Fashion Lingo Quiz

By: Ian Fortey
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Fashion Lingo Quiz
Image: filadendron / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

The world of fashion is a pretty intense and diverse one that has been around for centuries. Clothing has evolved from simple utilitarian garments meant to save us from the elements to something that can show off our individuality and express our style in ways few other outward things possible can. Some of us enjoy the simple, comfortable styles that are as basic as clothing ever was, while others live for high fashion from popular designs that come in the most luxurious of fabrics. But from top to bottom, from fanciest to simplest, it all has to be designed and produced, and that means you need to understand how it's made and how it's even talked about. You can't alter a hemline without knowing what that means. You need to know the difference between a princess line and an empire waist if you're heading out for an evening in one or the other. You need to know your earth tones from your jewel tones!

If you're the kind of person who lives for fashion, whether it's on the runways of Paris or the racks in Target, then surely you know some of the jargon behind it all. And if so, then you'll have no problem with this quiz!

Fashion Lingo 1 Dolman sleeve is another name for this. What is it?
Contour
Ruche
Batwing
Armseye
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A batwing sleeve is what you call one that is a tight fit at the wrist but then expands out to be very loose by the time it hits under the arm. From the rear, it's kind of cape-like and does resemble the wing of a bat.

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Fashion Lingo 2 Which of these was first credited to Christian Dior?
A-line
Ant-pill
Ombre
Weft
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A-line refers to a dress or a skirt, and it means that it fits from the shoulder (for a dress) or the waist (for a skirt) then flares out to a wider hemline at the bottom as it goes down the way the letter "A" looks.

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Fashion Lingo 4 This is a decoration that goes on some fabric. What is it?
Applique
Bespoke
Selvedge
Havelock
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Applique is a term that doesn't just work in fashion but, in those terms, it refers to shapes and designs cut from one textile that are then applied to another as a decoration or design on the original piece.

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Fashion Lingo 5 Which of these is an unfitted style that wasa popular in the '60s?
Pleat
Seam
Deadstock
Shift
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

About as basic a dress style as you can get, the shift is a non-fitted dress-style with simple, straight lines. It's also a term for a specific kind of undergarment that was meant to protect clothing from sweat and body oil.

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Fashion Lingo 6 This term refers to an ornamental braid. Do you know what it is?
Galloon
Ruche
Bretelles
Herringbone
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Generally a narrow, braided band, usually in a metallic color, like gold or silver, a galloon is a decorative accent that can be found on military garb, evening wear and, in some cases, fancy pillows and furniture.

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Fashion Lingo 7 Which of these is a techinque to help utilize stretch in fabric?
Decolletage
Princess line
Bias cut
Inseam
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A bias cut involves cutting fabric on the bias, or a diagonal, in order to take advantage of its stretch and elasticity. A bias cut ensures the fabric is better able to fit the body in some areas and drape better in others.

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Fashion Lingo 8 This is what happens when layers of fabric are stitched together. What is it?
Espadrille
Ombre
Weft
Seam
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Seams occur any time you're sewing fabric together with some kind of stitching. That area where two or more layers are joined must be joined by a seam of some kind in order to hold it together properly.

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Fashion Lingo 9 Do you know which of these somewhat resembles suspenders?
Plackets
Bretelles
Distressing
Wefts
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bretelles are a decorative touch on a garment that extends from the belt in the front to over the shoulders and around the back. They can also run diagonally from one side and over the shoulder on the other side.

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Fashion Lingo 10 Which of these involves folding or doubling parts of fabric?
Pret-a-porter
Herringbone
Pleat
Empire waist
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A pleat in fabric is meant to make the fabric look fuller by bulking it up. The fabric is folded or layered and held in place with a stitch of some kind and is most likely the sort of thing you'd see in a pair of pants, but pleats can be found in a variety of garments, including dresses.

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Fashion Lingo 11 This style became popular during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte. What is it called?
Empire waist
Pret-a-porter
Havelock
Epaulets
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An empire waist is a very high-waisted cut in which the waistline begins right below the bustline. They were the go-to fashion during Napoleon's reign as emperor.

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Fashion Lingo 12 To achieve which of these must there be no waistline seam?
Deadstock
Decolletage
Tapering
Princess line
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A princess line is what you get when the fabric is cut from the shoulder all the way down to the hemline with no seam or separation of any kind at the waist. It can still have shape thanks to something called darts which are V-shaped tucks in the fabric.

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Fashion Lingo 13 Do you know which of these is a shoe?
Basque
Espadrille
Warp
Lapel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An espadrille is a shoe that has a canvas or fabric top and a sole made out of something called esparto rope. They're usually flats, but they can also have heels. They're a remarkably old style of shoe and date back to at least the 14th century.

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Fashion Lingo 14 Do you know which of these is a type of opening in fabric?
Bretelles
Lapel
Placket
Frog
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A placket is a slit or opening that allows you to put on a garment. You can usually find them at the wrists and neck, on the front of a shirt or at the top of a skirt. Plackets are sometimes hidden with fabric that overlaps them.

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Fashion Lingo 15 Which of these can protect the back of the neck?
Peplum
Havelock
Ruching
Spangles
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A havelock is a type of hat that has a piece of brim or fabric extending from the back edge of the hat down the base of the neck. They can be affixed in a variety of ways but generally exist only to stop your neck from getting a sunburn.

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Fashion Lingo 16 You'll find which of these on the bottom edge of a piece of clothing?
Hem
Pleat
Taper
Lapel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When you fold and sew the edge of a piece of clothing, it creates a hem. Its purpose is to make sure you're not leaving the raw fabric exposed, which could fray easily and, to most people, just doesn't look good.

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Fashion Lingo 17 In French, which of these terms means "shaded"?
Gele
Bespoke
Eyelet
Ombre
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ombre is the term you'd use to describe the gradual blending of color in a fabric or a garment from one hue to another. That often involves a dark shade transitioning to a light shade across the length of the piece.

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Fashion Lingo 18 One of these is a V-shaped weave. Which is it?
Herringbone
Dirndl
Filigree
Crinoline
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A herringbone pattern is something you're most likely to find in tweed or wool. Its name comes from the visual look of the skeleton of a herring fish which, all things being equal, doesn't sound super fashionable.

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Fashion Lingo 19 To get this effect, you'll probably want pretty minimal tailoring. What is it?
Jouy
Lettuce hem
Boxy
Batwing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A boxy look is achieved when you get just what the name implies, something angular and square in shape. It's usually reserved for a garment that fits the top of the body with the shoulders filling out the "box" look.

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Fashion Lingo 20 Which of these is found on the shoulders?
Galloon
Havelock
Peplum
Epaulets
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Often found in military uniforms but also used for decorative effect in other fashions, epaulets are shoulder adornments that are rather dramatic and noticeable. Some epaulets can be quite large and ostentatious.

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Fashion Lingo 21 Do you know which of these terms relates to a made-to-order garment?
Pret-a-porter
Haute couture
Espadrille
Bespoke
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Often used when referring to men's fashion, anything bespoke is specifically designed and assembled as a made-to-order garment for the person who will wear it, as opposed to something you just grab off the rack.

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Fashion Lingo 22 These are folded flaps of cloth. What are they?
Inseam
Princess line
Lapel
Epaulets
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lapels are typically seen on a coat or jacket and are folded to either side of the opening and around the collar. They're most often found on formal clothing, but they don't have to be. Lapels can be rather narrow and understated or very wide, depending on the cut.

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Fashion Lingo 23 Which of these terms refers to how yarn is woven in fabric?
Weft
Unitard
Look book
Lyocell
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When yarn is shuttled back and forth across the width of the fabric being woven, that is referred to as the weft, but it can also be called the woof — if you're into more fun, dog-themed words. It's not as strong as some weaves.

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Fashion Lingo 24 If you're looking to make a fabric more wear-resistant, which of these applies?
Color-fast
Anti-pill
Decolletage
Empire waist
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pills are little fabric balls that can form on fabric as it ages and wears down, but an anti-pill treatment will prevent this from happening. If pilling is left untreated, it tends to make the fabric look old and messy, and it will eventually wear out.

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Fashion Lingo 25 Do you know which of these terms refers to a "self-finished" edge?
Tapered
Selvage
Ruche
Sanforized
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Selvage — or selvedge, depending on what part of the world you're in — is the name for the finished edge of fabric that keeps it from fraying and unraveling. They're called "self-finished" because they don't need a hem. The weft in the fabric loops back and finishes each row in the fabric nice and neat.

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Fashion Lingo 26 This refers to a ruffled or flared piece of fabric. What is it?
Minaudiere
Panniers
Peplum
Ruche
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Peplum comes from a Greek word that means "tunic." It refers to a decorative sort of frill or skirt-like addition of fabric that typically hangs below the waist and can start as high up as the bodice.

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Fashion Lingo 27 Which one of these is made from cotton in a twill or plain weave?
Muslin
Velveteen
Polonaise
Chiffon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Velveteen is the name for fake velvet made from simple cotton. Normal velvet can also be made from cotton, but historically, it was also made from things like silk and is distinguished from velveteen by its sheen and ability to drape.

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Fashion Lingo 28 If the dye in your garment doesn't bleed, what is this called?
Pret-a-porter
Distressed
Colorfast
Stonewashed
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Colorfast refers to a fabric that is treated or prepared in a way that prevents the color from bleeding or running when you wash it. There was a time when washing a red sock in a load of whites would turn everything pink because it wasn't colorfast.

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Fashion Lingo 29 Which of these refers to clothing that reduces in thickness down the length of the garment?
Lapels
Pleated
Distressed
Tapered
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tapered is how you would refer to hems or seams that diminish in size and thickness from top to bottom. It's a general term you can apply to the same effect anywhere, not just in fashion.

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Fashion Lingo 30 One of these terms refers to the upper portion of a woman's torso. What is it?
Distressed
Decolletage
Ruche
Weft
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Decolletage refers to the exposed neck, shoulders, upper chest and back area. It's whatever portion of the body would be exposed above the neckline of a garment, though it usually means something with a lower neckline, deep enough to expose some cleavage.

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Fashion Lingo 31 In English, which of these terms means "ready to wear"?
Basque
Haute couture
Pret-a-porter
Espadrille
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pret-a-porter clothes, as the French to English translation suggests, are ready to wear. This is opposed to anything tailored or custom-made that is made for a specific person's size and shape. Essentially, pret-a-porter is off the rack but still high quality.

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Fashion Lingo 32 Which of these terms means "high fashion" in English?
Haute couture
Galloon
Havelock
Bespoke
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Haute couture can be translated as "high fashion" or even "high sewing" and is the general term for high-quality, well-made clothing. In France, it cannot legally be used unless the clothing meets certain design standards.

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Fashion Lingo 33 Do you know which of these refers to brown tones?
Pantone
Jewel tones
Earth tones
Monotone
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Earth tones is a catchall term for a color palette that is reminiscent of the Earth itself and, specifically, brown shades. Mud, soil, sand, rock and all of the colors that align with those natural features are considered Earth tones.

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Fashion Lingo 34 If something doesn't sell, what is it called?
Knock off
Lagenlook
Panache
Deadstock
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If a full season goes by and some fabric or designs haven't been sold, that qualifies as deadstock. Once a new season begins, no one wants last season's look, right? It could also be the result of a company having too much stock to sell, or the design has a defect that puts consumers off.

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Fashion Lingo 3 Do you know which of these involves a fitted bodice or jacket?
Pleat
Princess line
Basque
Lapel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A basque is not as firmly defined as you might like it to be and originally meant a bodice or jacket that had tails. It later came to mean a corset that flared down past the waistline. However the cut works, it's generally characterized by something fitted at the top and flared and looser down below.

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Fashion Lingo 35 This makes fabric look older or worn. What is it?
Distressing
Applique
Ombre
Lame
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Distressed fabric is fabric that has a lived-in feel and has been made to look older than it is. How a fabric is distressed depends on the type of fabric it is. Jeans, for instance, can be distressed by repeated washing or filing away at some of the material.

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