www.shoplikeanna.com Lingo, language, vocabulary, vernacular, call it what you want but the fashion world has its own dictionary that can be hard for outsiders to decipher! If you’re considering a career in fashion, consider yourself a fashion plate, or simply just want to be a smart shopper, some of the terms below are a must know! stiletto: pronounced sti-let-oh: noun If you look this one up in the dictionary, the only stiletto they know of is the short, sharp dagger kind. Close, but not quite. A stiletto is a super thin, sometimes spiked, super sexy and super high heeled shoe. bias cut: pronounced bahy-uh s kuht: adjective This has nothing to do with favoritism! A bias cut in the fabric world is the diagonal direction of a woven fabric. It is cutting fabric at a diagonal angle to achieve the most give possible. The Mary L Couture dress below is an example of a bias cut dress. ruche: pronounced roosh: noun You may not have heard of this one but we’re sure you’ve seen it. A ruche is a large area of fullness on a garment gathered in to form a rippled effect. It is often done with lace, muslin or other fine materials. Many couture dresses are hand ruched, which is very meticulous and time consuming, sending the price tag soaring into the thousands. Below is an example of ruching. Ombré: pronounced ohm-bray: adjective No, this isn’t the same as a man from the old west, although they’re pronounced similarly! Ombré is A fabric dyed in a gradation of a single color, from light to dark, similar to tie-dye. It makes a great pattern for silk or chiffon dresses. A perfect example of Ombré is the Jones NY dress below. espadrille: pronounced es-puh-dril: noun Different from a normal wedge, an espadrille is a flat shoe with a cloth upper, a rope sole, and sometimes lacing that ties around the ankle. Espadrille’s rarely go out of style and look great in the summer with a calf length skirt. flounce: pronounced flouns: noun This is another fashion term taken from a body movement. To “flounce” is to ”throw the body around spasmodically; flounder” but on garments it is a strip of fabric, cut in a circle, on the bias or cut in a straight line and gathered, which is attached to the edge of a garment, and ripples for feminine effect, especially when you move in it. You’ll recognize it below. Sources: www.dictionary.com www.wwd.com style.polo.com www.nordstrom.com