5 Fashion

TermsEveryone Should Know

Haute Couture (Pronounced: ohtko-toor)

Translates literally from French as “high dressmaking”. It is high fashion custom clothing, made from finest quality materials, sewn and finished with extreme attention to detail using hand-executed techniques. Considering the amount of time, money and skill required, haute couture garments are extremely expensive.

Faux Pas(Pronounced: fo-pa)

Translates literally from French as “false step”. A faux pas in fashion is an error in the person’s clothing or look leading to public embarrassment. Street Fashion

It is considered to have emerged not from design studios, but from the masses. Street fashion

is generally associated with

youth culture.

French term for Ready-to-Wear, also called “off-the-rack” or “off-the-peg” and abbreviated as RTW, it is factory-made clothing, sold in finished condition and in standardized sizes. It

uses standard patterns, factory equipment, and faster construction

techniques to keep costs low.

Prêt-à-Porter(Pronounced: preht ah pohr-tay)

French term meaning “stylish” or “smart”, is most commonly

used to describe sophisticated and

elegant style of dressing.

Chic (Pronounced: sheek)