loose flowing sleeves, very popular in the sixties and seventies.

Annie Hall
Diane Keaton played the role of Annie Hall in the film of the same name in 1977. Ralph Lauren designed and styled this look which was made popular thereafter. The style mixes masculine slightly oversized and baggy clothes key pieces being baggy trousers, mans shirt, mans tie, mans waistcoat and floppy hat.

Appliqué
Pronounce ap-li-kay. Decorative application of one fabric to another, often with floral and leaf patterns, but can be of any design and are stitched around the edge.

Apron
An apron is an outer protective garment that covers primarily the front of the body. It may be worn for hygienic reasons as well as in order to protect clothes from wear and tear. There are many different apron styles depending on the purpose of the apron.

Apron dress
An apron dress is a sleeveless dress with a design that in some way is reminiscient of an apron. For instance, it may be held in place with waist bands, or have a bib front like an apron.

Argyle
Knitted design of solid diamond blocks contrasted in a pattern, often used for socks and jumpers. The pattern Traditionally originates from the town of Argyle in Scotland.

Asymmetric
Meaning uneven or one sided, non-symmetrical. Hemlines are often diagonal. Tops having one shoulder strap or sleeve.

Aviator sunglasses
Fashionable style of sunglasses, often worn by pilots oversized.

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Fashion Glossary - B

Baby Doll
Short dress or night dress popularised by Carroll Baker in the 1956 film "Baby Doll". Often in light weight sheer fabrics like chiffon. Sometimes trimmed with feathers, beads and ribbon and reminiscent of children’s nightwear.

Baroque
Descriptive term for expensive, extravagant and elaborate ornamentation, verging on the excessive and of the style popular in the 17th to mid 18th century in Art, Music and Architecture.

Baseball cap
A baseball cap is a type of soft cap with a long, stiffened and curved peak and it is worn by men, women and children. The back of the cap often has a plastic, Velcro, or elastic adjustor so that it can be quickly adjusted to fit any wearer, although fitted caps also exist. Traditionally the peak is worn over the eyes, and it is functional for blocking view from the sun at a low elevation.

Batwing
Long, broad sleeve shape made from a large triangular piece of fabric from the shoulder to the wrist then joining wrist to waist, very popular in the 1980s.

Bell bottoms
Bell bottoms are trousers that become more wide from the knees downwards. It is known and believed that bell-bottoms were introduced sailors working on deck.The bell-shaped leg made the pants easier to remove in a hurry when forced to abandon ship or when washed overboard. The flare at the end of the pant leg allowed them to be rolled up easily than normal straight-legged pants. Wide hems became fashionable in the 1960s, both for men and women.

Belt
A belt is a flexible band, made of either leather or a type of cloth, worn around the waist, normally serving the purpose of supporting the clothing material, particularly trousers. A belt has been repeatedly used in the fashion world for decorative reasons.

Beret
Round soft hat often made from felt, but can be knitted. Popular during the first and second world wars and is still a item of military uniform today. It’s most noted revival was in the late 1960s and 1970s.

Bertha
Deep collar usually of lace worn at and around the shoulders. Typical of mid 19th century

Bias cut
cutting fabric diagonally across the grain, causing the material to drape fluidly and elegantly across the body. Expensive due to it's inefficient use of fabric. Often used for silk or satin dresses for maximum slink factor. Popular in the 20's and 30's and now a dress signature of amongst others John Galliano.

Bikini
A bikini is a type of women's bathing suit made in two pieces. Two-piece garments worn by women for athletic purposes have been observed on Greek urns and paintings, dated as early as 1400 BC.

Blazer
Light weight, loose fitting sports jacket, often striped or worn as part of a uniform. Usually worn below the hip.

Blouse
A blouse most commonly refers to a woman's shirt, although the term used to be once used for men's military uniform shirts. Blouses are often made of cotton or silk cloth and may or may not include a collar and sleeves. They are generally elegantly tailored than simple knit tops with details such as ruffles or embroidered decorations.

Body
(i) Referring to any all-in-one bodice and knickers
(ii) All-in-one leggings and top close fitting as to be apparently second skin

Boiler suit
All-in-one or overall with long sleeves. Industrial origin as protective apparel incorporated in fashion in the latter half of the twentieth century.

Bomber jacket
Waist length cropped jacket with a rounded or puffed out body. Large but fitted arms are elasticated at the wrist, sporty looking often with zip fastening from waist to neck.

Bonnet
A bonnet is a kind of headgear which is usually brimless and is commonly used for children and babies.
Boxer Shorts
Boxers shorts are a type of underwear, worn usually by men. They are all-around-elastic shorts named after the shorts worn by professional fighters.

Burkha
Two different items of traditional Islamic women's clothing are known as a burka, burqa or burqua.
One is a kind of veil which is tied on the head, over a headscarf, and covers the face except for a cut at the eyes for the woman to see through.Nowadays, different designs and patterns are used in burkhas.

Boucle
Pronounced ‘boo clay’. Woven or knitted fabric with looped or knotted texture.

Box pleat
Pleat made of two flat folds turned inwards towards each other, creating a box like shape on the front of the garment.

Breton hat
A brimmed hat that rolls up all the way around, a popular shape since the end of the 19th century.

Bristling
Technique of brushing fabric, often leather, with stiff brushes for a worn look.

Brocade
Rich, jaquered weave fabric with a woven design of raised figures and floral motifs, pattern emphasized by contrast in weave or colours.

Broderie Anglaise
Popular stitching technique whereby small holes are cut out of a white fabric and the edges over stitched also in white, creating delicate patterns used most often in underwear and trimmings for dresses. Known in Europe since the 16th century.

Brogue
A flat heeled, leather, laced-up shoe, patterned with a perforated design. Popular male shoe shape; popular in back and brown.

Bustle
Pad or frame worn at base of the back, used to drape the skirt over to distend skirts. Also known as dress improvers and often associated with the higher classes of the 17th and 18th centuries.

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Fashion Glossary - C

Cableknit
Knit in a raised loop stripe resembling a twisted cable, used in knitted sweaters.

Caftan (Kaftan)
An ankle length open bodiced gown with long, wide sleeves. Usually made from a very lightweight fabric such as muslin or cotton. North African in origin.

Capri pants
Loose pants, slightly tapered to the mid calf were very fashionable in the 1950s. The name comes from the island of Capri, a popular holiday resort at the time.

Caps
A cap is a form of headgear. Caps are generally soft, and often have no brim, or just a peak (like on a baseball cap).

Cardigans
A cardigan is a type of sweater that has buttons on the front. It was named after James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, a British military commander, during his service in the Crimean War.

Cassocks
The cassock is also called the soutane. It is a long, sheath-like, close fitting, ankle length robe worn by church authorities of various denominations, including Anglicans and Roman Catholics. The cassock is derived from the tunic that was formerly worn beneath the toga in classical times.
Cassock comes in a number of colours, which have traditional meanings.

Catsuit
All-in-one garment, usually zipped or buttoned from navel to neck. Popular in the 1960s owing it’s name to the tight, slinky feline silhouette the wearer would adopt.

Chador/Chaddar
It is similar to a khimar, which is a round head-scarf that leaves the face exposed but only falls to the waist. A chador which covers the face is more commonly called a (full or Afghan) burka.

Chain mail
Flexible and luxury fabric of many interwoven metal rings, used in suits of armor. A similar version called Oroton was popularized by Versace in the 1980s.

Chantilly Lace
Named after the northern French town of Chantilly famous for it's production. A finely decorative floral lace sewn onto a sheer hexagonal mesh ground.

Chaps
Chaps are sturdy leather coverings for the legs. They hang from one's belt, but unlike trousers they are not joined at the crotch. The most sturdy kind are made from single pieces of leather that wrap around to protect the fronts and sides of each leg.

Chemise
The chemise, called a "smock" or "shift" in the 16th century, used to be a garment worn next to the skin to protect clothing from sweat and body oils. Chemise is a French term. Italians call it a "Camicia". The English called the same shirt a "Smock" and the Irish called it a Léine.

Clogs
A clog is a type of shoe or sandal with a rigid, often wooden, sole. Clogs were widely worn by workers as protective clothing in factories, mines and farms.

Coif
Head coverings worn during the 16th century, the coif is quite simply, a close-fitting cap made of a light fabric, usually white or naturally-colored linen (or silk, for the nobility). It was worn to provide warmth, protection from the elements, and to keep hair from falling on the face. During the Elizabethan age, it was symbolized with respect for women and, for more skilled and affluent people, it served the purpose of decoration.

Corsets
A corset is a garment worn to mold the torso into a desired shape for aesthetic or orthopaedic purposes. Both men and women have worn corsets since ages and still wear it for different reasons.

Chenille
Silk, rayon, cotton or wool combined and tufted creating a velvet like pile. Soft and luxurious to touch.

Cigarette pants
Very narrow fitting trousers that taper towards the ankle. (see also Drainpipes)

Cloche hat
Women’s hat worn from the mid 1930s. Fitted to cover the head from the back of the neck and pulled down over the forehead just above the eyes. Often made from felt.

Cocktail dress
A short knee length dress shape of the 1920s, lightweight wool, satin, silk and velvet fabrics are usual and often cut to reveal the shoulders and arms.

Corduroy
A narrow ribbed fabric of rayon velvet cut pile. Popular in the 19th century for hunting attire, breeches and coats.

Corsage
A floral brooch, often oversized, attached to the bust or waist of a dress.

Corset - Undergarment
close fitting to impose silhouette with defined waist and or full bosom. Traditionally in two pieces, boned and laced up back and front. Originally called ‘Stays’ this term is now largely obsolete.

Court shoe
A medium heeled, often pointed shoe, popular in black.

Cowl
A soft draping of fabric, cut so that the fabric can hang in soft folds. Often found on necklines, backs and even trousers.

Crepe
Thin, gauzy, silk fabric usually crinkled in some way.

Crinoline
Fabric of stiffened silk or cotton, used as a foundation to support the edge of a hem, the top of a sleeve etc; formerly used for the lower two thirds of underskirts to extend them.

Crochet
Decorative knitted looping technique with a special needle. Often made in to shawls and blankets, made popular by the 1960s hippie movement.

Culottes
Informal trouser-like garment with wide cropped legs giving the illusion of a full skirt.

Cummerbund
Wide cloth band worn as a waist sash. Part of traditional male dress in India, Iran and South America, later adopted by men as an alternative to a waistcoat and by women as a belt.

Cutouts / Cutaways
Term referred to the actual extraction of fabric from a garment in a controlled fashion, these may be irregular or regular shapes within the design.

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Fashion Glossary - D

Damask
A fairly thick and glossy fabric of many textile fiber combinations. The pattern can appear to be both dull and matt depending on which way the yarn has been woven. Traditionally used in gowns and upholstery.

Day dress
Dress suitable for shopping or business wear.

Decollete
Bodice shape with a very low neckline traditionally worn on ball gowns and evening wear.

Diving suits/Wet suits
A diving suit is an important clothing or device designed to protect divers from the underwater environment. Modern diving suits can be divided into two kinds depending on ambient pressure used for soft diving suits and atmospheric pressure for hard diving suits.

Doublet
A doublet is a man's snug-fitting buttoned jacket that was worn in medieval west and Tudor times.

Dogtooth
Broken check resembling dog teeth, see also Hounds Tooth.

Drainpipe
Very narrow fitting trousers often tighter around the ankle (see also Cigarette pants).

Draping
Technique of hanging fabric in folds or cover with fabric in loose folds. In draped garments, hemlines are often uneven.

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Fashion Glossary - E

Empire line
Typical of 17th century ladies, low cut dress with a high waist line and short bodice.

Epaulettes
Shoulder ornament or trimming designed to give effect of width to shoulder line. Originated as device to hold shoulder belt and protect shoulder during wartime. A typical addition to the military look on the runways now.

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Fashion Glossary - F

Fatigues
Military combat apparel.

Fedora
Popular hat shape of the 1950s, made from a soft felt and noticeable by it’s center crease on the head. A pinched front and a snapped brim.

Fishnet
Open weave knit, more often associated with hosiery and became a defining feature of Punk dress in the late 1970s.

Fishtail
A fan shaped addition to the train of a dress, popular in evening gowns a fish like train follows behind the wearer.

Flannel
Much like toweling, a short pile fabric, popular in 1970s sportswear particularly shorts.

Fluted
A long sleeve flared at the wrist.

Frogging
Braided fastenings usually looped over a button or braided toggles in the same fabric. Often used in military uniform and traditionally Asian garments.

Funnel
A large over size neck shape, stands away from the neck. Similar to the turtle neck but larger. Unlike the polo neck in that it doesn’t roll or fold over.

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Fashion Glossary - G

Gilet
A sleeveless over-garment similar to the waistcoat though often baring a zip front, a sporty addition to the wardrobe, popular also in leather and fur.

Gloves
A glove is a type of garment that covers the hand. Gloves have separate sheaths or slits for each finger and the thumb. fingerless gloves Iare the ones that have an opening but no covering sheath for each finger. Hand garments without separate finger openings or sheaths are called mittens and are used for cooking purposes.

Grosgrain ribbon
Heavily ribbed ribbon usually made from silk, used in milinary.

Guayabera shirt
The guayabera is a men's shirt, probably originating in Cuba, that has been popular in Latin America since the late 19th century. It has four pockets (two above and two below) and two vertical lines of embroidery that pass under the pockets. As a straight-bottomed shirt, it is worn outside the trousers.

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Fashion Glossary - H

Hakama
Hakama is a type of traditional Japanese clothing. Hakama covers the lower body and resembles a wide, pleated skirt. Hakama were originally worn only by men, but today they are worn in a different fashion by both men and women. Hakama are tied at the waist and fall approximately to the ankles.

Halter neck
Dress or top shape with a high panel on the front, which is then tied around the neck, exposing the back and shoulders.

Harem pants
Loose fitting trousers tied or gathered at the ankle, very popular in Turkish dress and ‘belly dancing’.

Harris tweed - (see also Tweed)
A soft thick tweed woven from hand dyed woolen yarns. Popular fabric for coats and suits for both men and women.

Haute couture
Haute couture is a common term for high fashion as produced in Paris and imitated in other fashion capitals such as New York, London, and Milan. Sometimes it is used only to refer to French fashion; at other times it refers to any unique stylish design made to order for wealthy and high-status clients.

Head gear
Headgear, headwear or headdress is a name alloted to any element of clothing which is worn on around a person's head. Common forms of headgear would essentially include hats, caps, bonnets, hoods, headscarves and helmets.

High-visibility clothing
High-visibility clothing is any clothing worn that has highly reflective properties or a color that is easily discernable from any background. Orange hunting vests are a popular example of high-visibility clothing.

Hipster
Style for skirts and trousers where the waist band fits low on the hip rather than the waist. Made popular in the 1960s where they were often worn with a large belt.

Hosiery
Hosiery describes undergarments worn directly on the feet and legs.The types of hosiery
include socks, stockings and pantyhose.

Hounds-tooth
A slightly larger and more noticeable version of the ‘Dogs tooth’ print.

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Fashion Glossary - J

Jeans
Jeans are trousers made from denim. Originally work clothes, they became popular among teens starting in the 1950s and are today the most popular casual wear amongst both sexes.

Jersey
A jersey is a piece of wollen or cotton clothing with sleeves worn as a pullover; this is to say, it does not open in the front like a cardigan. It is normally close-fitting and machine-knitted in contrast to a guernsey which is hand knit in a thicker cloth.

Jockstraps
Jockstraps are also known as athletic supporters and they are used in men's undergarments for sports and other activities. The typical jockstrap consists of an elastic waistband with a support pouch for the genitals and two straps extending from the bottom of the pouch across the buttocks, to the waistband.

Jumper
A jumper dress or simply jumper is a sleeveless, collarless dress intended to be worn over a blouse or sweater. There is sometimes confusion over the name, as in British English, a jumper is a woollen sweater.

Jelly shoes
Brightly coloured clear plastic sandals, popular attire for the beach.

Jersey
Stretchy fine knitted fabric, used in t-shirts and sportswear and figure hugging garments; especially good for draping.

Jodhpur
Trousers worn for horse riding, very full from hip to knee and tight over the calf. Finished with a piece of elastic under the foot.

Jumpsuit
see Boiler suit.

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Fashion Glossary - K

Kaftan
see Caftan.

Knife–pleat
Very narrow pleats pressed to form regular sharp pleats to skirts and dresses. Particularly popular from the 1920s to the 1950s.

Knickerbockers
Or bloomers are full loose trousers, cropped and secured at the knee with a buckle or band of fabric, popular sports attire for women in the 1860s.

Kilt
The kilt is seen as an item of traditional Scottish Highland dress, although the origin of that tradition is more recent than is commonly believed. It was only with the Romantic Revival of the 19th century that the kilt became irreversibly associated with Highlanders, largely because of non-Highlanders reinterpreting their traditions. Today most Scotsmen see kilts as formal dress.

Kimono
Kimono is a traditional garment from Japan. Kimono was basically a word that referred to all types of clothing, but the word eventually came to define to the full-length robe-like garment still worn by women, men and children.

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Fashion Glossary - L

Lame
Shiny fabric made with either gold or silver metallic threads. Luxurious and glamorous.

Lattice
A diamond style pattern cut into or sewn on to he fabric of a dress or top.

Leg warmers
Knitted footless socks, worn by ballet dancers to conceal warmth during and after exersize. Come in a wide range of colours.

Lycra
Man made stretch fabric made from elasticated yarns. Since introduction in 1958, lycra has proved an essential component in underwear and other figure hugging garments made popular in the 1980s, especially in sportswear.

Lingerie
Lingerie is a term, derived from the French language, used for women's undergarments.

Long underwears/Long Johns
Long underwear usually refer to a style of two-piece underwear with long arms and long legs that is worn during the cold weather.
Most long underwear are made using a box-weave, and sometimes flannel is also used, while the others are made of two layers.

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Fashion Glossary - M

Macintosh
Or ‘Mac’ is a shower proof coat similar to the trench, often buttoned up from the knee to the breast with large lapels.

Macrame
Knotting technique popular in home furnishings. Became associated with clothing in the 1960s and has had subsequent rebirths since the 1990s mainly in the form of handbags.

Maribou
A fur like trim made from feather remnants, a smaller version of the boa, popular in dress trimming for eveningwear.

Mary Jane
Flat or low heeled ladies shoe with a buttoned ankle strap fastening. Became popular in the 1920s.

Maxi skirt
The name given to a long, full length skirt.

Merino wool
Very fine woolen cloth made from the merino sheep. Popular for outdoor garments such as jackets and sweaters.

Muscle back (see also Racing back)
A feature usually in vest tops where the back is cut away to reveal the wearers shoulder blades. Very popular in sportswear for both men and women.

Moccasin
Moccasin is a native American word, and means a shoe made of deerskin or soft leather. It is made in one piece; the sole is soft and flexible and the upper part is often adorned with embroidery, beading or other ornament.

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Fashion Glossary - N

National Costume/National Dress
National costumeor regional costume expresses an identital costume that usually symbolises the clothing traditions in a specific geographic area. It can also indicate social, marital and/or religious status. Such costumes can be used in two ways, one for daily occasions, the other for traditional festivals and formal wear.

Neckwears/Ties
A necktie , also simply called a tie, is a piece of material worn around the neck. The modern necktie's original name was the four-in-hand tie. It is usually a dress requirement for businessmen and probably the most common father's gift in the world.

Neoprene
A man made fabric, used for wetsuits and other water sports attire. Has a stiff, body hugging quality that seals body heat in.

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Fashion Glossary - O

Obi
Wide Japanese sash belt worn with Kimono.

Opaque
Non transparent or sheer.

Oversized
Enlarged garments, scales are played with to alter the natural silhouette of the wearer.

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Fashion Glossary - P

Pants
Pants are clothing for the lower body, while its original term comes from pantaloons. In Canadian, Australian and American English, the term pants refers to a long outer garment worn over the hips and legs, which in British English are called trousers

Pantyhose
Pantyhose are tight fitting coverings of the body from the waist to the feet, usually worn by women. Just like stockings, pantyhose are normally made of nylon.

Parkas
An anorak or parka is a type of heavy jacket with a hood, generally lined with fur or fun fur, so as to protect the face from a combination of sub-zero temperatures and wind. Although of Inuit origin, the word "anorak" is mainly used in Britain, while "parka" is the almost universal name in the United States and Canada.

Penny Loafers
Penny loafers are low, leather step-in shoes whose tops resemble a moccasin, but have broad flat heels. They have no shoelaces or buckles. Penny loafers are made of leather and are often worn in formal situations.

Petticoat
A petticoat is an article of clothing for women; specifically an undergarment to be worn under a skirt or dress. The petticoat is a separate garment hanging from the waist . The practice of wearing petticoats was well established by 1585. Its uses differ from place to place. In India, petticoats are worn underneath a long drapable saree.

Pinafore/Apron
A pinafore apron or simply pinafore is a type of apron worn by women. It originates from "pin afore", reflecting that the bib part of an apron was earlier often secured to the chest using pins.

Pantaloons
see Knickerbockers.

Papoose
Popular carrying device for a small child or baby, The papoose originated in North American and is a native Indian term for Small infant.

Parker
Padded hooded anorak style coat, made popular by the 1960s Mods. Often fur trims the hood and popular in shades of green, navy and brown.

Patchwork
Technique of sewing pieces of fabric together to form a larger piece. Often found in hexagonal designs and incorporating thrifted fabrics.

Patent
A high gloss and waterproof finishing to leather and nylon.

Peep toe
Popular shoe style where the front section is cut away to reveal the wearers toes.

Pencil skirt
Popular skirt shape cut from a straight block from hip to hem. Often knee length and worn with suit jackets.

Peplum
see Basque.

Peter Pan collar
A small collar shape with two equal rounded lapels indented in the middle.

Pinifore
An apron style dress, usually halter neck with a tie waist. Often also with a scoop or square neck worn over a blouse.

Plus fours
Cropped knickerbockers style trousers made of tweed and fall four inches below the knee band, where they get their name.

Polo neck
A tall collar often knitted as part of a jumper that folds down to keep the wearers neck warm.

Polo shirt
A short sleeved pullover with small flat collar that would stay in place during an entire game of Polo. Later adapted to t-shirts and sportswear.

Poncho
Traditionally a circular piece of fabric with a hole cut away for the head. Acts as a cape/jacket and is more often knitted with tassels.

Primary Colours
The three main saturated colours of the ‘Colour Wheel’ Red, Yellow, Blue, from which all other colours are created by their combination.examples

Princess line
Fitted dress where the skirt and bodice are seamed long wise in panels.

Puffball
A popular style of skirt in the 1980s. The Puffball is a double layered skirt that stands out from the body and has a padded look to it.

Pussy bow
A large bow detail that more often ties around the neck, can also be added as a detail to the waist and wrist.

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Fashion Glossary - Q

Quilted
Padding technique enclosing a layer of wadding between two pieces of fabric, held in place by sewing a diamond pattern over fabrics.

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Fashion Glossary - R

Robe
A robe is a loose-fitting outer garment. A robe is distinguished from a cape or cloak by the fact that it usually has sleeves.

Rugby
A Rugby shirt is a shirt worn in the popular Rugby game. It usually has long sleeves.

Racer back (see also Muscle back)
A feature usually in vest tops where the back is cut away to reveal the wearers shoulder blades. Very popular in sportswear for both men and women.

Ribbing
Knitting technique where small rows are finley knitted together to form a texture. Popular in Polo neck jumpers and Skinny-ribbed jumpers.

Ruche/Ruched (pronounce roosh)
Fabric gathered and sewn into a seam shorter than the length of the fabric. Often used for trim but also used to create draping and texture within the body of the garment.

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Fashion Glossary - S

Sarong
A sarong is large sheet of fabric, often wrapped around the waist and worn as a skirt by men and women in southeast Asia and Pacific islands, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia. The fabric is often colorful or printed with intricate patterns, often depicting animals or plants. There are also checkered or geometric patterns, and the kinds resembling tie dye.

Saree
It is a long six-yard garment that Indian women drape around as an garment. It is one of the most popular wear amongst women all over in India and it is produced in different rich fabrics like silk, chiffon, cotton etc.

Shirts
A shirt is a sort of top, i.e. a piece of clothing used to cover the trunk of the body. In the UK, it refers almost specially to what Americans call a dress shirt, i.e. a garment with a collar and a full vertical opening with buttons. Today, plain, printed, checkered and skillfully patterned shirts are readily available in market.

Skirts
A skirt is traditionally a feminine tube or cone-shaped garment that is worn from the waist and which covers the legs. Unlike pants, a skirt is not divided. At its simplest, a skirt can be a draped garment made out of a single piece of material, but most skirts are tailored, with gores, pleats, or panels, of light to mid-weight fabrics, such as denim, jersey, worsted, or poplin.

Socks
A sock is a baglike covering for the foot and/or lower leg, which is designed to ease chafing between the foot to keep the feet warm and absorb sweat from the feet. Sock lengths vary, from covering only the foot, to knee level

Stays
A old type of corsets. It is over the dress or skirt hang in the lower edge, opposite a corset which cover the hip.

Stockings
A stocking is a close-fitting, elastic garment covering the foot and lower part of the leg, but usually not intended to conceal the leg. It was formerly made of woven cloth but now of knitted wool, silk, cotton or nylon.

Suspenders
Suspenders are small straps or bands that hold up socks or stockings. They are straps that run over the shoulders and support or hold up trousers or a skirt.

Sweater
A sweater, pullover, jumper or jersey is a relatively heavy garment intended to cover the torso and arms of the human body and ideally supposed to go over a shirt, blouse, T-shirt or other top.

Sateen
A thicker version of satin, with a thicker weave, very luxurious for eveningwear and linings of jackets.

Satin
Fabric of particular weave and gloss finish. The finish is achieved by heat treatment, resulting in fabric with a high sheen face and matt reverse side. Often but not exclusively made from silk, modern alternatives include rayon.

Seersucker
A lightweight cotton, rayon or silk fabric with a crinkled striped surface. Popular for summer during the second half of the 20th century.

Shift
A simple unstructured dress shape, slightly fitted at the bust with darts and clean lines down to the knee.

Slogans
Wordage covering the front of a t-shirt or dress.

Smocking
A tightly gathered section of material, usually elasticated for comfort and decoratively stitched. Mainly used in the bust area of a dress though also a popular detail to the waist and cuffs.

Spaghetti straps
Very fine, ribbon like dress straps, popular on summer dresses.

Spandex
Totally man made fabric, shiny to look at popular sportswear fabric often used in swimwear, leotards and hosiery. Very popular in the 1980s.

Sunburst pleats
Fine Knife pleats that burst out from the waistband of a skirt, similar to that of a sun ray.

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Fashion Glossary - T

Tank tops
A tank top is a sleeveless shirt that can be worn by either sex. The name derives from its resemblance to a tank suit, a style of one-piece women's swim suit with shoulder straps

Tennis shirt
A tennis shirt, popularly called the polo shirt, is a T-shaped shirt with a collar and two buttons; typically including a pocket. Common fabrics for these shirts include pique cotton, jersey cotton, or pima cotton.

Ties/Neckware
A necktie is a piece of material worn around the neck. The modern neckties original name was the four-in-hand tie. It is usually a dress requirement for businessmen and is normally accompanied with a formal wear. The modern necktie along with the Ascot and the bowtie are all descended from the cravat.

Toga
The toga was the distinctive garb of Ancient Rome. It consisted of a long sash of cloth, folded in a particular way, that was worn over a tunic. The sash went over the left shoulder and under the right arm

Toque
The term comes from the Spanish word toca. A toque is a type of hat with a narrow brim or no brim at all. They were popular during the 13th-16th century in Europe, especially in France. One toque that is still common is the toque-blanche, which is the standard chef's hat.

Trousers
Trousers are an item of clothing worn on the lower part of the body and cover both legs separately . Trousers are worn at the hips or waist, and may be held up by their own fastenings, a belt, or suspenders. Leggings are form-fitting trousers of a clingy material, usually a knit. Trousers, together with a shirt, are the standard clothing for men in many parts of the world.

T-shirt
A T-shirt is a shirt with short sleeves, a round neck, put on over the head, without pockets. It was originally used as undershirt. This is still done, but it is also often worn as the only clothing on the upper part of the body

Tunic
The tunic used to be a common masculine garment of Roman Civilization. It was worn by citizens and non-citizens alike; citizens, though, would wear it under the toga, especially at formal occasions.

Trench coat
Coat of military origin, rainproof, buttoned and tied with belt usually of same fabric. The coat has many details with pockets, flaps and sometimes epaulettes.

Trompe l’oeil
An optical illusion created by a knitted design, popular designs are collars and buttons sewn in to the actual garment.

Tulle
A very fine mesh like net fabric, used in eveningwear and bridal gowns.

Tunic
A long or short, usually sleeveless, straight, tubular garment.

Tweed (see also Harris tweed)
A soft thick fabric, woven from contrasting woolen yarns. Popular fabric for coats and suits for both men and women. Owes it’s name to the traditional woolen mills alongside the river tweed in Scotland.

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Fashion Glossary - U

Underwear/Undergarments
Undergarments, also called underwear or sometimes intimate clothing, are clothes worn next to the skin, usually under other clothes.

Uniforms
A uniform is a set of standard clothing or dress code worn by members of an organization.

Union Suits
A union suit is a type of one-piece long underwear long favored by men in North America until recent times. Historically made of red flannel with long arms and long legs, it could be buttoned traditionally in the front and had a button-up rear access hatch for defecation.

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Fashion Glossary - V

Velour
Similar to velvet, Soft material of short pile. Used for tracksuits and other sports wear items, made popular in the 1970s.

Velvet
Closely woven short pile fabric, soft and rich to touch.

Vest
A vest is a type of men's garment. A variant is the string vest which is constucted from a loosely woven string mesh. A vest may also be worn as an outer garment in sports wear, especially in athletics. Advanced sports vests are made from hitech man-made materials designed to wick persperation away from the body and aid cooling.

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Fashion Glossary - Y

Yukata
Yukata is a type of clothing worn by the Japanese, especially women, at firework festivals and other summer events. It is a kind of casual kimono, also commonly worn after the bath at Japanese-style hotels. The word literally means bath robe or bath clothing.

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