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    Do You Know Your Fashion Lingo?

    Do You Know Your Fashion Lingo?

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    While the fashion industry generally puts more emphasis on visuals rather than words, there are numerous terms and definitions that must be understood to avoid sounding like a chump around the fashionistas. But fashion lingo isn't something you'll learn in elementary school, high school, or even in fashion school for that matter — it's something you'll pick up throughout the years while overhearing women gossip, during the occasional visit to the local mall, on TV, or in your favorite fashion or lifestyle magazine.

    The following list features some of the fashion lingo you should have in your vocabulary; some terms are annoying, overused and pretentious, but in your mission to become a well-rounded dude, it helps to know some fashion expressions.

    Descriptive lingo

    The first set of terms and phrases are used to describe people, and what they should and shouldn't wear.

    Haute couture
    Haute couture is a French term that describes high fashion. If an item is characterized as "haute couture," it means that it's custom-made. Haute couture connotes exclusivity, and one-of-a-kind clothes made from the finest quality materials that usually cost more than $10,000. You know, the kind of threads celebrities wear to upscale events like awards shows and movie premieres.

    Prt—porter is French for ready-to-wear , and is used to describe high-end designer wear. However, unlike haute couture, prt—porter clothing isn't one of a kind. Prt—porter clothing is pricey and you'll find it off the rack at high-end department stores and boutiques. Examples of popular prt—porter designers include Jean-Paul Gaultier, Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci (FYI: these designers also have haute couture collections).

    Faux pas
    A faux pas is a blunder that can occur in social settings, as well as in fashion. In other words, it's an error in (style) judgment that should be avoided at all cost. Common fashion faux pas include wearing white socks with dark trousers and wearing sunglasses indoors.

    Glitterati is a term used to describe a crowd of attractive people who tend to be well-dressed, usually referred to as the elite.

    Trs chic
    Trs chic means very fashionable; it's usually used to describe a specific item, like a suit, for example, or as a compliment for a place or an event.

    Pice de rsistance
    In food lingo, plat de rsistance means main dish. In fashion, pice de rsistance is used to describe an important item, whether it's a must-have item of the season or an item that stands out from an ensemble.

    Du jour
    If it's an item du jour , that means it's ultra trendy.

    The term pass is used to describe something that was once in style (see du jour ), but no longer is; basically, it's a thing of the past.

    The term old-school is used to describe a fashion item that has a retro, vintage or classic look. A lot of old-school athletic wear (i.e. from the '70s and '80s) such as sneakers, tracksuits and T-shirts have been making a comeback.

    From skater and goth to trainers and hoodies, get the lowdown on these popular terms...

    Have a style question ? Get it answered by AskMen's guyQ.


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