Fashion Glossary

A

A-line - A dress or skirt that is narrow at the top and gradually flares out to a wider hemline resembling the shape of the letter A. This style flatters most figures, particularly pear shapes.

Activewear - Any type of clothing that is designed to be worn while performing an active sport.

Appliqué - Fabric that has been cut and applied to another fabric or garment in order to decorate the material. Most appliqués are sewn onto the garment, but may also be attached with an adhesive.

Asymmetric - A hemline or neckline that is cut on the diagonal with one side longer than the other.

B

Babydoll - A style of top or dress with a loose-fitting shape that flows out from beneath the bodice. Also a style of lingerie made of sheer fabric and often decorated with lace.

Bandeau - A band shaped strapless covering for the bust.

Bell sleeve - A long or three-quarter-length sleeve that flares out at the hem resembling the shape of a bell.

Bermuda shorts - Semi-casual shorts that are cropped just above the knee.

Bikini Panty - A low-rise panty offering moderate back coverage.

Blazer - A long-sleeved, structured jacket with lapels.

Boat neck - A narrow neckline that is open from shoulder to shoulder.

Bodice - The upper part of a dress or top.

Bodycon - A tight-fitting dress that hugs your curves.

Boho - Short for bohemian. A relaxed and free-spirited style that evokes a carefree look. Often characterized by a loose-fitting shape and the inclusion of multiple patterns, textures and color.

Bomber Jacket - A loose, waist-length jacket with a banded waistband and cuffs.

Boot - A shoe (heeled or flat) in which the top extends anywhere from the ankle to over the knee.

Bootcut - Also called bootleg. A pant or jean style that is tapered to the knee and very subtly flares out below, creating a proportional and streamlined silhouette.

Bralette - A lightweight, comfort-driven bra with no underwire and little to no padding.

Brief - A panty offering full or near-full coverage.

Brushed knit - Fabric with a soft, fuzzy texture that’s most often used in loungewear.

Bum Lifter - Our signature denim fit that is designed to enhance curves. Features specially-placed back pockets and a contoured yoke to give the illusion of a lifted, curvy backside.

Burnout - A technique of dissolving a layer of fabric to create a patterned effect, generally resulting in a semi-sheer look.

Bustier - A garment similar to a corset that is close-fitting, usually strapless and structured.

C

Cable knit - A knit in a raised loop stripe that resembles a twisted cable. Used in knitted sweaters.

Cami - Short for camisole. A simple top or dress with spaghetti straps that can be worn alone or as a layering piece.

Capri pants - Pants that are cropped at the calf.

Cap sleeve - A very short sleeve that extends just over the shoulder.

Cardigan - A usually collarless sweater or jacket, often with buttons, that opens down the front.

Cargo - A style of garment adorned with large patch pockets that usually feature a flap and a pleat.

Chambray - A lightweight plain-weave cotton fabric in any color, but most often seen in an indigo wash, making it often confused with denim.

Cheeky - A panty or swim bottom with less coverage than a bikini, but more coverage than a thong.

Chemise - A lingerie style that resembles a short dress with no defined waist. Can be loose or tight fitting.

Chiffon - A light, sheer fabric typically made of nylon, silk or rayon.

Cinched waist - A feature in a garment that tapers narrowly at the mid-section, accentuating the curves of the body.

Cocktail dress - A shorter style of evening dress worn to formal, semi-formal and cocktail events. Cocktail dresses usually fall to mid-thigh or to the knee.

Cold shoulder - A garment with cut-out shoulders.

Color blocking - Strategically-placed contrasting colors paired together on a garment. Creates the appearance of different colored blocks.

Convertible - Any item that can be worn more than one way.

Corduroy - A pile fabric with vertical ridges. Usually made of cotton.

Corset - A tight-fitting top, often reinforced by boning, worn to support and shape the waistline and bust.

Cover-up - A garment meant to be worn over swimwear, usually made of lightweight and breezy fabric.

Cowl neck - A neckline that hangs in draped folds.

Crochet - An open knit in which yarn is looped into a patterned fabric.

Crop top - A casual garment cut short so that it reveals the stomach.

Crossbody - A purse with one long strap that crosses over the body and allows the bag to rest at the front by the waist.

D

Denim - A cotton twill fabric used for jeans, overalls and other styles of clothing. Goes with almost anything and can be dressed up or down with ease.

Distressed - An area of fabric that has been artificially aged or worn. Most commonly seen on denim.

Dolman sleeve - A silhouette featuring sleeves that are oversized at the top and taper to be more fitted at the wrist.

Double-breasted - An outerwear silhouette in which one half of the front overlaps the other, usually with a double row of buttons and a single row of buttonholes.

Draping - Fabric that is laid loosely to add movement and dimension.

Duster - A long-length cardigan that falls below the knee.

E

Embellished - Ornamentation of fabric by using a wide variety of decorative pieces such as sequins, beads or decorative pieces.

Embroidery - Decorative hand or machine stitches that create a pattern on a garment.

Empire waist - A silhouette where the waist sits just below the bust and the garment flows out down to the hemline. This silhouette is universally flattering to all shapes.

Espadrille - A light canvas shoe with a jute fiber sole.

Eyelet - A type of embroidery with small holes that are cut into the fabric.

F

Fabric content - The types of fibers that make up a particular garment.

Faux leather - Imitation leather made of materials other than animal skins. Faux leather is lighter and easier to clean than leather.

Faux suede - An animal-friendly alternative to traditional suede leather, made from polyester microfiber that's woven into a soft-yet-sturdy fabric.

G

Garter - A strap used to hold up stockings, usually attached to a lingerie belt, corset or panty.

Gingham - A lightweight, plain-weave cotton cloth checked in white and another color.

H

Hacci - A lightweight and wrinkle-resistant fabric blend known for its extremely soft texture. Often used in loungewear.

Halter - A dress, top or swimsuit that is tied around the neck, exposing the back and shoulders. Also called “halter neck”.

Handkerchief hem - The hem of a skirt or blouse that is gently jagged to form flowing points that resemble a handkerchief or scarf.

Henley - A collarless top with buttons that stop midway down the top.

High-low hem - A garment with an uneven hemline that is short in the front and long in the back.

Hipster - A mid-rise style of panty or swim bottom.

Hook and eye closure - A garment fastening system featuring a small hook that is inserted into an eye loop to keep the garment closed.

Houndstooth - A small broken-check pattern woven into a fabric.

I

Inseam - The length of the inside seam of pants or shorts, measured from crotch to hem.

J

Jeggings - One of our signature denim fits. This style has the look of jeans and the comfortable feel of leggings with a tummy control panel to shape your middle.

Jersey - A stretchy, finely-knitted fabric that is often used for fitted garments and is great for draping.

Jumpsuit - A one-piece garment that incorporates a top and pants.

K

Keyhole - A teardrop or round-shaped cutout that fastens at the front or back neckline.

Kimono sleeve - A sleeve cut as part of the bodice, resulting in a wide, sloping shape.

L

Legging - Tight, form-fitting stretch pants. Sometimes referred to as tights.

Lightly-lined - A bra or bikini top featuring thin modesty pads at the bust, but no extra enhancement padding.

Linen - A lightweight, breathable fabric ideal for warmer months.

Lingerie - Panties, bras sleepwear and other intimate apparel.

Loungewear - Casual clothing made to wear during leisure time, whether at home or out and about.

Lycra® - Lycra® is a trademark name for spandex.

M

Macramé - A technique of weaving or knotting cord into a decorative design.

Maxi - A long, full-length skirt or dress.

Mesh - A knit, woven, or knotted fabric of net-like open texture. Mesh is lightweight and breathable.

Metallic - A fabric, fiber or color with a metal-like sheen.

Mini skirt - A skirt with a hemline well above the knees.

Mini dress - A skirt with a hemline well above the knees.

Midi dress - A dress with a hemline that hits anywhere from just below the knee to a few inches above the ankle.

Mock neck - A collar that is lower and looser than a turtleneck and not folded over.

Monochromatic - The use of a single color or shades of the same color.

N

Natural waist - A seam or waistband that secures or falls at the natural curve of the body, between the hips and the ribcage.

Nylon - A synthetic fiber known for its strength and stain resilience.

O

One shoulder - An asymmetrical dress or top that covers one shoulder, but not the other.

Oversized - Garments that are enlarged and meant to be worn loose.

P

Paillette - Small shiny disks, sequins, or spangles sewn on a garment as decoration.

Paisley - A curved, swirled pattern with teardrop shapes.

Patch pockets - A small pocket found on pants or shorts which look like a piece of material sewn on to resemble a patch.

Peacoat - A heavy double-breasted coat with a notched collar that is typically made from a wool blend.

Peasant - A romantic style top or dress commonly distinguished by a low neckline, ruffles, or free flowing material.

Peek-a-boo - A part of a garment that has been cut out to reveal skin.

Peep toe - A shoe style where the front section is cut away to reveal the toes.

Pencil skirt - A skirt that is cut in a straight line from the hips to the hem and usually knee length. Can either taper in at the hem or fall straight down from the hip.

Peplum - A short flared piece of fabric that extends from the waist of a garment creating a flounce shape.

Piping - A fabric trim stitched along the seams or edges of a garment. Trim color can be the same color as the garment or in a contrasting color.

Pleat - A type of fold formed by doubling fabric back upon itself and securing it in place.

Pointelle - A stitch that creates a tiny, open-worked pattern that adds a lightweight, delicate texture to clothing.

Poncho - A circular piece of fabric with a hole cut out for the head, usually worn as a cape or jacket.

Poplin - A heavyweight and durable tightly-woven plain-weave fabric that has fine, crisscrossing ribs.

Puff sleeve - A voluminous sleeve created by gathering fabric around the armhole. Sleeves can be varying lengths.

Push-up - A bra or swim top designed with underwire, padded cups or both, giving the impression of a larger cup size.

R

Racerback - A top where the back is cut away in a T-shape to reveal the shoulder blades.

Reversible - Clothing that is meant to be flipped inside-out and worn two ways.

Ribbed - A fabric texture where small, fine lines or rows are knitted closely together.

Romper - A one-piece garment combining a shirt and shorts.

Ruched - A sewing technique where fabric is gathered in a repeating pattern creating a rippled appearance. Often used to create draping and texture in a garment.

Ruffle - An ornamental strip of fabric tightly gathered or pleated on one edge and applied to a garment.

S

Satin - A silky, lustrous fabric with a smooth, shiny surface.

Scoop neck - A low, U-shaped or round neckline.

Sharkbite - A type of hem that has an uneven cut with two points in the front and two points in the back. The jagged look has the appearance of a shark bite. Also called a “handkerchief hem”

Sheer - A fabric that is thin and transparently.

Shirt dress - A dress that resembles a lengthened shirt, commonly with buttons down the front.

Silhouette - The outline or shape a garment creates when worn.

Silk - A soft, lustrous fiber made from the cocoon of a silkworm.

Skinny jean - A form-fitting slim jean or pant that hugs the body and featured a tapered leg.

Skort - Shorts that have a front covering to resemble a skirt.

Smocking - An embroidery technique that gathers a section of the material into tight pleats, holding them together with parallel stitches so that it can stretch.

Spaghetti straps - A very thin shoulder strap.

Spandex - Shiny, synthetic fabric used to add elasticity to garments.

Straight leg - A pant or jean with a uniform fit from the top of the pant leg to the bottom of the leg opening.

Surplice - A faux wrap-style neckline that forms a V-shape from two pieces of fabric being crossed diagonally over one another.

T

Tank top - A short, sleeveless top.

Terry - A pile fabric, usually cotton, with loops on both sides.

Thong - Lingerie or swimwear with a narrow piece of cloth that passes between the buttock and attaches to a band around the hips.

Tie dye - A pattern created by dyeing fabric after knotting it to create an irregular pattern.

Trumpet sleeve - A top with a sleeve falling straight to the elbow, where it flares in the shape of a trumpet.

Tulle - A very fine mesh-like net fabric. Tulle comes in loose and tight weaves, giving the fabric different texture.

Tunic - A top that is either loose or tight fitting and extends to the hips or below. Depending on the length, can be worn as a shirt or a dress.

Turtleneck - A garment with a close fitting, round and high collar that folds over and covers the neck.

Tweed - A soft, thick fabric woven from contrasting woolen yarns.

Twofer - A one-piece garment that looks like two pieces layered together. Often appears as a long sleeved, collared blouse under a T-shirt.

U

Underwire - Rigid, U-shaped wire at the base of a bra or swim top. Provides structure and support to for the bust and enhances cleavage.

V

Velvet - A closely woven fabric that that has a thick short pile on one side and is soft to the touch.

V-neck - A neckline with a V-shaped front.

Viscose - A semi-synthetic, breathable type of rayon fabric often used as a silk substitute.

W

Wedge - A shoe with a sole in the form of a wedge that extends from the heel to the middle of the shoe or the front. The heel has a triangular or wedge shape.