Note: I created this with the intention of it being an appendix in the book Describing Characters: How to Bring Story People to Life (2025), but in the end, I decided that the book didn’t need it.
If, like me, you are fashion-challenged and need some words that make you sound more knowledgeable, this list might help. But probably not.
This is a fairly random collection of terms relating to fashion – skimming through it might give you some inspiration. This is based on a number of lists I found online including those at sewguide.com/fashion-vocabulary and fashionvocabulary.com and wwd.com/fashion-dictionary
Accent or Accent Colour – a distinctive characteristic of a garment or a bright colour used to add emphasis.
Accessories – Additional items that have a useful or decorative purpose, including belts, braces (suspenders in the USA), buttonholes or boutonnieres, eyewear, footwear, gloves and mittens, hair decoration, handbags, handkerchiefs, hats and other headwear, jewellery, leg wear including ankle bracelets and leg warmers, neckwear including scarves, shawls and wraps, umbrellas and parasols, veils, and watches. The process of using accessories is called accessorising.
Accoutrements – Items of clothing or accessories necessary for a particular activity.
Achromatic – ‘Without colour,’ used to mean black and white or grey.
Acid Wash – Treating fabric with bleach or other chemicals to create fading, batterns, or a distressed effect.
Active Wear – Sportswear and outdoor clothing worn for sports and games, including less practical fashions inspired by these. May also be referred to as athletic wear.
Advancing Colours – Warm colours such as red, orange and yellow which seem to come towards the viewer out of a painting or a costume.
Androgynous – A garment or style that isn’t obviously masculine or feminine and doesn’t make the wearer’s sex obvious. May also be referred to as unisex or gender-neutral.
Anti-Fashion – Deliberate wearing of styles different from current fashions or indifference to such fashions. Similar terms include alternate fashion, counterculture, counterfashion, edgy, and anti-establishment. Such trends can become fashionable if widely adopted.
Art Deco – Style that appeared in Paris just before the First World War and which became popular internationally in 1920s to early 1930s.
Art Nouveau – Style that appeared in Brussels in the 1890s and popular until 1910, a period known as the Belle Époque.
A la mode – French term meaning ‘in the style of’ or ‘in the fashion of’
Apparel – a more formal term for clothing or clothes.
Asymmetrical – Lacking symmetry, usually meaning when the left side does not mirror the right, though it can refer to an imbalance between any parts. All of a garment or parts of it, e.g. the hemline, might be asymmetrical.
Atelier – The workshop or studio used by a fashion designer or artist.
Attire – Another more formal term for clothes or clothing. A ‘tiring room’ is an old-fashioned term for dressing room used by actors.
Au Naturel – French term meaning without clothes, nude.
Avant-Garde – New and experimental or at the forefront; refers to designs in a style that have never been seen before.
Balance or Symmetry – Where each side of a garment or various parts of it are mirrored or of equal size and weight. The opposite of asymmetry.
Bespoke – One-off garments that are made to order in line with a customer’s body measurements and their specifications. Often used in relation to men’s suits and other formal wear; prêt-à-porter (ready to wear) and ‘off the rack’ mean the opposite.
Baroque – A style popular in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries; also refers to a style that is highly decorated or showy.
Beaumonde – or ‘beau monde,’ a French term meaning ‘fine world’ and referring to fashionable society or high society.
Black Tie – or ‘black tie event’. Refers to the dress code for a formal evening event or social function where men are expected to wear a tuxedo, tie, and formal shoes. Women should wear a long gown. Originated in Britain in the late 19th century and popularized by Prince Edward VII; later adopted by New York’s Tuxedo Club.
Bling – Slang term for flashy or ostentatious jewellery which may have originated in Jamaica or as an onomatopoeic word for the bright flash from a toothpaste commercial. First used in the 1990s and popularised in American hip-hop culture – rapper B.G. (Christopher Noel Dorsey) released a song called ‘Bling Bling’ in 1999.
Body Clothes – literally any clothing worn on the human body but also used in the past to refer to underwear.
Body-Con – ‘body-conforming’ or tight fitting clothing.
Boutique – A shop selling unique high-end items to a specific clientele; the term was widely adopted for other kinds of store and so has lost its association with exclusivity.
Boyfriend Style – When a female borrows clothes from her boyfriend or male clothing adapted to suit females.
Bib and Tucker – often used in the phrase ‘best bib and tucker,’ a colloquial term meaning one’s best clothes. In the 17th and 18th centuries, a ‘tucker’ was a lace or muslin frill around the top of a dress, covering the neck and shoulders.
Border Print – A design printed along the border of a fabric.
Bohemian – sometimes abbreviated to Boho. Unconventional or not conforming to expected social standards. The term was first used in France in the first half of the 19th century for the lifestyle of travelling Roma people (sometimes referred to by the derogatory term ‘gypsies’) who were believed to have come from Bohemia (in the modern Czech Republic). Bohemianism spread to the United States in the middle of the 19th century. Worn by wealthier people toay, it might be called ‘Boho chic’.
Business Formal – A dress code requiring suits and ties for men and suits or tailored dresses for women. The term is probably of 20th century original, perhaps in the United States.
Business Casual – A less formal dress code requiring pants (trousers) and open shirts for men; skirts and blouses for women. A suit would be too formal, jeans not formal enough. Also of 20th century origin.
Camouflage – A style of fabric originally used for military uniforms to help soldiers remain concealed when in the field. Different types were created for terrains such as jungle, desert, and winter/snow. See Wikipedia’s ‘List of Military Clothing Camouflage Patterns’ for a complete list and images. Some of the types have been adapted for use in civilian clothing.
Capsule Wardrobe – A collection of essential, timeless pieces of clothing that can be worn and styles in different ways, forming the centre of someone’s wardrobe. The term was coined by London boutique owner Susie Faux in the 1970s.
Casual Wear – A dress code that is relaxed, occasional, spontaneous and suited for everyday use. Became popular after the counterculture of the 1960s had challenged the more formal styles of the 1950s.
Cheugy – Informal neologism coined by Gaby Rasson, a Beverly Hills High School student, in 2013 to describe someone who is out of style or trying too hard to be trendy. A person who was not trendy was called a cheug. Some have criticised the term for being misogynistic. The term is now probably out of fashion. Ironic, isn’t it?
Chic – stylish and sophisticated. Originated in France, based on a German word schick, which has a similar meaning. In Madame Bovary, published in 1856, Gustave Flaubert used the word chicard’ for someone who is chic, so the word originated at some point before that. Novelist Anita Loos makes a joking reference to it in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes published in 1925, so it had entered English usage before that. English people using the term ‘tres chic’ are considered pretentious, and is now mostly used facetiously. The mock-Germanic über-chic is also used jokingly.
Chinois – Chinese style.
Collection – Fashionable garments shown by designers usually at twice yearly events for spring/summer and fall/ winter.
Cut – The style and shape of a garment, how it hangs on the body.
Classic – A style considered evergreen and timeless.
Clique – A small, close-knot group of people who do not often allow others to join them. Fashion cliques contain people who share a common sense of style – or one dictated by their Queen Bee.
Colour-Fast – refers to a fabric’s ability to retain its colour when washed or exposed to sunlight.
Colorway – Fashion industry terminology for a product in a specific color.
Cosplay – A portmanteau word from ‘costume’ and ‘playing’. Recreational dressing up in costume, often carried out at conventions and inspired by films, television series, and comic books.
Country Look – Can refer to rustic styles inspired by farm clothing or the upper class country attire of tweeds or clothing worn while riding or hunting.
Cool Colours – Blues plus some purples and greens. See also Warm Colours.
Contemporary – A fashion style or look.
Continental – Referring to European styles of clothing.
Conservative – A nice way of saying old-fashioned and a bit dowdy or, if you prefer, traditional.
Cosmopolitan – A style that is seen in multiple countries or cultures rather than being localized. Also a magazine. And a refreshing cocktail.
Couturier – A French term for a male fashion designer; the female equivalent is couturiere.
Craze – A short-lived fashion that makes a big impact and then fades fast. See also Fad.
Composite Style – A combination of distinct styles, often described as a pairing – simple yet refined; feminine and fun; cheap and cheerful. Okay, probably not that last one.
Costume Jewellery – Created for appearance only, not featuring any valuable metals or gemstones. Imitation gemstones are referred to as ‘paste’ or glass.
Cultural Appropriation – The disrespectful ‘borrowing’ or mimicry of a style associated with a particular culture. See also Ethnic.
Dated – No longer fashionable.
Décolletage – A term for a woman’s neck and upper chest. Fashion exposes more or less of it.
Diffusion Line – A more modestly priced range of clothing produced by an haute couture designer.
Distressing – A process of artificially ageing or wearing a fabric.
Draping – How a fabric hangs or falls on the human body.
Drop Tail – Clothing where the back has greater length than the front.
Dandy – A term from the late 18th century, possibly a shortened form of the 17th century Jack-a-dandy, referring to a conceited fellow. A dandy is typically vain and fashion-conscious and resses in a flamboyant style as a way of gaining attention. Author Beau Brummell (1778-1840) was a famous dandy and arbiter of taste in Regency England.
Dead Stock – Fashionable clothing that has never been sold or worn but is unwanted because it is from a previous trend or season.
Double Denim Trend – Wearing more than one item made from denim, e.g. denim jacket and jeans.
Earth Colours – A nice way of saying browns.
Eclectic – A style of fashion drawing elements from various sources. See also bohemian.
Elegant – Graceful and sophisticated.
Ethnic – Relating to a particular culture or geographical location.
Embellishment – Decorative details and features.
Ensemble – A set of garments that seem to belong together, being well-coordinated.
Effortless – Refers to a style which is high end but appears to be achieved with little effort.
Fad – A short-lived fashion, often one that made quite an impact initially but faded fast.
Fashion 2.0 – Refers to fashion in the age of social media.
Fashion Capitals – The cities of Paris, New York, Los Angels, London, Tokyo, Berlin, Barcelona and several others.
Fashion Cycle – Fashions rise and fall on a regular basis and it is suggested that the fashionability of some things is cyclical, so that they come back around and are trendy again.
Fashion Faux Pas – A wrong choice that is noticed and commented on by others. Most noticeable in someone who seeks to be fashionable.
Fashion Forecast – A prediction of coming fashions or trends. Used like a weather forecast for those of us who wish to avoid such things. Sometimes what I wear comes back into fashion and I have to stop wearing it.
Fashion Forward – A person regarded as being ahead of fashion trends.
Fashion Icon – Someone known for being fashionable or for setting trends. ‘Iconic’ may also be used for individual items such as the little black dress.
Fashion Police – A mythical organisation said to hunt down and punish those who dress unfashionably. I know they’re mythical because they’ve never knocked on my door.
Fashion Sense – A combination of knowledge and instinct that enable someone to dress fashionably. Not all of us have this.
Fashion Subcultures – Groups in society with their own distinctive fashion styles which may influence trends in fashion generally. Examples include punk, skater, Goth, bohemian, hip-hop, and so on.
Fashionista – coined in 1993 by American journalist Stephen Fried in his biography of supermodel Gia Carangi to describe devoted followers of fashion.
Fatigues – ‘Battledress’ or more casual uniforms worn by soldiers as opposed to more formal uniforms worn for special occasions. May be khaki-coloured or camouflage. The term came into use in the USA the mid-1880s and has been adopted in Britain.
Florals – Fabric printed with floral patterns.
Formal Clothing – Evening clothes consisting of suits or tuxedos for men and long evening gowns for women.
Foundation – An undergarment designed to smooth or shape the wearers body. Garments include corsets, brassieres, and girdles. Wikipedia says that a patent for an elastic corset was filed in 1965 by someone named Marion M. Chubby, which sounds highly unlikely. Such garments may also be referred to as shapewear or shaping wear.
Geek Chic – A style of clothing inspired by that worn by geeks or nerds. The reputations of geeks improved in the 1980s and 90s when everyone wanted to befriend the IT guy who could get the printer working. Large glasses, t-shirts with colourful designs – often related to music, films, or computer games – and high-waisted pants often featured. David Tennant’s Doctor Who featured one form of fashionable geek clothing.
Grunge – An American slang term from the mid-1960s, perhaps from a combination of terms such as grubby and dingy. It means shabby and dirty. It was first applied to music in 1972, but wasn’t popularised until 1987. Fashions associated with it include ripped jeans, layered tops, and black boots. Grunge fashion can also refer to a style based on items bought from thrift stores.
Haberdashery – ‘Haberdasher’ is a Middle English word, probably from French, that originally referred to a dealer in small wares or assorted goods. It may also have come from a name for a type of fabric. The term ‘haberdashery’ was first recorded in 1419. Today it refers to sewing supplies including buttons and zippers and may also be used for a fabric or clothing shop.
High Stepper – A term that originated in the early 1800s for a horse that moved with a distinctive motion, it was used by the mid-1800s for a person who indulged in a fast-paced, extravagant lifestyle. Such people were likely to be fashion-conscious and possibly vain.
High Fashion – More expensive fashions rather than mass-market ones; also referred to as haute couture, a French term that translates as ‘high sewing’ or ‘high dressmaking.’
Hippie Style – Clothing from the counterculture period of the 1960s or inspired by it. Often bohemian, the style was characterised by long hair, jeans, tie dyed fabrics, full skirts, and bell bottom pants where the bottoms were sometimes extended by interesting triangles of paisley fabric.
Hosiery – Tight-fitting knitted garments worn on the legs and feet. Originally made from thicker yarns, they were later made in silk and then nylon creating a sheer, translucent effect. Modern leggings may also be made of fabrics such as spandex.
Iridescent Colours – Ones which imitate the oil on water colours of the rainbow or those seen in some insects.
Impact Colour – A colour that stands out from the rest of the garment or outfit creating… er… an impact.
Kitsch – Items regarded as low quality, excessively garish or sentimental, or in poor taste. The negative attributes of such items mean that some people choose to value and collect them.
Knock Off – An item that copies more expensive designer clothing. May or may not be a bootleg or counterfeit.
Limited Edition – Also referred to as special edition. Items made in limited numbers are often sold for a premium price because of the ‘exclusivity’ they promise.
Look Book – A volume collecting images of a particular model, photographer, stylist, fashion style, or stylist, acting as a catalogue for potential buyers.
Longline – Any item of clothing that is in a longer form than is typically seen, e.g. a longline t-shirt. May or may not be produced for taller customers.
Loungewear – Clothing worn around the house, typically including t-shirts and lounge pants.
Marine Style – Inspired by the clothing of sailors.
Mass-Produced – Clothing produced in large quantities and available ready to wear and off the rack. Looked down upon by fashionistas and trendsetters.
Melange – A mixture of styles, trends, and elements. A word of French origin.
Minimalist – Simple, understated, not overly colourful or patterned, and without excessive decoration or accessories.
Monotone – Clothing of a single colour.
Motif – A design, often recurring, in a pattern, print, or embroidery.
Off the Rack – ready to wear, mass-produced clothing available in a range of sizes.
Ombre – Fabrics where colour graduates from light to dark
Passé – Anything that is no longer fashionable.
Paninaro – Italian term for a youth subculture of the 1980s, named after a sandwich bar where they congregated. Clothing included European luxury designer brands and American staples. Inspiration for the 1986 Pet Shop Boys song.
Panache – appearing confident, stylish, or even flamboyant.
Prêt-à-porter – French term meaning ‘ready to wear’ and referring to items that can be bought off the shelf and worn straight away, rather than needing to be tailored or made to order.
Peek-a-Boo – Design elements featuring cut-out details or see-through elements that reveal parts of the body. Some such items are NSFW.
Peasant Style – Inspired by the embroidered blouses and long skirts of country women.
Post-Modern – A fashion style seen in the 1970s and 1980s, described as irreverent, eclectic, playful, and theatrical. It challenged the ‘rules’ of Modernism, mixing elements from different historical periods and cultures, and using unusual materials or ordinary materials in an unusual way. It was also a blend of ‘high’ and ‘low’ fashion, often prioritising decoration over function. Proponents included Vivienne Westwood, Jean Francois Lyotard, and Alexande Mcqueen.
Power Dressing – A term coined in the 1970s in relation to clothing intended to emphasise a person’s status in the workplace. Included jackets with big shoulder pads, as seen on TV shows such as Dallas and Dynasty.
Preppy – A semi-smart style inspired by the clothing of American colleges or universities, including polo shirts, chinos, and navy blazers
Print on Print – Colourful and vibrant designs where different prints are presented together or overprinted.
Punk – Style from or inspired by the British punk rock subculture of the 1970s. Included distressed jeans, tartan pants, metal studs and chains, body piercing that included safety pins, and leather or denim jackets, often customised with painted artwork. Inspired other ‘punk’ styles including cyberpunk and steampunk.
Ready to Wear – English language equivalent of the French prêt-à-porter; clothing made in standard sizes and available ‘off the rack.’ The opposite of ‘bespoke.’
Retro – A style that imitates or is inspired by trends of the recent past. See also Vintage.
Retrofuturism – A style based on predictions of the future made in earlier eras, especially in science fiction illustrations from the 1920s to 1950s.
Reversible – Clothing that can be turned inside out and still be worn without seams showing.
Rockabilly – Rockabilly was an early form of rock ‘n’ roll that originated in the southern United States in the early 1950s, it is a portmanteau word made of rock (from rock ‘n’ roll) and hillbilly. Fashion associated with it included tight jeans or black pants (referred to as drainpipe pants), leather motorcycle jackets, and crepe-soled shoes known as ‘brothel creepers.
Safari Jacket – According to Wikipedia, this garment is also known as a bush jacket or sahariana. Usually khaki-coloured and made of lightweight cotton (drill or poplin), the jacket typically has a belt, four bellows pockets, and epaulettes. It was originally designed for European soldiers serving in warm climates from the 19th century through to the Second World War. Clothing designed for a safari was first advertised in the USA in 1935. Safari jackets and safari suits became fashionable in the 1960s and 70s.
Silhouette – The basic outline or shape of a design, garment, or outfit.
Selvedge – The finished edge of a fabric designed to stop it from fraying before it is sewn up into a garment.
Sleek – Close-fitting clothing intended to give a slender, slim, streamlined look. Not that I’ve ever worn such a garment, obviously.
Slip-on Clothing – Garments without any fastenings.
Slim Fit – Clothing designed to fit close to the body. Sometimes referred to as ‘tailored.’ Garments that don’t fit the average person. Did that make me sound bitter?
Slogan – Words printed or embroidered across a garment, e.g. across the chest, back, or the bottom of the sleeves. Brand names and logos may appear in a similar way.
Sportswear – Casual clothing meant to be used for sports activities or inspired by such clothing. Such clothing might form part of casual business/work clothing.
Statement Piece – A bold item of clothing, accessory, or piece of jewellery designed to grab attention.
Street Wear – literally clothing meant for the streets and used to refer to urban fashions such as those worn by skateboarders.
Stonewashed – First recorded in 1981, describing a process where fabric, especially denim, is washed with stones in an industrial machine to soften the fabric and give it a worn, faded look. Also used in the name of such fabrics, e.g. ‘stonewashed denim.’
Stylist – Someone who purchases and/or curates the clothing for a celebrity or wealthy individual and advises on how the items should be worn for best effect. Magazines and brands typically have their own stylists.
Surfer Look – A style worn by, or inspired by, surfers. Usually deliberately relaxed.
Sartorial – Relating to clothes or a person’s style of dress, the word is of Latin origin and originally referred to a tailor or mender of clothes. Today it is more likely to be used in a phrase such as ‘sartorial elegance.’
Separates – Items bought individually and which cover only part of the body, but which can be mixed and matched to create different combinations.
Supportive Clothing – Items that give support, particularly in relation to a bodily ailment or injury, e.g. support stocking/hose. Not typically fashionable or stylish.
Style – Model and actress Lauren Hutton is quoted as saying, “Fashion is what you’re offered four times a year by designers. And style is what you choose.” My dictionary defines style as a distinctive appearance, design, or arrangement. As Hutton suggests, there are more generic overall styles belonging to groups or subcultures and there is personal style.
Style Surfing – Said of someone who shifts from one clothing style or subculture to another, or who combines styles to create a new hybrid look.
Sweats – Sportswear made from cotton jersey fabric, including sweatpants.
Tailoring – The making of made-to-measure garments or the alteration of garments so they properly fit an individual. The term ‘tailored’ is sometimes used to refer to a mass-produced garment designed to look as if it has been ‘tailer-made’ to fit the shape of the body.
Throwback – Fashion belonging to an earlier period.
Theme Board – Another term for mood board. May include sketches and swatches of fabric.
Tint – A colour formed when white is added to a base colour, e.g. pink is a shade of red.
Toile – A test garment created by a fashion designer or seamstress, often made in a cheap fabric such as calico or muslin.
Tone on Tone – Refers to combinations of shades or tints of the same colour.
Trendy – very fashionable or stylish. The term originated in Britain in 1962, though the root word ‘trend’ is much older, coming from Old English; a trend is a direction in which something is developing or changing.
Twin Print – A garment that features two printed fabrics, usually with the same combination of colours in both.
Unisex – Clothing suitable for both males and females or those who are non-binary. See also androgynous.
Up-Cycled – Older clothing that has been creatively adapted, changing one or more design elements.
Utilitarian – Clothing that is functional or practical rather than decorative. May refer to work clothing or something like a raincoat which serves to keep the wearer dry.
Vintage – Clothing from or inspired by a previous era. Anything over 20 years old might be considered vintage. Clothing must be over 100 years old to be called antique.
Wasp Waist – Extremely narrow waist designed to make the bust and hips look bigger; achieved with tightly-laced corsets in the 19th century; one of the most restrictive forms of female fashion.
Warm Colours – Primarily reds, oranges, and yellows but also including reddish purple. Cool colours make up the other half of the colour wheel.
PAUL TOMLINSON 