Fundamentals of FashionFashion Terminology

Why wear clothing?1. Protection-Clothing that provides safe guards

to the body

2. Adornment-Added decoration or

ornamentation

3. Identification- Establishing who someone is

or what they do

4. Modesty-Covering the body according to the

code of decency established by society

5. Status- Shows ones rank or position in

comparison to others

Accessories• Articles added to complete or enhance

an outfit- shoes, jewelry, belts, handbags,

etc…

Apparel

• All men's,

women's, and

children's

clothing

Avant-Guarde

• A French expression that in the clothing

industry means being ahead of fashion.

– Daring and unconventional

– “far out” do not appeal to most people

– ex. Cut out clothing, bright hair colors,

extreme lip color

– Don’t last long

Classic

• A fashion that

retains general

acceptance

over a very

extended

period of time

• What are

examples of

classics?

Composite

• A garment that

is a

combination of

tailored and

draped.

Design Detail

• The various garment parts that distinguish

styles. Necklines, collars, sleeves, bodice,

lapels, hemlines, etc. (a T-shirt is a garment

type, the neckline changes the style of that

garment. i.e. crew neck, Henley, v-neck, etc.)

Draped

• Wrapped or hung

on the body and

usually held in

place with pins,

buttons, toggles,

sash or belt.

Fad

• A fashion with a

sudden burst of

popularity- temporary

• What fads do you

notice this year at

school?

Fashion

• The currently

accepted style.

• What are the

current

fashions now?

Fashion Products: Goods/Services

Goods are tangible items

that are made,

manufactured, or grown.

They include apparel,

textiles, accessories, &

other fashion products.

Services are intangible

things that people do,

such as tasks performed

for customers.

Fashion Movement

• THE ONGOING MOTION OF FASHIONS

MOVING THROUGH THE FASHION CYCLE.

• THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT CAN

AFFECT THE FASHION MOVEMENT.

• ECONOMIC FACTORS

• SOCIAL FACTORS

• INTRODUCTION OF NEW FIBERS & FABRICS

• ADVERTISING TECHNIQUES

Fashion Leaders• FASHION LEADERS ARE TRENDSETTERS, OR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE

THE FIRST TO WEAR NEW STYLES, AFTER WHICH THE FASHION IS

ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

– TRENDSETTERS WERE ROYALTY OR WEALTHY

– IN TODAY’S SOCIETY, MEDIA CELEBRITIES OFTEN SET THE FASHION

CYCLES IN MOTION.

– EX: 2003 ACADEMY AWARDS, MANY OF THE FEMALE STARS

ATTENDING THE TELEVISED CEREMONY WORE CHANDELIER-STYLE

EARRINGS. THIS MEDIA EXPOSURE IMMEDIATELY CAUSED THAT

STYLE OF JEWELRY TO BE IN DEMAND.

• FASHION LEADERS MAY BE HIGH-PROFILE PEOPLE WHO GET MEDIA

ATTENTION. THIS EXPOSURE RESULTS IN MORE PEOPLE SEEING

THE NEW DESIGNS AND CAUSES THE GENERAL ACCEPTANCE OF A

FASHION.

Fashion Cycle– Introduction: the beginning of a new style, trend

– Rise: gain in popularity and familiarity

– Culmination/peak: the highest point or peak of the trend

– Decline: the end of a style or trend

– Outdated: no longer popular

FASHION THEORIES• TRICKLE-DOWN THEORY

• TRICKLE-UP THEORY

• TRICKLE-ACROSS THEORY

TRICKLE-DOWN THEORY• Fashion starts at the top with consumers

of higher socieconomic status & moves

down to the general public.

• According to this theory, people with lower

incomes, at the bottom of the ladder, will

only wear fashions that have become

popular among consumers with higher

incomes, at the top of the ladder.

• As more people begin to wear the

fashions, those at the top become less

interested in the fashion & begin looking

for something new.

TRICKLE-UP THEORY• FASHION STARTS WITH CONSUMERS ON

LOWER-INCOME LEVELS & THEN MOVES TO CONSUMERS WITH HIGHER INCOMES.

• CONSUMERS ON LOWER-INCOME LEVELS MAY ALSO INCLUDE YOUNGER CONSUMERS.

• EXAMPLES OF THIS THEORY:

– ATHLETIC APPAREL STYLE

– HAIR STYLE

– PUNK STYLE

– GRUNGE STYLE

TRICKLE-ACROSS THEORY• FASHION ACCEPTANCE BEGINS AMONG SEVERAL

SOCIOECONOMIC CLASSES AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE

THERE ARE FASHION LEADERS IN ALL GROUPS.

• THESE LEADERS INFLUENCE THEIR GROUPS TO ACCEPT

NEW STYLES.

• THIS THEORY IS ESPECIALLY PROBABLY IN THE 21ST

CENTURY BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS DESIGNER

FASHIONS TO BE COPIED QUICKLY & EASILY, MAKING THEM

AVAILABLE FOR ALL CONSUMERS.

$500.00 $125.00 $50.00

Fit

• The right

size or

how tight

or loose

the

clothing

is on the

person

wearing it

Garment

• Any article of

clothing- Dress,

coat, suit, sweater,

pants, etc…

Haute Couture (oat-koo-TOUR)• French for “Fine Sewing”

• Design that predominated until the 1950’s

• Made for the individual customer, look and fit take priority over the cost of materials and the time it takes to make

• The most costly garments, ranging from $2,000-$40,000.

• High price guarantees you have a one of a kind outfit or gown that fits you perfectly and has been designed with you in mind.

Ready to Wear

• Clothing mass produced in standard

sizes and sold to customers without

custom alterations.

Silhouette

• The shape of a clothing style shown by

its outer lines

Recurring cycle in skirt lengths: 20-30 years

Style

• A particular design, shape or type of apparel item.

The style of a garment is determined by the distinct

features that create its overall appearance.

• Each person develops their own over time.

Tailored

• Made by cutting fabric pieces and then

sewing them together to fit the body.

Trend• The movement of a fashion into and through the

marketplace

• How long a fashion remains popular

Wardrobe

• All the apparel a

person owns

including all

garments and

accessories.