Glossary

 Fashion Communication and Styling Glossary of Terms

Styling

The way that everything is designed

Asymmetric Styling

Designs in which one half of a piece of clothing is structurally distinct from the other. Both sides of a symmetrical pattern are identical. Collars, necklines, closings, and hemlines are also examples of asymmetry.

Basque

A designed neckline or jacket that extends below the waistline. Basques, unlike peplums, which flare out below the waist and are generally short, can be any length, tailored or complete, and put in a specific position, such as the back or front, or all over. They are an essential component of the garment top's design.

Batik

A hand technique for decorating textiles in which wax is applied to some areas of the cloth. Only the unwaxed region of the cloth retains the dye as it is soaked in a dyebath. The wax is taken down. If the pattern calls for a different hue, wax is added to the region that has to be covered from the dye once more, and the cloth is dyed again to incorporate the new colour.

Blucher

The tongue and vamp (the front section of the shoe) are cut into one piece in this form of oxford (closed shoe).

Messenger bag

These handbags are designed to look like messenger bags and typically have a wide central zippered compartment. A buckle or button seals a flap that folds down over the front. Courier packs are smaller variations of these bags.

Raglan

The underarm seam of the sleeve is applied to the neckline at the front and back of this often used sleeve construction. Lord Raglan, a British General in the Crimean War, is known to have had coats made with this sleeve made for him after he lost an arm in the charge of the Light Brigade in 1854.

Spangles

Decorative items with a hole through which they can be sewn to a garment, normally made of metal or plastic. The most popular styles of spangles are sequins, which are typically circular and thin, and paillettes, which are bigger and come in a variety of sizes. They're often used to embellish evening gowns, handbags, and other accessories, and they're often paired with beads.

Tuck

Folding the cloth and sewing a series of stitching parallel to the fold is a method of exploiting fullness of garments. At the end of the sewing, the fullness is extracted. Tucks and pleats are identical, but tucks are only a fraction of an inch wide or less.

Panniers

Hoops that sit on the hips and keep skirts from flaring out to the sides.

Havelock

A cap with a piece of cloth extending from the back side of the cap to the base of the collar, normally with a visor. This cap was created as part of the uniform of soldiers serving in areas of the world where the sun was extremely strong.