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' Fashion' language

199 replies

Mendi · 19/02/2013 20:23

Flicking through Grazia which arrived today because my ex-boyfriend has clearly not realised he's still paying the subscription which just renewed.

WTF is 'a knit'? Is it a jumper? A cardi? A sleeveless top? Or is the only thing that matters the fact that it was 'a Celine knit'?

While I'm on the subject, what is 'a trouser'?? Just one leg?

OP posts:
Cubtrouble · 20/02/2013 23:56

I can't wait for SS13

ceeveebee · 21/02/2013 00:01

International surely you meant to say "let's discuss the new flat". Remember, always use singular for anything that comes in pairs

cubtrouble you missed it, SS13 is so over already

MorrisZapp · 21/02/2013 00:02

Edit. As in wardrobe edit.

Sportswear. Now that really does confuse me. I think it means clothes that are quite comfy but I could be wrong.

Cubtrouble · 21/02/2013 00:08

I'm my ceeveebee I caaaaaant have missed SS13 what will I weeeeear IN SS13??

I'll be sooooooo last season waaaaaaahhh (eats tissue) aaaaahhhhhhhhhhh. Joking joking!!

The biker jacket, they never actually resemble the jackets bikers wear, canvasey numbers with body armour.

I'm going to have to team my last year halter dress with my flip flop.

ujjayi · 21/02/2013 00:36

Cubtrouble my fellow fashion students are always referring to the "runway" when discussing end of year shows. It's a feckin "catwalk"! Having said that, it's not generally awash with felines either Hmm

"Collection" does make sense to me. It is a host of garments which collectively represent that season's offerings.

RambleOn · 21/02/2013 01:49

Me, I'm really looking forward to hundreds of articles about how to prepare your 'beach body' - NOT

garlicbreeze · 21/02/2013 01:53

As the kind of prat who describes jackets as witty (though have never knowingly said "trouser"), I was mortified to discover an unfamiliar word on this thread! I now know cady is a type of fabric. Thank you, antifashionistas Wink

I consulted Macy's to find out what 'cruisewear' actually is. Turns out it's - er, holiday clothes. OK, then Hmm

Internationaltraveller · 21/02/2013 02:02

"Shop your closet" articles. They always conjure up a mental image of you having a Mariah Carey like wardrobe, not just a couple of things you wear again and again and a lot of stuff that doesn't fit anymore.
also the reinvention! Kate Middleton REINVENTED the nude heel. Not really, she just got a stylist who liked them. loads of people wore them before her.

Fern123 · 21/02/2013 05:37

I can't believe no one has mentioned the use of 'think'!

THINK bold neons and 80's legwarmers!
THINK floral prints and leather jackets!
THINK Alexa Chung chilling in Camden Market!

THINK I'm going to throw up!
THINK goddamn you!Grin

TyrannosaurusBex · 21/02/2013 06:56

Has anyone mentioned 'channelling' e.g. somebody wearing something demure is channelling Grace Kelly?

Boden did a Biker Cardigan last year. Because LOADS of bikers wear mint green cardis with giant buttons, don't they?Hmm

RedPencils · 21/02/2013 08:31

Cub - last year halter neck dress. Don't you mean your vintage halter neck dress?

Lavenderhoney · 21/02/2013 09:44

This morning I embraced grunge mainly as I got up really late:)

I did a brief stint for a major fashion brand and I couldn't wait to leave to get back to the city and normal people. They really do believe their own hype. It was like being trapped in an episode of abfab.

PaleHousewifeOfCumbriaCounty · 21/02/2013 09:45

The worst is when the fashionmongers inform you that something you have continually worn is 'back'... But you didnt know it had gone away, because you bought it when it was having a moment and no-one told you the moment had finished.

JumpHerWho · 21/02/2013 10:03

I'd not heard of cady either. Is it the new ponte, aka cheap synthetic fabric due to cover the high st?

Kernowgal · 21/02/2013 11:25

I occasionally watch J C-M's video offerings on the Guardian website and frequently wonder if the whole thing's just a massive joke. Pyjamas as daywear? Go-faster stripes on your trousers?

I like it because it makes me feel quite sane.

CockyPants · 21/02/2013 11:37

Today I am channelling my mother, look wise.
I am rocking a vintage black long length cardio jacket.
A blush pink Boden shirt.
A black slouchy trouser.
And Karen Millen glasses
While watching RHO Bev Hills.
My pop of colour is
A blanket from Ikea.

TheThickPlottens · 21/02/2013 11:39

I thought that AW13 was a postal code. Oops.

This reminds so much of Eddie and Patsy.

Today I'm rocking a knit, teamed with a tailored loungewear. (A cardi and yoga pants that have uneven hems as I took them up but couldn't be arsed measuring the legs.)

CockyPants · 21/02/2013 11:46

I wasn't thinking of Alexa Chung AT ALL when I got dressed.
Mostly because I am only half her height.
And double her age.

BiBiBroccoli · 21/02/2013 11:51

This thread is making me laugh so much! I am a fashion editor on a womens magazine and I have to write this shite every day.

Sadly 'pop this cardigan on with a pair of comfy trousers' or 'there's loads of khaki crap in the shops - buy some' won't really cut it with the editor when you file your copy.

I have used almost every single one of the stupid words and phrases on this thread. For that I would like to apologise! Grin

CockyPants · 21/02/2013 11:56

I wasn't even thinking Kate Mediocre Middleton when I got dressed.
Mainly because I am double her weight.
And double her IQ....
(Channelling La Mantel...obvs)

Peetle · 21/02/2013 12:20

I always thought fashion was about making you buy new clothes when there was nothing wrong with the old ones.

PaleHousewifeOfCumbriaCounty · 21/02/2013 12:24

Alexa chung is possibly the person i would most never want to look like. And she stands like she needs a poo.

LadyBigtoes · 21/02/2013 12:27

I love Grazia - as an aside, besides being full of fashion wibble it really pushes a feminist agenda, which may seem like a contradiction, but I appreciate it.

But anyway - I kind of love to hate the fashion-speak. I like clothes, but am not interested in fashion per se as in what you have to wear right now and being up-to-date. So it just makes me laugh all the "fashion forward" and "on trend" stuff and also I love all the singular "trouser" and "tight" nonsense. Especially "a pink lip" - makes me think of just one lip dangling there :o

From a linguistic POV I like seeing each phrase as it rises and falls - each item of fashion wibble itself "has a moment" then becomes passe and has to be replaced.

Any area of expertise has its own jargon - I don't actually think it's just to be exclusive, it's to be specific. I work in publishing and I could list you at least 20 words most people wouldn't understand, for totally normal things like pages, page numbers and full stops.

LadyBigtoes · 21/02/2013 12:29

BiBi - there so should be a magazine like that! Or a least a columnist. I'll do it :)

JumpHerWho · 21/02/2013 12:35

LadyBigtoes - I disagree with you on the feminist agenda I'm afraid, it's from the Mail stable and such the political and opinion pieces are so woman-hating I often swear I'm going to cancel. I have sent the occasional angry email - mainly directed at Gaby Hinsliff.

Their 'life of a woman' type articles may seem feminist on the surface but they always debate stuff that shouldn't be up for question. Eg I bet you a squillion pounds that the morality of allowing women over 40 IVF will be their 'hot topic' next week. Marie Claire is the only slightly feminist high fash mag IMO.