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Style Glossary
Style Glossary: Bias Cut
Bias Cut
A garment is said to be cut on the bias when the fabric's warp and weft threads are at 45 degrees to its major seam lines; essentially, the diagonal cut of a fabric. This technique utilizes a greater stretch in the bias, thereby causing it to accentuate body lines and curves and drape softly. Non-woven fabrics such as felt do not have a bias.
Style Glossary: Shrug
Shrug
A cropped, cardigan-like garment with short or long sleeves, typically knitted. It usually covers less of the body than a vest would, but it is more tailored than a shawl. Some shrugs are tied together just below the bustline, while some are cut off at the sides, making them nothing more than a pair of sleeves joined at the back.
Style Glossary: Crêpe de Chine
Crêpe de Chine
Literally means "crepe of China" in French. A soft, lightweight, plainwoven fabric with a crinkled effect. It's produced either with all-silk warp and weft or with a silk warp and hard-spun worsted weft.
Style Glossary: Mackintosh
Mackintosh
Not to be confused with a Macintosh computer, a Mackintosh is a form of waterproof raincoat, first sold in 1824, made out of rubberized fabric. It is named after its Scottish inventor Charles Macintosh, though a letter k is commonly added. In the present day, the Mackintosh style of coat has become generic, but a genuine Mackintosh coat should be made from rubberized or rubber laminated material.
Style Glossary: Ripstop
Ripstop
Woven fabrics, often made out of nylon, that use a special reinforcing technique that make them very resistant against tearing and ripping. During weaving, reinforcement threads are interwoven at regular intervals in a crosshatch pattern in the fabric. The main advantage of ripstop fabrics is that smaller tears and rips can't easily spread further in the fabric.
Style Glossary: Liberty Print
Liberty
A feminine print of small garden-party florals. First popularized by London's Liberty & Co. department store.
Style Glossary: Filigree
Filigree
Sometimes spelled filagree. A fine thread of metal, usually gold or silver, applied to jewelry for ornamental, openwork designs. Can be found mainly on brooches, crosses, earrings, and bracelets.
Style Glossary Roundup!
I hope our Style Glossaries are helping expand your fashion vocabulary. In case you've forgotten, here are six savvy definitions to jog your memory.
Doorknocker
Paperbag Pants
d'Orsay
Rive Gauche
Teddy
Shantung
Style Glossary: Lurex
Lurex
Decorative yarn with a metallic appearance, made of a layer of aluminum between two layers of polyester film, protected by a clear or colored resin coating. I predict it's going to be a huge trend for Spring. If you dig shine, lurex is for you.
Style Glossary: Intarsia
Intarsia
A knitting technique used to create patterns with multiple colors. Also the retail term for sweaters with geometric designs. Fields of different colors and materials appear to be inlaid in one another, but are in fact all separate pieces that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.
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