Fashion glossary

Active suit

The suit that offers total freedom of movement. It holds its shape and does not crease due to the bi-elastic wool blend and the additional elasticated padding. What’s particularly practical is the inner craftsmanship with zip pockets which enable you to store your smartphone and other gadgets.

 

Ajour

This French term will enable you to “break through”, at least in terms of your fashion style. It combines an intricate peekaboo design pattern and a lacy look with light transparency and a playful look and is used in tops, dresses and accessories made from knitwear or jersey.

A-line

This outline refers to the A-shaped flared form of shirts, blouses, dresses and jackets with naturally slim shoulders and widening skirts. This design is typical for the 60s and comes up again and again in fashion. It has a retro flair and is also flattering to your figure.

Appliqué

These are attached to a piece of clothing after it has been made and serve as an additional eye-catcher. They are either sewn on, ironed on, stuck on or placed on. A classical example would be elbow patches. But there are also original and colorful comic motifs as well as numbers and letters; these are …

Bandeau

A bandeau cut can recognized by a straight neckline on tops, dresses and bikini tops. The straps can often be removed and the middle of the neckline is also often ruffled. The bandeau cut is available padded and unpadded. Bat sleeves These can be seen especially on blouses and shirts and consist of sleeves that start off wide and get narrower towards the end of the sleeve. They give any piece a casual look and also offer additional freedom of movement.

Boat neck

A flat and wide neckline that has an oval form which is reminiscent of a boat. The fabric usually comes together to a point at the shoulders.

Bouclé

The highly robust surface of bouclé fabric or knitwear is characterized by small bumps and loops. The material ensures an intentionally irregular, comfy appearance. It is primarily used for coats and jackets but can also be used for pullovers.

Boxy

Box-shaped and short – these adjectives describe the typical boxy form. It is currently an especially trendy cut for blouses and shirts and provides a casual silhouette.

Camouflage

With this design in natural green-brown tones, you’ll be well camouflaged in the great outdoors! In the world of fashion, this mostly bold design draws a lot of attention and is primarily used on cottons.

Cape

This cloak without arms has a casual silhouette, is similar to a coat and often has a hood. This model has no fastenings and is made from fabric, knitwear or jersey. It is ideal for the change in seasons as you can throw it on easily.

Coating

An additional coating on a textile surface gives a cool, rock n’ roll or leather-like look! This type of finish is most often found on trousers and denim.

Color blocking

The art of color. Wide blocks of different colors are placed or patched against each other, giving a clean, modern and straightforward look.

Crinkle

Ironing is out: crinkle look styles casual and are easy to care for. This special design can be combined with almost all materials! After washing, materials such as cotton can be “freshened up” particularly well, whilst artificial fibers or silk hold the crinkle effect longer. A very strong crinkle effect is called a “crash”.

Cropped top

No, your shirt has not shrunk! A short cropped top contributes to a look that you wear consciously.

Cuban collar

This little lapel collar rounds off shirts and jackets and gives a modern and clean look despite its retro attitude.

Culottes

This terms comes from French and means “knickerbockers”. It is a skirt and a pair of trousers in one, has an elastic or fixed waistband and has a leg width similar to a skirt that increases in size towards the hem. Culottes can be of variable length reaching areas between the calf and the ankle.

Cut away collar

This type of collar is the best choice for your business outfit The wings of the collar are set wide apart and as such, a tie with a wide knot or a bow tie matches it particularly well.

Devoré

Nothing to do with devouring! These floral and graphical designs or alternating transparent fabrics are light and cause a striking effect. They are created by using a corrosive paste on the fabric.

Distressed look

Why are your trousers wrecked? Because we just love the battered and tattered look! The distressed look is used especially often on denim and is very distinct. There are wear and tear effects, holes, patches and a number of other things that impart a used look.

Double face

This consists of two sides that are often sewn onto one another and therefore make a double layered garment. This design is most common in knitwear. Two different colors are usually used and the double face look can often be turned inside-out!

 

Duffle coat

Made from heavy wool, it is the hood and the toggles made from wood or horn that are the typical features of a duffel coat. It crops up again and again in the world of fashion, sometimes in a new color, sometimes with new details,but it always has the toggles that are characteristic of this …

Fishbone design

This classic design resembles the backbone of a fish and can also be used on woolen fabric such as on airy linen. The woven textile is robust but also slightly elastic.

Flap pocket

A flap covers and closes the pocket below it. The top of the pocket is concealed whether directly or by buttoning down the flap. It will still be concealed even if no button is present.

Flock print

Flocking isn’t just for the football shirts from the club next door! This printing method is also used for trendy t-shirts, among other things. First of all, glue is applied to the shirt in the form desired and then tiny textile fibers are poured over the top. This results in a velvety-soft print that contrasts …

Garment dyeing

This procedure involves complete widths of material or pieces of clothing being dyed as a whole. So the motto is: sew, then dye! This means you have a definite advantage in the fast world of fashion, as the newest color trends can be adopted quickly.

Glen check

This sporty and elegant checked design has its roots in English hunting attire. It is traditionally composed of a multi-colored design that is repeated over a large area of the material. It is created using different binding techniques during the weaving process. In the world of fashion, Glen check is used on upper body clothing …

Godet skirt

Full of panache: the pleat insert*gives the narrowly-cut skirts real feminine silhouette. The godet skirt is available in various lengths, such as knee-length or ankle length for evening occasions. *Pleat insert: they add panache to any style – the strip of material falls casually and is often quilled. In other words, a feminine cut detail …

Grey tweed pattern This grainy pattern has a slight stepped effect that comes about via the light/dark contrast. With its fine grey nuances, this type of weaving is particularly suited to the classical business environment.

Henley neckline

This is a round, slightly lower neckline which normally connects to a placket with at least three buttons. There are also numerous variations, such as variants in which the neckline is lower. In womenswear, there are also generous cuts with a V-neck and then the row of buttons.

Houndstooth check

This classic design is a plain weave, mostly two-tone fabric. The long parts at the edges of the check designs appear right-angled, which resembles the footprint of a rooster. This design is used mostly on woven ready-to-wear clothing on blazers, dresses, skirts and trousers but can also be seen as a print on blouses

Indigo

This name of this deep blue color comes from East Asia and it is a color that be most easily recognized as the last recognizable blue tone of violet. Natural indigo is available as blue blocks and synthetic indigo is dark and more violet in nature. The non-fading color develops its denim-blue color on textiles after

Intarsias

Intarsias are found both in woodworking and in knitting. In both cases they are a decorative feature; in woodworking they are added to a design and in textiles, contrasting yarn is used to knit a large motif that is visually considerably different to the rest of the cardigan or pullover.

Jacquard

Patterns don’t always have to be printed. Complicated patterns can be sewn into different materials such as silk, cotton and synthetic materials. Jacquard gives a fine and luxurious look, but at the same time it is easy to care for and durable.

Jeggings

Jeans + Leggings = Jeggings. That means that the fit of leggings is combined with the look of jeans. Whether they have pockets or not, the most important feature is the elasticated waist.

Jumpsuit

Regardless of whether you choose to say jumpsuit or overalls, this one-piece trouser suit has been the trend piece for years now. The one-piece suit can have either an elegant or casual look.

Kent collar

Are you looking for a classic shirt collar for your suit? Then the Kent collar is perfect for you. It is timeless and elegant. It often has small rods on the corners and is worn casually open or with a tie or bow tie.

Lapel collar

It’s hard to imagine jackets, blazers or coats without lapel collars. But look closer: the lapel collar impresses through its special details. The continuous crochet seam is characteristic here. As a result of this, the collar can be worn down or up.

Melange

A yarn type that is spun from mixed color fibers, called melange yarn. Whether the colors are distinct or whether they are hazy depends on the number of color components used. This gives the fabrics an exciting texture.

Mesh

Originally a term from the field of sportswear, the light mesh is particularly useful due to its ability to let air through. But you’ll also turn heads in the high street wearing clothes with mesh! The breathable and easy to care for textile imparts an airy, light character to any piece of clothing.

New Kent collar

A mixture of the classic Kent collar and the widely spaced cut away collar: the narrower, considerably more modern new Kent collar. It is not as widely spaced as the cut away collar and not as pointed as the Kent collar.

Norwegian design

The tradition of the iconic Norwegian knitwear pattern goes back to the middle of the 19th century. The Selburose is particularly notable and it comes from the region of the same name in central Norway.

Oversized

In the 20’s, women wanted out of tight corsets! The oversized trend refers to clothes that are intentionally too big. Widely cut hippie dresses and flares from the 70s and oversized trousers and shirts from the hip-hop subculture of the 80s and 90s are the origins of this trend that can be found in the

Pea coat

Two rows – that’s the name of the game of this classic wool jacket. It is always equipped with two rows of buttons and has a lapel collar. This type of jacket originally comes from the world of sailors and fishing and still has a maritime or sporty look.

Pigment dyeing

Pigment dyeing creates a slightly faded vintage look. The color is only applied to the surface of the textile and does not penetrate the fibers. Afterwards, the textile is washed. This creates the desired washed out look.

PrimaLoft

Environmentally friendly and easy to care for. The alternative to feathers, PrimaLoft was originally developed for the U.S. Army; it has now been established as a warming filler material for outerwear. The advantages speak for themselves – it is breathable,wind and water resistant. Responsible Down Standard Live feather plucking? Not at Esprit! The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) is an independent, globally valid standard for feathers that places particular emphasis of animal protection. It is supported by animal rights groups, branch experts and brands like ESPRIT.

Roll collar

The opposite of a lapel collar is attractive on blazers, jackets and coats as well as on knitwear. Unlike the lapel collar, there is no visible break between the lapel and the collar. It flows fluently around the neck and crosses over at the front.

 

Selvage

The origins of denim as a robust worker’s outfit come through here. The characteristic white seams of the woven edge, called selvedge, mimic the form of the weaving frame that was originally used. These days, colored seams are used as a stylish vintage detail in denim. They can only be seen once the jeans are …

Side stripes

The satin stripes that used to run along the exterior seams on the sides of dinner suit trousers or dress trousers were called “galons” or side stripes. These days, side stripes are being used on casual trousers such as jogging bottoms or stretch pants. They are either in one color or in multiple colors and …

Smock effect

If the material is bundled together in several rows, this is referred to as a smock effect. Pleated edges are lightly gathered up by a seam. The area can also be elastic depending on the material and color used.

Tassels

These cloth elements that resemble the end of a paintbrush provide a decorative touch to many different styles. This is the case whether they’re on a blouse, dress, earring or on a shoe. They can also be referred to as bobs.

Tobacco seam

This is a tobacco-colored seam which is a typical feature of denim. Trumpet sleeves The trumpet-shaped sleeves flutter and move around our wrists and give tops and dresses an ultra-feminine touch.

Turn-up

Function meets nonchalance. Turn-ups can be used to shorten trousers and sleeves, whilst the rolled-up look gives a trendy, casual appearance.

Turtle neck

A turtle neck is a prominently rolled neckline in which the more prominently woven neck cuff is not turned down.

Upturned collar

This used to be called a choker and it is a traditional element of mens’ fashion. However it has long since become a part of ladies’ fashion as well. It used to be quite a rigid type of detail, but today it is often selected for timelessly elegant shirts and blouses.

Used wash/Stone-washed

In this procedure, jeans are cold-washed together with pumice stones. The friction that results wears the material, lightens it partially and at the same time it becomes softer and more comfortable to wear. This gives the jeans a casual, used look.

Welt pocket

Whether in the same tone or in a different material or color, with a button or with a small loop, the welt pocket covers the top of the inner pocket with two strips at the edges and can also be a refined detail.

Yarn dyeing

This is the opposite of garment dyeing. When garment dyeing is used, the finished item is dyed completely. When yarn dyeing is used, an item is created using yarn that was dyed previously whilst on the spool. A second-bi-color third-colouryarn color is often also used to give the textile a colorful, lively shadow effect.