Style Glossary

A sleeve style in which tabs at the sleeve hem can be fastened to buttons which lie somewhere along the shaft of the sleeve.

Category: Sleeves

A typographic term that describes fonts that omit projected 'serifs' at their end points. In modern times these fonts are conventionally adopted for online use due to increased readability and uniformity across displays of varying resolution.

Long, wide piece of sheer, often patterned fabric, tied around the waist for a skit-like effect.

Category: Accessories

Relating to clothing or tailoring

A structured bag often featuring a shoulder strap, flat bottom, and locking hardware.

Category: Bags

A smooth, glossy fabric, typically of silk, produced by a weave in which the threads of the warp are caught and looped by the weft only at certain intervals

A pattern of curved projections cut along the edge of a piece of fabric for decorative effect.

A U-shaped neckline style perfect for accentuating pendant necklaces!

Printing process in which a woven mesh stencil is stretched over a frame and a stencil is used to block non-printing sections. Ink is then transferred to the surface below when a roller or squeegee passes over the screen. Used originally for commercial purposes, this medium has been adopted among garment designers and artists seeking a low-cost printing method.

Any variety of small bead, cylindrical or circular, made from a drawn-glass tube.

Seersucker is an all-cotton woven fabric, typically striped or checkered in two colorways, characterized by a textured feel and a slightly puckered look. Seersucker is used primarily for spring or summer attire.

Seersucker is a lightweight fabric characterized by a textured feel and slightly puckered look.

http://blog.modcloth.com/2009/03/18/i-seersucker-said-the-blind-man

A belt composed of the same material as that of the dress it comes with.

A self-belt is a belt composed of the same material as that of the dress it comes with, and it's a term that harks back to 1960, a time when dresses with matching belts had been de rigeur for several years.

http://blog.modcloth.com/2010/10/14/help-your-self-belt-esteem

Category: Waist

A small plate of shining metal or plastic used for ornamentation.

http://blog.modcloth.com/2010/12/27/sparkle-your-imagination%E2%80%94and-your-wardrobe#more-29336

A typographic term that refers to the small details added to letters and numbers of so-called 'serifed' typefaces to articulate their end points. Because these features are believed to guide the eye along text in long passages, improving readability, these fonts are typically adopted for printed materials.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serif

A set-in waist is a fitted, horizontal panel of fabric sewn above the waistline of a skirt or dress, creating two waistline seams.

A fitted horizontal panel of fabric is sewn into the waistline of the dress, creating two seams (one above the natural waist, and one below) and one traffic-stopping look!

http://blog.modcloth.com/2009/11/17/set-in-stone

Category: Waist

A sheath dress is a simple, straight dress which contains vertical and bust darts for a streamlined, formfitting silhouette.

A sheath dress is a fitted, narrow, straight-cut dress that has a defined waistline either implied by vertical darts or a set-in waistline. The skirt is generally a pencil-cut, falls around the knee, and usually requires a slit to make walking, well…possible!

http://blog.modcloth.com/2009/07/29/fashion-dictionary-of-shifts-and-sheaths

Category: Dresses

See through, transparent or translucent. Generally thin in texture.

A shift dress, or chemise, is a classic, unfitted style of dress that has simple, straight lines and universal appeal.

The classic shift dress is a straight-lined, basic dress that is not fitted to the body and can also be known as a chemise. It is generally cut down from the shoulders and can feature bust darts and slight (slight) flair at the hips or a tie-waist to ensure that it won't look shapeless or baggy.

http://blog.modcloth.com/2009/07/29/fashion-dictionary-of-shifts-and-sheaths

Category: Dresses

A decorative and functional feature where parallel rows of elasticized stitching are used to gather fabric into flexible panels.

A dress that is styled to look like a button-up shirt.

Category: Dresses

A long or short sleeved cardigan with a cropped hemline.

Category: Tops

Originally created in the 1630s to keep men's riding heels from sinking into the mud, these unusual shoes were soon de rigeur for women (albeit in a much more decorative variety). And, as you may have guessed, the interesting name alludes to the sound the hinged sole made cracking against the shoe's heel as one walked.

http://blog.modcloth.com/2010/08/02/top-10-seriously-cool-historic-shoe-styles/

Category: Shoes

A type of woman's shoe that hosts a strap, sometimes buckled, around its back revealing the foot's heel.

Category: Shoes

A dress-length undergarment usually with thin shoulder straps. The term dates back to the early 19th century.

Category: Intimates

A slashed opening for the arm on the sides of a top or dress.

Gathered or shirred fabric stitched in parallel rows to create flexible panels, which have been embroidered with decorative threading.

A snood was a netted, tatted, knitted, or crocheted hairnet used to enclose hair at the back of the head, close to the nape. Though the term "snood" was used in the Middle Ages to refer to a wide variety of net or cloth head coverings, it wasn't until the 1860s in Europe that the snood as we know it became all the rage (in America, the same item was referred to as a hairnet). Since elastic was not yet invented, this item was held in place with pins, and often matched the wearer's hair color.

http://blog.modcloth.com/2010/03/29/all-good-in-the-snood

Category: Hair Accessories

Also known as Russian Braid, this narrow, flat, braided trim is frequently used to edge or add decorative details to garments. You’ll often espy soutache on military-inspired items or garments with frogging.

Photo: Stoklasa

The striated, repeated pattern of a fabric constructed of multicolored yarn or thread.

Designed to give the illusion of slim layers of wood that have been stacked to create a flat wedge or high heel.

Category: Shoes

Slender, pointy and, generally, high heel on a shoe. Can refer to the heel itself ("I love the stiletto on that pump") or to a shoe with a stiletto heel ("I think I'll wear my stilettos").

Category: Shoes

Close-fitting, elastic garment that covers the foot and upper leg. Can vary in color, pattern and transparency but are generally sheer.

Category: Tights

A stomacher was a triangular or U- shaped piece of fabric worn by women from about 1570 to 1770. In addition to connecting the two sides of a woman's bodice, the stomacher, which could be adorned with ribbons, bows, lace, embroidery, and jewels, served a decorative purpose. Because it fastened to the bodice with ties, pins and tabs, or hooks and eyes, one stomacher could be switched out for another whenever the wearer wanted to "transform" her gown.

http://blog.modcloth.com/2010/03/19/could-you-stomach-it

Leather with soft, napped surface created by buffing the underside with an emery wheel.

A diagonally overlapping neckline, often where the lower layer is sewn to the top.

The soft, whispering sound of rustling fabric.

A sleeveless vest knit like a sweater.

Category: Tops

A sweetheart neckline is characterized by two curves over the bust which gracefully drop down and meet at a point in the center bust, creating a heart-shaped cut that's absolutely adorable.

http://blog.modcloth.com/2010/01/26/one-sweet-neckline