A – Z Of Fashion Language

You’re a Basic Civilian, dahling. Those Zoris are so Of The Moment… ‘You’re totally rocking that Arm Party’ and ‘she’s so Lampshading…’

This is the official language of the Fashion Pack on social media. True insiders are using their own acronyms, words and phrases to exclude anyone not in the know.

So do you want to speak fashion?

Here is the A to Z of fashion lingo nonsense, to love or loathe in 2018.

A

Arm Party

An arm adorned with several big chunky bracelets. There are now web pages devoted to styling your arm with the correct bangles.

B

Basic

The ultimate insult. In fashion language, basic means to be utterly predictable. Think Kate Middleton. The term applies to women who still think it’s edgy to wear jeans ripped at the kneeand those who think Ugg bootsare still uber cool. Kate Moss famously called an Easyjet cabin crew member a ‘basic bitch’ whilst being escorted off her plane for being drunk.

Belfie

A belfie is a picture of your bum, taken from behind then posted on social media — ‘bottom’ and ‘selfie’. Think Kim Kardashian.

B.O.T.

That’s Bang On Trend! Say each letter individually, rather than ‘bot’ though.

C

Civilian

A person who is not part of the fashion world — i.e. normal. ‘Why is she at fashion week? You can tell that she’s just a civilian . . .’

D
Duck face

The deliberate pouty face to make lips look fuller and cheekbones more prominent during a selfie.

DRAZER

A ‘blazer dress’ — an Eighties double-breasted coat but is worn as a dress. Often bum-cheek short.

E
Everything

The ultimate compliment. ‘Dahling, that outfit is everything.’

Extra

So over-the-top as to be ridiculous. ‘Wow! Amanda looks a little extrain those heels today.’


F

Frow

The ‘front row’ of seats directly in front of the catwalk and the most desirable and exclusive place to sit at the shows. As used by A-listers, Vogue editors and (most recently) the Queen.

Fierce

Not angry — this means deeply cool. Think Beyoncé.

G

Groutfit

The all grey outfit. The grout fit has been celebrated as being chic, liberating and comfortable.

H

Hair Director

Don’t you dare call them hairdressers.They have a reputation for being fearsome divas, especially when addressed by the wrong title.I

Investment piece

Items of high fashion that increase in value, such as a classic designer handbags or piece of rare haute couture. Or “invest” in yourself by buying an item you believe will score you a job (or, rather ambitiously, a partner).

J

Jagged edges

Jeans need to be distressed or frayed at the hem to be on trend. “Jagged”, in other words.

K

Kicks

Never call a shoe a “shoe” in fashion. Kicks is a street culture word for trainers. It was apparently first used to signify shoes in 1897.

L

Lampshading

Sounds like a weird dating term but is used to describe someone dressed like a floor lamp. Your legs, in thigh-high boots, are the base and your baggy jumper the lampshade. Illuminating.

M

Mullet

Not the 80s footballer’s hairstyle or a type of sea fish, but an asymmetrical hemline where the hem is higher at the front or side than the back.

N

Nodel

An insult used in the fashion world to mean ‘Not Models’. Women who aren’t models, but get booked to be mannequins all the same. Often social media stars or bloggers.

O

OTT

Over The Top. Frequently found in the fashion industry.

P

Pelvage

Pelvis cleavage. This happens when a dress is slit so high it shows off a bony pelvis. Sans panties.

Q

Quilted

Someone wearing an enormous puffy jacket that makes it look as if they’ve left home in a duvet is quilted.

R

Raglan

A sleeve style, where one single piece of fabric runs from the wrist to the neck without a shoulder seam. Think bomber jackets and T-shirts.S

Shoefie

A shoe selfie to be Instagrammed, admired and hash-tagged.

Sliders

A type of sporty sandal which slips onto the foot and is ideal for beach to bar, in Ibiza or Mallorca.

T

Toe cleavage

The edge of your toes showing, when you’re wearing heels. Think Louboutins – which are particularly low-cut so show off said cleavage.

U

Unitard

Skin-tight garment, which covers the body from neck to ankle. Hard to wear if you have any body fat. So that means 99% of us can’t wear one.

V

Vent

Not an expression of anger, but a split in a garment which allows you to move — for example, at the back of a pencil skirt.

W

Wristlet

A small clutch bag with a loop of fabric which can be worn around the wrist, to go hands free.

X

X-ray fabrics

Sheer fabrics with a translucent effect. Look great on girls in their 20s. Less great in your 40s, though if you want to wear see-through chiffon, be my guest.

Y

Yolo

You Only Live Once. Should I wear red and pink? ‘Yes, obviously. YOLO.’

You

As in ‘it’s very you’ when describing someone’s outfit. Beware, this is an insult and very cutting.


Z

Zori

A traditional Japanese sandal, which is said to be the direct ancestor of the flip-flop. World War II soldiers brought them back to the U.S. and they were re-designed in bright colours in the Fifties.