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. More recently, shrugs have taken a new direction, coming in Read more

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. Crêpe de chine textures of artificial silk are common these days and are often difficult to distinguish from true silk. French designer Madeleine Vionnet used crêpe de Read more

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 Read more

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. These Free Read more

Liberty A feminine print of small garden-party florals. First popularized by London's Liberty & Co. department store. Often gives off a sweet, country vibe. Can be found on dresses, skirts, scarves, and even lingerie. The print is so popular, it made its way onto Nike sneakers. The Spring catwalks — specifically Marc by Marc Jacobs (left) and Cacharel — were filled with liberty prints. Read more

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. Modern filigree is generally surrounded by bands of square or flat metal so that it can keep its proper shape. These Janna Conner Beni Earrings ($53) are a sweet way to sport filigree. Read more

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 Read more

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. Marc Jacob's Spring '09 collection (left) featured countless lurex ensembles. Source Read more

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. Argyle socks and sweaters are normally done in Intarsia. This Free People Snowdrift Cowl Neck Read more