Test Your Fashion Vocabulary!

By: Dustyn Deerman
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Test Your Fashion Vocabulary!
Image: Eva-Katalin / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

There's a vocabulary you tend to adopt if you belong to a particular group — groups ranging from as small as your family to as large as the United States of America. For those who like to refer to themselves as fashion-forward, there should be no surprise that the community has a whole laundry list of jargon and terminology that's totally unique to the industry. For starters, let's make it clear that runway does not mean a tarmac, a look book is not what's sitting on your nightstand and when it comes to Anna? Well, we're definitely not talking about your cousin.

If you're part of the community, certain words are like mottos. The average Joe might be aware of a phrase or two (or even a brand), but if you're someone who lives for fashion, "Galliano" rolls off your tongue as easily as "great."

If you long to be a part of the community that brings you the hottest trends, if your goal in life is to be a trendsetter and if you think you have what it takes to be a leader rather than a follower, then you better hope you can pass this quiz.

Procrastination is so passe. Strut your fashion know-how now!

Haute couture
Wiki Commons by Rhododendrites
Which of these terms refers to expensive, often exclusive items designed by leading fashion houses?
Posh
Chichi
Vogue
Haute couture
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Often regarded as high-end fashion, haute couture is exclusive custom-fitted clothing produced by the world's leading fashion houses. These are the items often highlighted during fashion week each year by brands such as Brock Collection, Michael Kors Collection and Oscar de la Renta.

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Athleisure
Wiki Commons by Lululemon
Wearing gym clothes as everyday fashion is referred to as what?
Gym Chic
Athleisure
Yoga Fashion
Sport Style
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With a growing concern for health and fitness in today's society, athleisure wear is a trend that, while designed for workouts, is often found in other settings such as the workplace, school and casual social gatherings. Who hasn't rocked leggings or yoga pants while running errands?

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Passé
ssiltane / E+ / Getty Images
How would you refer to a style that is no longer in fashion or is out of date?
Ancient
Passé
Gauche
Tacky
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Most people would agree that there are some trends that should never return to see the light of day. In the fashion industry, a style that's behind the times and past its prime would be referred to as being passé.

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Catwalk
webphotographeer / E+ / Getty Images
What is another name for the fashion runway?
The bridge
Sidewalk
Plank
Catwalk
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Also known as a runway, the catwalk is a narrow flat platform used by models to present high-fashion items. During fashion week, you'll see big names such as Shalon Harlow, Shanelle Nyasiase and Gisele Bundchen strutting their stuff.

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Queen Anne
Wiki Commons by Charles Boit
What kind of neckline is this?
Sabrina
Cowl
Queen Anne
V-neck
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A regal cut that features a collar in the back and a dipped neckline, this style is most often seen nowadays in wedding dresses. It was originally seen back in the 1700s, and the style was popularized by Queen Anne of Britain, hence the name.

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Micro
Mlenny / E+ / Getty Images
Which is the shortest skirt length?
Micro
Mini
Maxi
Midi
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Skirts are a versatile part of any wardrobe, as they can be worn bare-legged in summer and with brightly colored leggings in the winter months. While short skirts have been around dating back to 5400 B.C., they became recognized as a fashion trend starting in the 1960s.

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Box
Wiki Commons by KDS4444
What kind of pleat is shown here?
Box
Stitched-down
Accordion
Knife
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Not sure what a pleat is? It's a fold in a garment created by doubling the fabric over itself and stitching it together at the top or the side. Pleats can be used as both a design element as well as for functionality and ease of movement.

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Leg-of-mutton
Wiki Commons / David Ring
This unusual sleeve style is referred to as which menu item?
Leg-of-mutton
Corn on the cob
Turkey leg
Lollipop
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

These gigantic sleeves, which balloon at the shoulders only to tapper to a tight fit at the elbow, were named after their unusual shape and were highly fashionable in the 1820s. While the fashion died out by 1837, it's seen a comeback in recent years.

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A-Line
Wiki Commons by David Hilowitz
Do you know which dress silhouette is shown here?
A-Line
Mermaid
Ballgown
Empire
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A-line, when referring to dresses or coats, generally means that it is fitted from the shoulders to the hips and widens from the hips down to the hemline, although for some designers, it can be used to describe something that widens from the shoulders to the hem, ignoring the torso.

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Peacoat
Mario Castello / Corbis / Getty Images
When the weather gets colder, we might throw on the coat shown here. Do you know it?
Trench coat
Duster
Peacoat
Parka
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though it was initially popularized by sailors in the 1720s, the modern renditions of this coat have been taking the world by storm. Often characterized by a short length, broad lapels and double-breasted buttons, trench coats have become immensely popular all over the world today!

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Ruche
Luka Storm / Cultura / Getty Images
What would you call a gathered frill or pleated piece of fabric used as decoration on a garment?
Boning
Gore
Harem
Ruche
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There can be quite the controversy as to what exactly ruching means in the sewing community. While some state that a strip of fabric that is gathered or pleated down both sides and is inserted into a garment is considered ruching, others have a stricter interpretation and argue that it's only ruching if it's gathered or pleated down the center.

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Gauchos
Guerilla / Getty Images / Wiki Commons
A wide-legged pant that hits the middle of your calf is referred to as what?
Gauchos
Capri pants
High waters
Sailor pants
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

They were briefly in style during the 1970s, and the name for these pants come from a style once worn by South American pampas cowboys in Argentina and Uruguay.

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Frog
Wiki Commons by Pearson Scott Foresman
This ornamental braiding used to fasten the front of a garment is named after an animal. Do you know which one?
Panda
Frog
Crocodile
Butterfly
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

No one is quite sure how this design got its name, but it's indeed referred to as a frog in the fashion industry. Before this design turned ornamental, it was used to describe a looped device used to hold a weapon or tool more than 300 years ago.

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Prêt–à–porter
Squaredpixels / E+ / Getty Images
Which of these terms mean that your clothes are ready to wear?
Prêt–à–porter
Bespoke
Haute couture
Vamp
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Decidedly French, "prêt–à–porter" refers to clothes that would be considered "off-the-rack" or ready to wear. These are the items anyone could pick up in a department store and are mass-produced.

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The inside of the pant leg
Comstock / Stockbyte / Getty Images
What does an inseam measure?
The length from armpit to waist
The diameter of your thigh
The inside of the pant leg
The length of a skirt
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When someone goes in for a fitting and the seamstress measures a person's inseam, they determine the length from the crotch to the bottom of the leg. Petite-size pants often will have an inseam up to two inches shorter than the average pair of pants.

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Asymmetrical design
Keith Wright / Photodisc / Getty Images
A design where one side is cut differently than the other is ...
Asymmetrical design
A-Line
Bob design
Sheath
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One of the world's rising trends in the fashion industry is asymmetry. From one-shouldered tops to shifted triangle sandals, this trend is the go-to style for those who gear to be bold, edgy and 'new.'

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Denim
LaylaBird / E+ / Getty Images
What would you call this pants material?
Cotton
Silk
Denim
Corduroy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Denim is most commonly known as a material known used in the creation of jeans. Jeans were created in 1873 by Jacob Davis and Lvi Strauss in efforts to supply miners with pants that would be more durable.

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Bandeau
Juan Silva / Photodisc / Getty Images
This popularized top made from only a band of fabric is known as what?
Crop top
Tube top
Bandeau
Tanktop
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While similar to the tube top, a bandeau is a more narrow version that wraps around a woman's bust. Halle Berry was one of the first to fuel this trend when she wore a bandeau with matching pants to the MTV Video Music Awards.

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Applique
AscentXmedia / E+ / Getty Images
The flowers on this dress would be:
Sequin
Embroidery
Buttons
Applique
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Applique is when pieces of fabric in varying shapes and patterns are sewn or adhered into a larger piece of fabric to form an overall picture or pattern. It's usually utilized as decoration.

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Seam allowance
Wiki Commons by PKM
What word describes the area between the edge of the fabric and the stitching line?
Edgestitch
Seam allowance
Finish seams
Grade seam
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Seam allowance can often affect not only how fabric pieces fit together but also how the garment will hang on an individual. Depending on what a stylist is going for, a seam allowance can be anywhere between 1/4" and several inches wide.

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Bustled
Jupiterimages / PHOTOS.com>> / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
When the back of a gown is gathered and pinned up, it is:
Hemmed
Pleated
Bustled
Stitched
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Originally, a bustle was a padded undergarment used to add shape to the back of a woman's dress. Nowadays, while bustling can add that shape, it's more practically used to pin up the train of a dress.

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Macramé
Zen Rial / Moment / Getty Images
What would you call clothing that is created by knotting cord or string into a pattern?
Woven
Knit
Macramé
Puffed
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The macramé style comes from an Arabic weavers term meaning "fringe" in the 13th century, where the fringe was originally used to help keep the flies off the animals in the hot desert.

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Empire
Wiki Commons by Merry-Joseph Blondel
A waistline right under the bust is known as what?
Empire
Basque
Natural
Dropped
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The empire waist style emphasizes one of the narrowest points on a woman's body and is excellent for shorter women. The raised waistline helps to create the appearance of added height.

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Deep V
Aleksandr Morozov / Moment Open / Getty Images
What neckline does this dress have?
Deep V
Cowl
Bateau
Portrait
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There is no overstating the significance of a flattering neckline when searching for the perfect dress or top. This universal neckline helps to elongate the neck and add depth to any look!

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An eco-friendly rayon
Wiki Commons by Matti Blume
What is Lyocell?
A thick, coarse yarn
A triangular-shaped belt buckle
An eco-friendly rayon
A pleated back dress
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Made from dissolving pulp, rayon was first developed in North Carolina back in 1972. Soft, absorbent and resistant to wrinkles, it's no surprise that Lyocell would be more expensive to produce than cotton or viscose rayon.

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A dress with simple, straight lines
Massimo Calmonte / Moment Open / Getty Images / Wiki Commons by David Ring
How would one describe a shift dress?
A dress with a plunging neckline
A dress with a ruffled hem
A dress with a cutout design
A dress with simple, straight lines
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

No woman's closet is complete without a shift dress. Typically featuring little to no embellishment, this elegant, understated style is perfect for the minimalist in all of us and is perfect for summer.

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A small decorative case
Dana Neibert / Stockbyte / Getty Images
What is a minaudière?
A small woven hat
A small decorative case
A thin-banded braided ring
A thin no-show sock
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hitting the scene in the 1930s, the minaudière was a dainty accessory meant to replace the use of a purse. They're typically only big enough to hold a few small items, and they often have metallic finishes and are sometimes detailed with semi-precious stones.

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Hand
triloks / E+ / Getty Images
The texture of fabric is specifically called the _____?
Tooth
Hand
Foot
Head
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The hand is fabric quality, unsurprisingly named so because we asses this without hands. Determining a fabric's hand is a combination of factors including physical, physiological and psychological.

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Hem
Westhoff / E+ / Getty Images
What word refers to the finished edge of a piece of fabric?
Fabric
Hem
Endcap
Point final
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While there are many different styles of hems that vary in complexity, the most common hem folds up a cut piece of fabric, folds it again and then sews it down. The depth of a hem often will depend on the style a stylist is trying to achieve.

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A type of weaving
aristotoo / E+ / Getty Images
What is a herringbone?
A type of weaving that results in a V-shaped pattern resembling the skeleton of a herring
A particular style that is popular for a short or long period of time
The way a particular garment hangs or fits on the body
A fancy way of explaining someoneÛªs clothing, style or manner of dress
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sometimes confused with a chevron pattern, the herringbone is a distinctive V shape that breaks its pattern at the reversal. Often called HBTs, the fabric was used in uniforms by several militaries during and after WWII.

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Yoke
Wiki Commons by Educationeducationeducation
Which of the following is NOT a type of fabric?
Jersey
Velvet
Lycra
Yoke
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The yoke fits around the neck and shoulders or around the hips of a garment, and the pattern is used to provide support and aids in regulating the fullness of a garment. This style was first seen on bodices in the 1880s.

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A tie-dye technique
Wagner Campelo / Moment / Getty Images
What is Shibori?
A type of silk
A tie-dye technique
A style of lace
A shoe style
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dating back to the 8th century in Japan, shibori is a manual resist-dyeing technique. While there is an unlimited number of ways that one can bind fabric to create patterns, the Kanoko shibori is the style that most Westerners would refer to as tie-dye.

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Peplum
Wiki Commons by Zemleanichnaya
What would you call a ruffle or flare that sits right below the waist line?
Peplum
Tulip pleat
Virago sash
Draped puff
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While the peplum’s height of popularity was in the 1940s and '80s, it was around long before then. Appearances of this unique silhouette date as far back as ancient Greece when the Grecians wore an outfit called a peplos. The Peplos was a long tube of fabric, draped and tied at the waist and then cinched again to create the peplum shape.

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A shoe with a canvas upper and rope sole
luxxtek / E+ / Getty Images
What is an espadrille?
A flatform sandal
A wool-lined boot
A shoe with a canvas upper and rope sole!
A moccasin-style slip-on shoe
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dating back to 1322, the term "espadrille" is French but comes from "espardenya" in Catalan, or "alpargata" and "esparteña" in Spanish. Both terms refer to a type of shoe made with esparto, which is a tough, wiry Mediterranean grass used in making rope.

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Armscye
Eugenio Marongiu / Cultura / Getty Images
The shape of an armhole is known as what?
Armscye
Juliet
Pagoda
Magyar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Armscye, sometimes pronounced "Arm’s Eye," is a Scottish term in origin and refers to the armhole opening in a garment where the sleeve is joined. When measuring the armscye, the length is the total length of the edge and the width is the distance across the hole at its widest point.

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A cape-like batwing sleeve
Wiki Commons by The Metropolitan Museum of Art
What is a Dolman sleeve?
A short, fluttery sleeve
A sleeve that covers just the top of the arm
A cape-like batwing sleeve
The top portion of this sleeve flares from the sleeve head toward the wrist.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Different from set-in sleeves, dolman sleeves are usually cut as a single piece. Full and roomy, the sweeping sleeve has been used for women's clothing since around 1910.

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Handkerchief hem
Wiki Commons by Russell Patterson / holycalamity
What is the hemline style shown here?
Asymmetrical hem
Handkerchief hem
Blind hem
Scarf hem
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Asymmetric hems are created from fabric panels of different lengths sewn together to create a hem with several corners that hang down as points. The hem resembles a handkerchief (hence the name) that is held by the center so that its corners hang down as points.

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A gathered piece of fabric
Wiki Commons by Christian Gullager
What is a furbelow?
A formal hat
A-line coat style
A style of lace
A gathered piece of fabric
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In sewing, a furbelow is a strip of fabric, lace or ribbon tightly gathered or pleated on one edge and applied to a garment. It has often also been referred to as ruffle, frill or flounce.

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Paisley
Thinkstock / Stockbyte / Getty Images
What pattern is shown in the pants here?
Gingham
Paisley
Plaid
Checkerboard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Paisley has been a popular pattern in fashion for years, especially following the hippie-inspired styles of the '60s and '70s. It's been having a resurgence of late with brands such as Saint Laurent, Burberry and Gucci adopting paisley.

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Crinoline
Wiki Commons by Mabalu
What is the stiff material often worn under gowns to make them appear fuller?
Foam
Tulle
Crinoline
Batting
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Crinoline was originally made popular in the 1860s as a structured petticoat used to enable skirts to spread out more fully. These skirts were hazardous in the past, at risk of catching fire or being caught in wagon wheels and machinery. The style still prevails today as designers find ways to recreate the silhouette in ways that are both fashionable and comfortable for the modern woman.

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