THE

MODE
DICTIONARY
More than 370 words, acronyms and fashion-related numbers

ELLA ELEDU
 Editor Oghale Eledu
Cover art Emmanuella Eledu

The Mode Dictionary

Copyright 2020 © Emmanuella Eledu

All rights reserved

Illustrations Copyright © Twinkl Educational Publish-

ing
Images from different sources

eBook published 2020 © Emmanuella Eledu

2
Numbers
Abbreviations
A N
B O
C P
D Q
E R
F S
G T
H U
I V
J W
K X
L Y
M Z
3
Every day is a fashion
show and the world is
your runway.”
-Coco Chanel

4
Key to Dictionary Entries

word Word class

Transcription

Iridescent (A)
/IrI’desnt/
In many bright colours which ap-
pear to change in different lights.

Clear definition

(N) noun
(A) adjective
(V) verb
5
2PC
Two Piece Suit
70’s Style #
3PC
Three Piece Suit

70’s Style
Characterized by wide-legged
trousers, large prints and
slouchy silhouettes.

6
AAFA
Acronym for American Apparel ...
ET
and Footwear Association
ABO DBS
Acronym for All Black Outfit Acronym for Double Breasted
AL Suit

Acronym for Affordable Luxury DCO

A/W Acronym for Dry Clean Only

Acronym for Autumn/Winter DES

Collection Acronym for Designer or De-
AWO sign

Acronym for All White Outfit DFO

BD Acronym for Direct Factory
Outlet
Acronym for Button Down
BLZR D&G
Acronym for Blazer Acronym for Dolce and
Gabbana, a designer brand
BNIB
ES
Acronym for Brand New in Box
Acronym for Extra Small
DWR
Acronym for Durable Water
ET
Resistant Acronym for Extra Tall
7
FIT
Acronym for Fashion Institute ...
MMM
of Technology
FRC L
Acronym for Large
Acronym for Flame Resistant
Clothing LBD
FRS Acronym for Little Black Dress
Acronym for Fire Retardant
LC
F/W Acronym for Low Cut
Acronym for Fall/Winter Col-
LE
lection
Acronym for Limited Edition
GA
Acronym for Giorgio Armani LS
GL Acronym for Long Sleeve

Acronym for Genuine Leather LV

HVY Acronym for Louis Vuitton, a
designer fashion brand
Acronym for Heavy
IWS M
Acronym for International Acronym for Medium
Wool Standard
ML
JR
Acronym for Medium Large
Acronym for Junior 8
MMM
Acronym for Man Made Mate- ...
YTH
rial

MW PPS
Acronym for Machine Acronym for Pre Production
Washable Sample

NBC SRP
Acronym for Name Brand Acronym for Suggested Retail
Clothing Price

NI S/S
Acronym for Non Iron Acronym for Spring/Summer
Collection
NYFW
Acronym for New York Fash- YSL
ion Week Acronym for Yves Saint Lau-
rent, a designer fashion brand.
OOTD
Acronym for Outfit Of The YTH
Day
Acronym for Youth, used for
PEL size and fit
Acronym for Past Elbow
Length

PFT
Acronym for Precision Fit
9
Accent (N)
Emphasis given to a piece of
clothing or accessory
Accessory (N)
Pieces like jewelry and hats
which compliment an outfit
Accouterment (N)
The latest popular style of
clothing
Advanced colours (N)
Warm colours like red, or-
ange and yellow
Adjustment (N)
A small change made to a
garment to alter the fit or
measurement
A la mode (A)
/a: la: ‘mǝƱd/
In the latest fashion
A-Line (A)
Used to describe a skirt or
dress which is wider at the
bottom than at the top
Apparel A
Apparel
Alteration (N)
The process of changing or
adding elements to clothing
to modify it
Androgynous style (N)
Unisex style. Dressing in a way
which makes is difficult to de-
termine a person’s gender
Anti pill (N)
Fabric treatment which in-
creases wear resistance
Antique style (N)
Fashion style of the past
10
Apparel (N) Avant garde A
Clothes sold in shops
Attire (N)
A
Applique (N)
Clothing
The craft of sewing or sticking
small fabric pieces to a larger Au naturel (A) /əʊ natjʊˈrɛl /
fabric to make a design Something in its natural state
Armscye (N) ˈ
Avant-garde (A) /avɒˈ̃ ɡɑːd/
The armhole or edge to which Innovative, highly fashionable
the sleeve of a garment is sewn styles and ideas which have
Art deco (N) never been seen

A well-known decorative art

style characterized by shapes
and bright colours
Art nouveau (N)
/ˌɑː(t) nuːˈvəʊ/
A style which incorporates line-
ar and curvilinear designs
Atelier (N)
A large dressmaking fashion
house
Athletic clothing
Clothes worn for sporting
activities
11
Balanced (A)
Bling B
Consisting of two opposite
sides of the same dimension
B
Baroque (N)
Exaggerated style
Blouson sleeve
Batik (N)
The craft of creating designs
on fabric with drops of melt-
ed wax
Beaumonde (N)
Binding (N)
/ˌbəʊ ˈmɒnd/
The cloth fastened to the
The fashionable world
edge of a garment used to
Belt (A) decorate it
A long narrow piece of leath- Blouse (N)
er or other material worn
A shirt-like garment worn
around the waist
by women
Bespoke (A)
Blouson (sleeve) (N)
Tailored to meet a customer’s
specific needs and measure- A long sleeve gathered at the
ments wrist

Bias (N) Bodice (N)

The edge of a piece of fabric The top piece of a woman’s gar-
cut diagonally across the ment which is above the waist
threads 12
Body clothes (N)
Button B
Underwear
Body-con (N) Breast pocket (A)
Tight-fitting clothing A pocket on the part of the gar-
ment that covers the chest
Bolero (N)
A short ladies' jacket un-
Breathable (A)
fastened at the front A fabric or material that allows
the passage of air
Border print (N)
Brocade (N)
Print seen along the edge of a
Thick material with gold or sil-
fabric
ver threaded pattern
Boutique (N)
Bulky (A)
An expensive store selling
Big and loose-fitting
fashion items to a set of cus-
tomers Bust (N)
Box jacket (N) 1 A ladies’ breasts
An outer jacket with a 2 The measurement around the
straight, unfitted back hang- back and breasts
ing loosely from the shoulders
Button (N)
Bling (N)
A circular metal or plastic
Flashy accessories piece sewn on a garment used
Breast (N) to fasten two sides together

The part of a garment that Button hole

covers the chest 13
Camouflage style (N) Chiffon C
Style incorporating khaki and
camouflage prints Channel suit (N)
Cap sleeves (N) A coveted women’s fashion
Short sleeves designed to fit on suit designed by Coco Chanel
the shoulder Charmuese (N) /tʃɑːmˈɜːz/
Care label (N) Soft, light-weight fabric woven
A fabric label with instructions with a satin weave, known for
on things like washing, ironing its lustrous sheen
and drying Chenille (N) /ʃəˈniːl/
Cashmere (N) /kaʃˈmɪə / 1 A thick, soft sewing thread
An expensive soft woolen fabric 2 Clothes made with this
made from long goat hairs thread
used in garment construction Cheongsam (N) /tʃɪɒŋˈsam/
Casual wear (N) A tight-fitted Asian robe with
Informal everyday clothing short sleeves, an raised neck
and an opening at the bottom
Catalog (N)
of each side
A list of fashion items clients
can go through or buy Chiffon (N) /ˈʃɪfɒn /

Catwalk (N) Transparent fabric made from

nylon or silk, used mostly in
A raised area along which
garment construction
models walk to display designs
in fashion show
14
Chic (A) /ʃiːk/

Stylish and high fashion

Corset C
Cine mode (N) Colourway (N)
An industry term for a product
Style inspired by movies
in a particular colour
Classic (A)
Composite style (N)
Timeless
Combination of two diverse
Collar (N) fashion styles
The part of a garment around Conservative style (N)
the neck which folds down
Usual fashion style
Collection (N)
Contemporary style (N)
A set of cohesive designs pro-
duced for two seasons: spring/ Current fashion style
summer and fall/winter Continental style (N)
Colour blocking European clothing style
Style with two solid colours
Contrast (N)
combined on a garment to cre-
ate a visually striking effect Style incorporating the use of
two contrasting colours which
Colour coordination
stand out
Style with colour harmony
Corset (N)
Colour fast
A tight-fitting piece of women’s
A dyed fabric’s ability to resist underwear designed to make
colour running or fading in ex- the waist smaller
posure to sunlight
15
Cosmopolitan (N) Crinoline C
Style which is universal from
different parts of the world
C
Cosplay (N)
The hobby of dressing up in
costume
Costume (N)
Garment worn by characters
based on a story
Couture
Costume jewelry (N)
Inexpensive jewelry de- Couturier (N) /kuːˈtjʊərɪeɪ/

signed to go with an outfit French for fashion designer

from a collection
Cowl (N)
Cotton (N) Draped fabric around the
A fabric made from the neckline which falls below the
cotton plant used in gar- collarbone
ment construction
Crepe (N) /kreIp/
Country style (N) A crisp synthetic fabric made
A rustic, countryside fashion from silk or wool
style
Crinoline (N) /’krInǝlIn/
Couture (N) /kuːˈtjʊə/
A stiff structure used to hold
The design of fashionable, ex- out a woman’s skirt or dress
pensive clothes
16
Crochet (V) Cut C
To create fabric by interlac-
ing loops in a thread with a
hooked needle

Croquis (N) /krəʊˈkiː/

A drawing or sketch of a live

model

Cross Stitch (N)

An X-shaped stitch used in em-
broidery

Culotte (N)
A lady’s wide short pants
which resemble a skirt

Cut (N)
The shape of a garment and
how it sits on the body

Croquis

17
Damask (N)
Thick silk or linen cloth with
Double-breasted jacket
patterns on both sides
Darn (V)
To stitch across a hole in a
garment to repair it
Dart (N)
A pointed fold sewn in a
piece of cloth or garment to
make it fit better
D
Design (N)
The creative process of deciding
how clothes or garments would
look
Design elements (N)
Principles that make a great
design like contrast, balance
and emphasis

Dashiki (N) /ˈdɑːʃɪki/

Diffusion Line (N)
An affordable collection pro-
A loose West African shirt
duced by a haute couture de-
with brightly coloured
signer
patterns
Dated fashion (N) Dirndl skirt (N)
A traditional German or Aus-
Style which is no longer
trian dress or skirt worn by all
fashionable
types of women
Decolletage /ˌdeɪkɒlɪˈtɑːʒ /
Double denim style (N)
The lowered top of a wom- Wearing two or more clothes
an’s dress which shows her made from denim at the same
shoulders time
Denim (N)
Double-breasted jacket
Blue strong cotton fabric used
A jacket with overlapping flaps
for making jeans 18
Drape (N) Dye D
Material hung loosely on a gar-
ment
Dress form (N)
3D model of the torso used for
fitting clothing by a tailor or
fashion designer

Drop tail style (N)

Longer at the back than at
front

Dye (N)
A powder or liquid which
changes the colour of fabric

Dress Form

19
Earth colours (N)
Colours in the brown family
eyelet E
Ease (N) Epaulette (N) /ˈɛpəlɛt/
The space added to a gar- An ornamental shoulder piece
ment achieved by adding to on a garment
a person’s measurements
Eponymous brand (N)
Eclectic (A) /ɪˈklɛktɪk/
A fashion brand named after its
Choosing from or using a
designer or another person
wide variety of fashion styles
Ethnic style (N)
Embellish (V)
Traditional style
To decorate a garment or fab-
ric to make it look more beau- Evening Gown (N)
tiful A flowing dress worn to formal
Embroidery (N) events

1 Designs sewn onto a cloth Exotic style (N)

with colourful threads
Style inspired by the look of a
2 Clothes decorated this way foreign land
Empire waist (N) Eyelet (N)
The waist-line of a lady’s dress
A small circular hole in cloth
positioned below the bust with
for threading string or rope
a low-cut neck
Ensemble (N) /ɒnˈsɒmb(ə)l/

A series of clothes meant to be

worn together
20
Fabric (N) finery F
Weaved material used for mak-
ing clothes
Fanny pack (N)
A small functional fabric pouch
worn around the waist like a
belt
Fashion show (N) Fabric

An event where people see de- Feature (N)

signs from a collection worn
by models
Fashion week (N)
A one week event where new
designs and fashion items are brim
displayed by fashion designers,
brands and houses
Fastener (N)
A device sewn on a garment
which helps you close or put in
on, like a button
Fast fashion (N)
Inexpensive clothing produced
quickly to respond to the latest Bright and stylish clothes worn
fashion trends
A principle which makes a good
fashion piece
Fedora (N)
A low smooth hat with a curly
Fiber (N)
Material made from a mass of
natural and artificial threads
Filigree (N) /ˈfɪlɪɡriː/
Delicate decoration achieved
with gold and silver wires
Finery (N)
on special occasions
21
Finish (N)
A process used to used to im-
foulard F
prove the look, feel or perfor- Floral (A)
mance of a garment
With flowers or flower prints
Fit (N)
Flounce (N)
The size of a garment
A large decorative strip of cloth
Flair (N) sewn on the side of a garment
Imaginative ability
Form (N)
Flapper (N) The shape, appearance or
A young, fashionable lady in presentation of a dress
the 1920s who enjoyed explor-
Foulard (N) /ˈfuːlɑː(d)/
ing different style ideas
Thin, soft fabric with a printed
Flamboyant (A)
pattern usually made from silk
Noticeable and vibrant or cotton

Flattering (A)
Used to describe a garment
which makes someone, espe-
cially a woman, curvier and
more attractive than they real-
ly are
Fleece (N)
A soft material with the feel of
sheep’s wool used to make jack-
ets and sweatshirts Filigree 22
Fringe (N) /frɪn(d)ʒ/ fur F
A strip of hanging threads
sewn on a garment to decorate
it
Fray (V)
To get worn at the edge be-
cause the threads are coming
apart
Frog (N)
A decorative braiding consist-
ing of a loop and a button used
to fasten the front of a garment

Fur clothing (N)

Clothing made or embellished
with furry animal hide

23
Gaiter (N) /’geItǝ(r)/
grunge G
A leg covering worn between
the knee and ankle made of
leather or cloth

Garcon(ne) look (N)

Boyish ladies’ style

Garment (N)
A piece of clothing
Gaiter
Gathers (N)
Gradation (N)
Small folds sewn into a gar-
The gradual blending of a
ment
light colour to a darker col-
Gauze (N) /gͻ:z/
our or vice versa
A thin, transparent material
Grunge (N)
made from linen, silk or cotton
A fashion style characterized
Gingham (N)
by baggy clothes worn by
A cotton fabric with a design of fans of grunge music, an al-
white and coloured squares ternative music style
Godet (N) Gusset (N)
A triangular fabric piece added
Extra fabric sewn into a gar-
to a garment to make it flared
ment to make it wider, more
Gore (N) comfortable and stronger
Triangular piece of material
used in garment constructions
24
Haberdashery (N) Hot number H
1 Men’s clothing shop
2 Things like buttons and zip-
pers
Hand of fabric (N)
The feel of a fabric
Harem pants (N)
Long baggy pants

Haute couture (N) /,ǝƱt/ Haute couture

1 Business of making costly
fashionable garments for wom-
en
2 Clothes made in this business
Herringbone (N)
A garment design consisting of
parallel V-shaped lines
Hem (N)
The border of a fabric which
has been folded and sewn
High fashion (A)
Refers to fashionable, expen-
sive clothes; haute couture
Hippie style (N)
Remarkable Bohemian style
which rejects the Western cul-
ture characterized by long hair
and brightly coloured clothes
Hip-hugger (N)
Pants that cover the hips but
not the waist
Hoodie (N)
A sweatshirt or jacket with a
part which you can pull over
your head. Also called a
hoody.
25
Hoop earring (N)
A large ring worn as an ear-
House H
ring
Hook and eye (N)
A device used for fastening gar-
ments with a tiny piece of metal
curved around and a hook that
fits into it

Hosiery (N)
Tight garments worn on the leg
and feet usually made of span-
dex, a highly elastic material

Hourglass figure (N)

Large breasts and hips with a
small waist
House (N)
Fashion house
A company involved in the pro-
duction of fashion items like
clothes, hats, accessories

26
Identity (N) Iridescent I
A person’s style which makes
him/her stand out

Illustration (N)
A fashion drawing of a design
or piece being worn

Imitation (N)
The counterfeit or copy of an
original fashion item or design
Imprint (N)
A pattern or design pressed or
Illustration
printed on fabric or clothing

Inspiration (N)
Exciting, fresh ideas which mo-
tivate a person to be creative

Iridescent (A) /IrI’desnt/

In many bright colours which

appear to change in different
lights.

27
Jersey (N) Jumpsuit J
A knitted garment with long
sleeves, worn over the upper
body
Jewel tones (N)
Deep colours

Jouy print (N)

A digitally-printed graphic
used to tell a story with a gar-
ment
Jumpsuit (N)
An outfit worn by women that
consists of pants and a shirt or Jumpsuit
jacket sewn together in one
piece

28
Kawaii (N) Knock-off K
A cute Japanese fashion trend
with features such as bright
colours and childlike characters
Kimono (N) /kI’moƱnoƱ/

A native Japanese attire like a

long loose-fitting dress with
broad sleeves usually worn to
formal occasions

Kitsch (A) /kIt∫/

Popular but low quality style,

with no real artistic value

Knee-length (A) Knife pleats

Reaching the knees
Knit-wear (N)
Knitted garments
Knife pleat (N)
Very sharp straight pleats used
in skirts and dresses

Knock-off (N)
A duplicate of more expensive
clothing

29
Label (N) Loungewear L
A fashion brand

Lapel (N)
One of the two front parts of
a suit which form the collar
and fold back

Layered style (N)

Garments of different lengths
layered over each other

Line (N)
A collection of designs shown Lapel
to a producer in a given time of
Lookbook (N)
year
A marketing catalog contain-
Lingerie (N) /’lænƷǝri;/ ing images of a designer’s
Women’s underwear clothing line
Lining (N) Loungewear (N)
A layer of material which co- Clothing worn around the
vers the inner surface of a house
garment

Long line clothing (N)

Clothing designed for tall peo-
ple
30
Mandarin collar (N) Minimalist M
A tight-fitting upright collar,
mostly found on blouses
Mannequin (N) /manɪkɪn/

A human body model used to

display clothes in a shop

Marine style (A)

Resembling the clothing of
sailors
Millinery
Masculine style (N)
Millinery (N)
Women’s clothing tailored to
look like men’s 1 Women’s hats sold in shops
2 The job of making or selling
Mass produced (A)
women’s hats
Popular and produced in
large numbers Minaudiere (N) /ˌmɪnəʊˈdjɛː/

A ladies’ fashion accessory like

Maxi (A)
an evening bag
Long and ankle-length
Mini (A)
Melange (N) /meɪˈlɒʒ
̃ /
Short and small
A mixture or variety of differ-
ent fibers used in a design
Minimalist (N)
A fashion designer or tailor
Midi (A)
who uses very simple ideas
Of medium length or objects in their work
31
Mode (N)
Muslin M
A particular style of fashion
or clothing Monochrome (A)
Model (N) 1 Using only black, white and
1 A design shades of grey

2 A person whose profession 2 Using different shades of a

is to wear new clothes, colour
shoes and bags made by a Motif (N)
fashion designer, and have
A design repeated in order to
him/her photographed
make a pattern or print
Modesty (N)
Mule (N)
The practice of dressing in a
way that doesn’t expose A slipper that is open
your body parts or attract around the heel
sexual attention Muslin (N) /ˈmʌzlɪn/

Modification (N) A thin, transparent cotton

cloth used in garment con-
The process of changing a
struction
garment or design in or-
der to improve it or make
it more acceptable

Modish (A)
Fashionable and stylish

32
Neats (N) Nylon N
Little socks with evenly spaced
patterns
Neutral (A) /ˈnjuːtr(ə)l/

Without colour and not very

bright or strong. Examples of
neutral colours are: white, grey
and black.

Non-woven fabric (N)

Fabric made from long and sta-
ple fibres bonded by mechani-
cal, heat and chemical treat-
ments
Nude (A)
1 Not wearing clothes
2 Skin-coloured

Nylon (N)
A strong synthetic material
used in making clothes Neutral Colours

33
Off-the-rack (N) Over-size O
Ready-to-wear mass-produced
apparel available in standard-
ized sizes
Ombre (N) /ˈɒmbreɪ/

A design with colours that

blend into each other, especial-
ly light to dark tones
Organza (N)
Thin, sheer fabric manufac-
tured from silk
Over-size (A)
Loose-fitting and bulky Ombre

Over-skirt (N)
An outer skirt worn over a
dress or inner skirt

34
Panache (N) /pəˈnaʃ/ peignoir P
Confidence and style which
people find attractive

Pantone colours (N)

Colours in the CMYK process
developed by Pantone Inc
which correspond with dyes
and inks used to colour and
print on fabric
Pantsuit (N)
A ladies’ suit of jacket and
trousers
Paperbag waist (N)
A special high-waisted shorts
style which is gathered at
some area and has some fab-
ric coming out of the top,
with a belt that pulls the
waist in
Passe (A)
No longer fashionable
Patent Leather (N)
Hard, shiny leather used in the dressing gown usually made
production of shoes and bags from chiffon
Patent leather
Pattern (N)
A paper template used as a
guide to make different parts of
a garment
Pattern Drafting (N)
The process of creating
patterns for different parts of a
garment using a person’s
measurements
Peek-a-boo style (N)
Of a garment with cut out
details in garments which
reveal body parts
Peignoir (N) /ˈpeɪnwɑː/
A lady’s light, transparent
35
Pencil skirt (N)
A straight narrow skirt
Peplum (N)
A short gathered fabric strip
attached to a waist, jacket,
blouse, skirt or dress
Percale (N) /pəˈkeɪl/
Fine, closely woven cotton or
polyester material
Petticoat (N)
A piece of underwear worn un-
der a skirt or dress
Piece (N)
A clothing item
Piping (N)
A garment trim consisting of a
folded fabric strip inserted in
a seam intended to form a
“pipe”
Placement (N)
The arrangement of different
components of a garment
Post Modern Fashion P
Placket (N)
An opening in a garment which
covers fasteners, or the flap of
fabric under an opening
Pleat (N)
A fold in a garment made by
doubling a fabric over on itself
Polonnaise (N) /,pɒlǝ’neIz/
A historical ladies’ dress with
a tight bodice and a skirt
which opens from the waist
Polyester (N)
An artificial fabric derived
from petroleum
Poplin (N)
A soft, strong and durable fab-
ric with a corded surface made
from wool, cotton or silk
Post Modern Fashion
Much recent fashion which is
given more importance than
function
36
Pouch bag (N) Proportion P
A small bag designed to carry
loose items and is opened and
closed with a drawstring

Prespring collection (N)

An inter-season holiday or
cruise collection
Pret-a-Porter (N) /ˌprɛtəˈpɔːteɪ/

Ready-to-wear clothing produced

in standardized sizes, rather than
made-to-measure
Princess line (N)
A tight-fitting dress without a Pret-a-Porter
separation at the waist or hori-
zontal join
Print on Print (N)
Wearing two or more printed
garments at the same time

Proportion (N)
The relationship between the
size and amount of different el-
ements of a garment

37
Quarter (N) Quilting Q
The part of a shoe that covers
the heel
Quilting (N)
The process of padding a gar-
ment by sewing more than two
fabric layers on each other

Quilting

38
Raglan (N) /ˈraɡlən/ Runway R
A loose-fitting overcoat with
sleeves that extend to the neck-
line with slanted seams from
the underarm to the neck
Ruche (N) /ruːʃ/

Gathered or pleated fabric

strips used for trimming
Runway (N) Ruching
Another name for catwalk

39
Safari (A)
In the style of clothes worn
Silk S
during hunting
Sample (N)
The model of a garment shown
to the retailers
Sanforized (A)
A fabric with shrink control Satin
Sari (N) Seam (N)
A garment with an un- A line which is sewn on two
stitched drape from the edges of cloth to join them
Asian subcontinent which
Seamstress (N)
can be styled in different
ways A lady who sews and makes
clothes
Sartorial (A)
Shibori (N)
Used to describe the quality
and tailoring of a garment Japanese resist textile dyeing
technique used to create lovely
Satin (N) /’sætIn/
colourful patterns
A synthetic glossy fabric
Signature (A)
with a dull back used in gar-
ment construction which is In style which reflects a person
less breathable than natural and the image you intend to
silk give off

40
Silhouette (N) /,sIlu’et/
The shape or outline a gar-
ment gives you
Silk (N)
A smooth natural fibre gotten
from the cocoons of silkworms
Sleek (A)
In a style which gives a slim
and slender silhouette
Slim fit (A)
Clothing designed to be tight-
fitting
Slip-on (A)
Clothes without fasteners that
are worn easily and quickly
Spangle (N)
A small thin piece of glittery
material like a sequin used in
decorating clothes
Sportswear (N)
Relaxed outfits which can be
worn in a informal business
setting
Stylist S
Stock on hand (N)
The total quantity of any given
fashion item that you currently
have in your warehouse, re-
gardless of whether it is availa-
ble for use or sale
Stonewash (A)
Fabric faded through a particu-
lar procedure
Streetwear (N)
Casual clothing which can be
worn out on the streets
Style (N)
A particular design of clothes,
or way of wearing clothes
Style surf (N)
Clothes fit for surfing
Stylist (N)
A person who gives style ad-
vice to people, brands and
fashion houses
41
Supportive clothing (N) Sweat S
Clothes which aid or assist
people with diseases, ailments
or make body parts fuller or
bigger

Sweat (N)
Cotton jersey sportswear

42
Taffeta (N) Toile T
Stiff, glossy cloth made from
silk used in dressmaking
Tailoring (N)
The making of bespoke
(specially made) garments

Textile (N)
A flexible material consist-
ing of a network of yarns

Theme (N) Taffeta

The concept, message or idea

behind a fashion designer’s col-
lection or a single design
Theme board/Mood
board (N)
A board with letters, fashion
illustrations and sketches,
photos and inspiration for a
collection or design
Throwback (N)
Fashion style from the past
Tie-dye (N)
A textile craft which involves
making colourful patterns by
tying fabric in different ways
so some parts get penetrated
by dye and some don’t
Toile (N)
A garment made out of a
cheap material used by fash-
ion designers to test things
like patterns and fabric
draping

43
Trend (N) Twin prints T
General direction in which a
style of fashion is developing Twin prints (N)
or changing
Two prints on a garment which
Trompe L’Oeil (N) share the same colours
/,trɒmp ‘lͻI:/
A dress with a painting or
drawing made to look realis-
tic
Tuck (N)
The edge of a cloth folded to
keep it in place and make it
look neat

Tulle (N)
A smooth, delicate cloth made
of silk or nylon used in dress-
Tuxedo
making
Turtleneck/Polo neck
A raised round collar made
when a piece of cloth is folded
Tuxedo (N)
A white or black jacket and/or
pants worn with a bow tie to
ceremonial events 44
Unitard (N) Utilitarian U
A tight-fitting one-piece gar-
ment with long legs and/or
long sleeves, typically stopping
at the wrist and ankles
Undergarment (N)
An old-fashion word for un-
derwear
Up-cycle clothing (N)
Clothing which is created
through the innovative reuse of
old clothes by changing their
elements
Utilitarian (A)
Up-Cycle Clothing
Used to describe clothing which
is practical, protective or func-
tional rather than aesthetic,
like work clothes

45
Velvet (N) Vintage V
A smooth woven tufted fabric
made from either artificial or
natural fibers

Vent (N)
A vertical slit starting from the
bottom of a garment used for
easy movement

Vintage (A)
Classic and originating from
the past

Vent

46
Warp (N) /wͻ:p/ Wrap dress W
Lengthwise fibers spun on a loom
Warm Colours (N)
Red, yellow, orange and their
neighboring colours
Wasp waist (N)
The incredibly narrow waist
achieved by the use of a corset
Wedge heels (N)
Shoes with a heel with one
Welt Pocket
thick end and a thin pointed
one Wool (N)
Weft (N) Fabric made from the wool of a
sheep or goat, used for making
Crosswise fibers spun on a
clothes
loom

Welt pockets (N) Wrap Dress (N)

A dress with a front closure
Flat pockets finished with a re-
created by wrapping one side
inforced border along the edge
across the other, knotting the
of a garment
attached ties that enclose the
Wing Collars (N) back at the waist or fastening
A small standing collar with buttons
points which resemble ‘wings’,
mostly found on shirts
47
X-Ray Fabric (N) X-Ray Fabric X
See-through fabric used in gar-
ment construction

X-Ray Fabric

48
Yarn (N) yoke Y
Spun thread used for knitting
and making clothes

Yoke (N)
The part of a garment that fits
round the shoulders or hips
and is where the rest of the
cloth hangs

Yarn

49
Zardozi (N) zipper Z
Heavy embroidery done with
gold and silver threads, some-
times with beads and precious
stones
Zipper (N)
A fastener with two rows of
metal or plastic teeth you pull
together to close or pull apart
Zardozi
to open

Zori (N)
A Japanese sandal

50
 Credits
SewGuide, SilkFred, Britannica, Wikipedia, PrimaSeller,
My Vocabulary, WMagazine, The Modest Man, Google,
Boohoo, Milliner’s Guild, Celebrity Fashion, Home Craft
Textiles, Wiggling Pen, Forbes, Liberty Leather Goods, Pin-
terest, Boomerinas, Brilliantly Chic

Dedication
To God Almighty, from whom all knowledge comes, and to
all fashion lovers out there. To my family, who supported
me and understood when I had to spend long hours com-
pleting this God-given project.

51