Fashion Dictionary
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Baby Boomers
The baby boomers were a wave of children born in the years following WWII in the countries affected by this war. In 1946, just a year after WWII had ended, 20% more children were born than in the previous year. The generation that had been affected by the war, were looking toward a bright future, longing for normality and therefore procreated more than average. The new-born generation was crucial to the economy, as there had never been as many middle class kids. The baby boomer years lasted till 1964. Also today the baby boomers, which are beginning to retire, have a huge influence on our economy, as the following generation will have to support the above average amount of senior citizens and therefore will spend less money on other consumer goods such as food and fashion.
Badgley Mischka
Badgley Mischka, American Fashion Label, founded 1988 by Mark Badgley and James Mischka. After meeting at Parsons New School for Design in New York, Badgley and Mischka become partners in life and business founding their own high fashion label that now produces annual sales of up to $40Mio. (more)
Bag
A bag in the general sense is a malleable container used to carry or store items. In fashion bags have over time become an essential accessory and are offered by almost every fashion label in various designs. Most bags have remained functional storage items but can also be highly decorative and are made of different materials such as leather, rubber, plastic, cotton and metal to name a few. Bags are carried by men and women, though for most men the functional aspect of a bag is mandatory whereas women the decorative function may be the primary reason for carrying the bag.
Bailey, Christopher
Christopher Bailey, English fashion designer, born 1971. Since 2001, Baily is the creative mind behind Burberry. As Chief Creative officer, Bailey is not only responsible for Burberry's collections and product lines but even more so for its overall brand appearance including advertisement and store design. Bailey started his career in 1994, after graduating from the Royal College of Arts. Prior to his Burberry assignment, he worked for Donna Karan and was a senior designer at Gucci.
Baker, Ted
Ted Baker, British fashion retailer, founded by Ray Kelvin in 1988. Although Kelvin started his first store in Glasgow, today Ted Baker conducts its business operations from headquarters in London. The brand is considered one of the most famous fashion brands for men to date, although they expanded their business in 1995 by launching a women's collection. The fashion retail house runs stores all over Europe, America, Asia and the Middle east and opened its first flagship store in New York City in 2012.
Balenciaga
Balenciaga, high-end fashion house, founded by famous fashion designer Cristobal Balenciaga in 1914. Back than, Balenciaga was widely known for its bizarre characteristics featuring extremely futuristic but very feminine shapes and bubble skirts. Today, Balenciaga is part of the french fashion conglomerate PPR (Pinault-Printemps-Redoute) and headquartered in Paris.
Balenciaga, Cristobal
Cristobal Balenciaga, Spanish fashion designer, lived from 1895 to 1972. The Spanish fashion designer founded his namesake fashion label in 1914 only to open his first boutique 5 years later in San Sebastián, Spain. In the mid 1950s, Balenciaga designed his first tunic dresses which later evolved into chemise dresses that are still considered to be masterworks of haute couture - although Balenciaga remains mostly known for his feminine but ultra-modern shapes and bubble skirts. In 1937, Balenciaga moved to Paris where he remained throughout his professional career. Today, the house of Balenciaga is owned by the French multinational company PPR and headquartered in Paris.
Ballerina Neck
Ballerina necklines get their name from their similarity to the neckline found on dancers leotards. This neckline is similar to a scoop neck, but is low in the back as well as in the front showing off the collarbone. Ballerina necks are found on strapless or spaghetti strapped tops and dresses in women’s fashion.
Ballerina Shoes
Ballerina shoes are slipper-like, flat-heeled shoes that have a closed toe. Inspired by dancers slippers they are light-weight often with a flexible sole and being low cut, show the majority of the top of the foot. Claire McCardell was the first designer to present ballerina shoes in one of her fashion shows in 1941. 1949 ballerina shoes were first shown on the cover of Vogue and led to a large popularity of the shoe. Movie stars around that time such as Brigitte Bardot and Audrey Hepburn started wearing 'ballerinas', as they are commonly called and helped them to gain even more success.
Ballerina Skirt
A ballerina skirt is a full-length formal skirt that reaches to the mid-calf or just above the ankle. It was often made up of multiple layers of fabric and was a popular skirt style in the 1950s.
Balloon Pants
Balloon pants, or short loon pants are one type of bell-bottomed pants. They flare even more from the knee to the feet than typical bell-bottoms, and more of the entire leg is flared. Loon pants were soon exported around the world and eventually became a mainstay of Hippie fashion.
Balmain, Pierre
Pierre Balmain, French fashion designer, lived from 1914 to 1982. His distinctive trademark came across through the combination of elegance and sophistication. Balmain was widely known for his talent to make simple but well tailored suits and aesthetic evening gowns with elegant lines. "Dressmaking is the architecture of movement" has been his credo throughout his career and remains a famous fashion quote to this day. Balmain's vintage gowns are still in vogue today and can regularly be spotted being worn by celebrities.
Banana Republic
Banana Republic, clothing and accessories retailer, founded by Mel and Patricia Ziegler in 1978. The retailer is owned by American corporation Gap Inc and offers modern, refined clothing for men and women, plus shoes and accessories.
Bandeau
A bandeau is a piece of clothing made out of one strip of fabric worn to cover the breasts and has no straps. The word 'bandeau' is French and means strip in English. Bandeaus were first worn by women in ancient Rome. In the 1920s undergarments covering the breasts were called bandeaus but became really fashionable in the 1940s when they were fist presented as the top of a two-piece bathing suit. After bikinis were invented, bandeaus lost popularity but had a revival in the 1980s and have been popular since. Today bandeaus are worn as swimsuits or sportswear. If a bandeau is wider and covers part of the stomach it is called a tube top.
Banks,Tyra
Tyra Banks, American top model and TV-personality, born 1973 in Inglewood, CA. Banks started modeling at the age of 15 with initially little to no success until she signed a contract with LA Models and later Elite Model Management which was when her modeling career started soaring. For her first Fashion Week in Paris in 1991 she was booked for 25 different shows and has enjoyed tremendous success since. Banks has been on the cover of every major fashion magazine and has been the face of the most successful fashion labels such as Dolce & Gabbana and Yves Saint Laurent. Banks also is the creator of the TV-shows 'America’s Next Top Model', 'True Beauty' and her own talk show 'The Tyra Banks Show'. She has been repeatedly been voted into the Top 100 Most Influential list by Times Magazine.
Barami
Barami, American fashion retailer, headquartered in New York. Barami provides affordable and fashionable clothing for women for any given social occasion.
Barbara Hulanicki
Barbara Hulanicki, Polish Fashion Icon and Fashion Entrepreneur, born 1936 in Warsaw. Hulanicki started her career studying design at Brighton School of Art. She gained popularity early on, winning a beachwear competition in 1955. Hulanicki continued to work as a freelance fashion illustrator for famous fashion publications including Vogue, Tatler and WWD. Also she sold her own designs through a fashion column in the London Daily Mirror. (more)
Barbour
Barbour, British fashion brand, founded 1894 in South Shields, England by John Barbour. J. Barbour and Sons Ltd first became known for importing oil cloth to England. Soon the company began producing first waxed cotton jackets, which became very popular as functional wear for workers and as country clothing. After decades of manufacturing and gaining a reputation for their waterproof jackets, Barbour started to expand their brand. They started producing leather goods, shoes and accessories and later ready-to-wear. Today, Barbour is still best known for their waxed cotton jackets with corduroy collars, which have become a crucial part of British outerwear and the brand has expanded internationally, selling in the UK, the US and Asia.
Bardot Neck
A Bardot neckline is a neckline for women’s wear that is similar to a boat neck but covers even less of the top of the shoulder but slightly more than an off-the-shoulder garment. The sleeve looks like it is barely held up by the shoulder and is considered very sexy. The French bombshell Brigit Bardot was known for wearing this kind of neckline and made it very popular and stylish in the 1950’s .
Barker Black
Barker Black is the most famous collection of the luxurious British shoe manufacturer Barker, which was founded in 1880 by Arthur Barker. After the launch of Barker Black in 2005, GQ magazine nominated then Creative Director Derrick Miller as on of the best new designers. Barker Black is widely known through its very distinctive trademark, using a combination of a 'crowned skull and crossbones'.
Barneys New York
Barneys New York, chain of luxury department stores, founded by Barney Pressman in 1923. The company's headquarters is located in Manhattan, New York but can also be found in Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas and other locations across the US. Amongst others, Barneys carries brands such as Giorgio Armani, Manolo Blahnik, Marc Jacobs, Jil Sander, Prada and Fendi, only to name a few.
Barton, Alix
Alix Barton aka Alix Grès or Madame Grès, French Haute-Couture fashion house, founded by Germaine Émilie Krebs in 1942. Krebs, who was a trained sculptress and lived from 1903 to 1993. The fashion house started off under the name Alix Barton with simple draped silk jersey dresses that showed the influence of her training as a sculptor. After the fashion house had been shut down during WWII, Grès started creating her famous Grecian pleated dresses and later tailored women’s suits with incorporated wrap. With some of her customers being the Duchess of Windsor, Marlene Dietrich and Jacqueline Kennedy, Grès didn’t want celebrities to wear her clothes, but women of culture. Her signature is hand-draped pleats, a bias cut away from the body and Greco-roman influences such as togas and capes.
Bashford, Wilkes
Wilkes Bashford, American businessman, founder of namesake retail store Wilkes Bashford. Bashford was an early fashion icon known for his impeccable eye for style and has been on Esquire’s “Internation Best Dressed List” every year since 1972. In 1966, he decided to open an upscale store for men in San Francisco, named by his full name where he introduced many now famous brands to the US fashion market, including Ermenegildo Zegna, Brioni, Kiton and Oskar de la Renta and that way built an elite clientele which included the mayor of San Francisco and soon started selling womenswear as well. Wilkes dressed business men and women and high end customers which he called the “bold conservative”. A second store was opened in Palo Alto in 2001 in order to serve Silicon Valley.
Basket-Weave Knitting
Basket-weave knitting is a type of knitting that produces a fabric with a checkered structure on the right and the wrong side. It is created by intersecting ribbed rows alternating elevated and submerged rectangular patches.
Basque
The basque is a womens’ undergarment that is similar to a corset. While the corset only covers the chest and torso down to the waist the basque is longer and covers the hips as well. Also the basque typically is not worn to physically slim the waist but to visually elongate the torso and thereby and slim the hips. Boning and vertical seams in the basque shape and support the torso. The Basque is typically made of thin, decorative and often sheer fabrics such as satin or lace.
Basque Neckline
A basque neckline is a womenswear neckline that follows the collar bone or runs parallel to it. The Basque neckline is a high cut neckline and is mostly used on elegant dresses, especially wedding dresses.
Basque Waist
A basque waist is a waistline created by dropping the natural waist and dipping into a „V“ shape below the hip. This elongates the torso, minimizes the waist and therefore is flattering on most body types. The basque waist is used in womenswear typically on elegant dresses and is popular on wedding dresses.
Basso, Dennis
Dennis Basso, American fashion designer, born in 1954. He founded his namesake fashion label in 1983 by selling a collection of furs out of the trunk of a rented car. Today, Dennis Basso is recognized as a luxuries fashion label and is one of America's premier couture fur brands.
Bateau Neck
A bateau neck, also known as boat neck is a wide neckline that runs pointed towards the collarbones. Characteristic for a boat neck is that the neckline is wider than deep. This kind of neckline is featured on blouses, tops, elegant cocktail attire and evening dresses. The boat neck is popular in womenswear but is also used on sweaters and t-shirts in mens fashion.
Bathing Suit
A bathing suit is a garment that is worn for swimming or bathing in public and cover different amounts of the body. The first swimsuits were worn in ancient Greece then dropped out of fashion and came back in the 18th century when cleaning oneself with water became more popular again. The first bathing suits were made of cotton and were made for the sole purpose of hiding especially the female body from the opposite sex. Over the time swimsuits became shorter and smaller as it became more acceptable for women to show skin in public. As of the 1940’s bathing suits were made of nylon and in the late 40’s the bikini was invented by French automobile engineer Louis Réard (1897 – 1984) and fashion designer Jacques Heim (1899 – 1967) in Paris. Men were always allowed to show more skin and therefore have always been bathing in the nude or dressed only with trunks although bathing suits for men exist.
Batwing Sleeve
A batwing sleeve, also known as a 'magyar sleeve', is a long sleeve with a low-cut armhole that shapes in a conical design towards the wrist.
Baylor University
Baylor University, private Baptist university, founded in 1845 by the Republic of Texas. Located in Waco, Texas, Baylor's 1,000-acre campus remains the oldest operating university in Texas and notable for its business, medicine, law, music, science and English programs.
BCBG MaxAzria
BCBG MAXAZRIA, women's clothing brand and global fashion house, founded by French fashion designer Max Azria. Based in Los Angeles, the fashion house encompasses over 22 brands. The Tunisian-born designer launched his brand back in 1989. BCBG is an acronym of the French idiom 'bon chic, bon genre' and means 'good style, good attitude'.
Bead Knitting
Bead knitting is a type of knitting that incorporates plastic, wood, glass or ceramic beads into the fabric. Bead-knitted fabrics can be created with beads threaded before or added during the knitting process. Depending on the technique the beads are visible on one or both sides of the fabric or can cover the entire fabric with only small gaps in between the beads.
Beading
A bead is a small decorative object that can come in different shapes and sizes and is either hollow or solid. Most beads though are either hollow or pierced in order to be able to sew them to fabric with either thread or soft wire. The first beads were made of natural materials such as bones, wood and shell but are now made out of a variety of materials. Beads have a symbolic function in many parts of the world such as rosary beads for religious purposes, currency in Ghana or for games.
Beate Heymann
Beate Heymann, German fashion designer, founded namesake fashion brand in 1993. Heymann started her career as a menswear tailor for German TV before studying fashion design in Berlin. After finishing her studies her future husband motivated her to start her own business designing and producing her own clothes in Rostock. Heymann’s fashion is a mixture of avant-garde day and night wear with new materials and mixed fabrics and innovative silhouettes. Yet the focus is set on the wearer’s comfort. Today, Heymann’s designs are shown on the international runways. The brand has grown and is now sold internationally in over 600 locations.
Bebe Store
Bebe, American clothing retailer, founded in 1976 in San Francisco. The name of the store is an abbreviation of 'to be or not to be' and was inspired by the play Hamlet. Bebe is widely known for its unmistakable line of contemporary women's apparel and accessories.
Beckham, Victoria
Victoria Beckham, English fashion designer, author, business women, actress, singer and model, born in 1974. Beckham became widely popular during the 1990s when she performed as on of the singers of the pop group 'Spice Girls'. After the band separated in 2000, Beckham started a career as a solo-artist. As a side project she began modelling for well known designer such as Roberto Cavalli before kicking off her own fashion label in 2006 which today consists of two different lines: the Victoria Beckham Luxury Line, as well as the denim brand dVb. In 2011, Beckham was acknowledged as 'Designer of the Year', an honor granted during the British Fashion Awards.
Beene, Geoffrey
Geoffrey Beene, American fashion designer, lived from 1924 to 2004. After graduating from school, Beene worked for several fashion houses in Paris and New York. In 1963, he founded his own namesake fashion label Geoffrey Beene Inc. with a Showroom located in Manhattan, New York. Geoffrey Beene was known as a fashion innovator and loved to teach. Several of his former students are now well known fashion designers themselves.
Beene, Geoffrey
Geoffrey Beene, American fashion designer, born 1927 in Haynesville. Beene is one of the most prestigious American fashion designers of the 20th century and has influenced many designers following him. Against his fathers will, Beene dropped out of his medicine course at university and started studying fashion design at the University of Southern California in 1946. After collecting further fashion design degrees from prestigious universities in the US and Paris, Beene moved back to New York to work as an assistant designer for the house of Harmay. In 1958, he left the company to create his own fashion label, which rapidly became very popular.
(more)Bell Sleeve
A bell sleeve is either a long or three quarter sleeve that is fitted from the shoulder to the wrist where it expandes into a bell shaped design. The sleeve is shaped similar to the poet sleeve, but usually is only seen without ruffles and therefore appears in a much cleaner design.
Bell-bottom Sleeve
Bell-bottom sleeves or just bell sleeves are either long or short sleeves mostly used on women’s garments that are narrow around the upper arm but flare towards the wrist. This gives the sleeve a bell-like shape. If the sleeve is gathered at the wrist it is called a bishop sleeve.
Bell-Bottoms
Bell-bottoms are pants that are usually fitted at the thigh and become wider from the knee downward to the feet. Every so often, bell-bottoms are also called flares. The term bell-bottom got its name due to the 'bell-shaped' look at the bottom of the jeans. This certain style became popular for both women and men in Europe and North America in the 60s.
Belle Époque
Belle Époque is French and means 'beautiful era'. The term refers to a period that began in the late 19th century and lasted until World War I (1890-1914). The epicenter of the Belle Époque was Paris, where haute couture was invented at the time and the concept of fashion began to move in yearly cycles.
Bellows Pocket
A bellows pocket aka safari pocket is a patch pocket attached to the shell of a garment with an inset box pleat and flexible sides, enabling expansion. This kind of pocket is often found on cargo pants and work jackets.
Belstaff
Belstaff, English sportswear label, founded 1924 in Staffordshire, England by Eli Belovitch and Harry Grosberg. The business partners first started producing functional clothing for motorcyclists and aviators with functional fabrics. Belstaff is best known for its jackets made of water resistant wax cotton and their breathable yet waterproof fabric Belfresh. In the 1980’s Belstaff’s focus switched over to golf wear. Today, Belstaff has experienced a revival as a heritage luxury sportswear brand. With leather jackets inspired by the first motorcycle jackets, knitwear, dresses and accessories the brand is gaining back popularity.
Belt
A belt is a strip of leather or other flexible materials such as cloth that is used to keep pieces of clothing in place, create a silhouette or carry tools and weapons. The first belts similar to belts today were worn in the Bronze Ages. Since then belts have always been a part of fashion especially for men. During the war men would wear belts to create a strong silhouette and to hold weapons. Today, some belts are also worn just for decoration and fashionable reasons.
Benetton
Benetton Group S.p.A., global fashion house, headquartered in Treviso, Italy. The brand’s name originates in the surname of the founding family that established their business back in 1965. Although Benetton became a Multi-Label brand during the last 50 years, branching out mainly into fragrances and toiletries, the main business still remains casual clothing for women, men and children. (more)
Bergdorf Goodman
Bergdorf Goodman, luxurious department store, founded by Herman Bergdorf in 1899. Located in the heart of Manhattan, New York, the retail house was owned by Edwin Goodman who eventually passed the business over to his son Andrew. Today, Bergdorf Goodman is part of the Neiman Marcus realm.
Bermuda Shorts
Bermuda shorts, also known as bermudas or dress shorts are a kind of shorts with a hem right above or under the knee. They are called Bermuda shorts due to their popularity in the British territory of Bermuda, where Bermuda shorts are common and are also worn for business with knee-high socks, a shirt and tie. Bermuda shorts were first worn by the Royal Navy when they were stationed in warmer terrain. Today it is difficult to differentiate between regular and Bermuda shorts as any shorts with a hemline on about that level are called Bermuda shorts. They are worn by men and women as casual clothing in different often bright colors.
Bernard Arnault
Bernard Arnault, French businessman, born in 1949. He is the founder, chairman and CEO of LVMH, a large luxury goods conglomerate consisting of over 60 luxury sub-companies, including Louis Vuitton, Dior and Fendi. According to Forbes and Time Magazine, Bernard Arnault is the 'world's 7th richest person and one of the 100 most influential people in the world.'
Bernardini, Micheline
Micheline Bernardini, Parisian model and nude-dancer, born 1927. Bernardini made history as the very first official Bikini model. In 1946, French fashion designer Louis Réard was on the lookout for a model who'd dare to wear his bold Bikini design. After Réard couldn't find anybody, he ended up hiring Bernardini who was wearing his lewd piece of fashion on July 5th, 1946, at 'Piscine Moitor', one of the most famous public pools in Paris.
Besom Pocket
A besom pocket is an inset pocket that's cut into a garment, rather than being sewn on it. Besom pockets often appear as breast pockets on the outside of men's suits. Sometimes a flap is added, giving the wearer the possibility to open or close the pocket.
Betsey Johnson
Betsey Johnson, American fashion designer, born 1942 in Connecticut, USA. Johnson is well known for her whimsical and sometimes over the top designs. The native-born American designer started her label back in 1978. In the last 35 years, Johnson's brand flourished into more than 45 stores worldwide. Johnson herself became personally pretty famous for the spectacular endings of her runway shows which she usually seals off by doing a cartwheel. An act, that became her trademark by now.
Betty Barclay
Betty Barclay, German womenswear fashion label, founded in 1955. Headquarted in Nussloch, Germany, the brand not only offers womenswear clothing but also fragrances, accessories and jewelry.
Betty Halbreich
Betty Halbreich, American personal shopper, born 1928 in Chicago. Betty Halbreich is one of New York’s many icons – an icon of personal shopping. Halbreich was born into a wealthy family in Chicago and at a young age married a rich hotel businessman with whom she moved to New York. Here she spent her time shopping in expensive fashion boutiques and living within the high society. After the divorce from her husband, Halbreich put her experience to use and became a personal shopper, first at Geoffrey Beene later at Bergdorf Goodman. Working with very rich clientele and various A-list celebrities, Halbreich developed a reputation as a frighteningly direct yet extremely knowledgeable personal shopper. Celebrities such as Joan Rivers and Elizabeth Taylor were amongst her regular clients.
Bias Cut
A 'bias-cut' is a technique used by designers for cutting fabrics diagonally across the grain. A method, that creates stretch to an otherwise stretch-less fabric, giving the designer the ability to carve out body lines and curves.
Bias Knitting
Bias knitting is a type of knitting characterized by the grain running diagonally instead of vertically. This way the fabrics structural elasticity is highest horizontally.
Bib
Usually worn by babies to protect their clothing from spilling, a bib is some piece of a garment hanging from the neck to the chest. The term bib may also refer to the part of a garment that covers the chest like the so-called bib dress shirts, which have some separate part of garment on the chest. The part of jumper dresses or overalls that covers the chest may also be referred to as a bib.
Bib Blouse
A bib blouse is a blouse with a high collar that is usually made with another fabric or color in the front, shaping an appearance of a bib.
Bikini
A bikini is a swimmsuit which contains two pieces: A top part and a bottom part. It was invented in 1946 in Paris by fashion designer Jacques Heim (1899–1967). Due to its small size, Heim called the bikini the atom. His invention was prohibited to wear on US public beaches until the 1960s. Today, the bikini is the most popular female beachwear around the globe.
Bill Blass
William Ralph Bass, American fashion designer, born in 1922 in Fort Wayne. As the son of a dressmaker Blass was influenced by fashion already at an early age drawing and designing first garments in school. At the age of 23 Blass began to work in the fashion business in New York, where he bought the company Maurice Rentner for which he had been working for 20 years and gave it his own name. (more)
Bill Hallman Retail
Bill Hallman, fashion retailer, founded 1990 by Bill Hallman in Atlanta. Hallman was a designer before he was a retailer, and sold his designs to various US-department stores. In 1990 he decided to open his own store that sold his designs in addition to vintage clothing and other high-end designs. The aim was to provide Atlanta shoppers with a selection of the newest and best apparel, accessories and shoes. Later “Inman Park” was added to the store, a department that offers customized shopping, with women choosing their dresses’ fabrics and men getting bespoke suits tailored.
Binding Off Knitting
Binding off aka casting off knitting is the last step of the production of a knitted fabric or garment. Binding off is finishing the edge of the fabric to prevent it from unraveling once the knitting needles are removed.
Bishop Sleeve
A bishop sleeve is a long sleeve, gathered into a cuff and appearing fuller at the bottom than at the top.
Bittar, Alexis
Alexis Bittar, American jewelry designer, born 1968 in Brooklyn, New York. During his study Alexis made his money by selling antique jewelry and vintage clothing on the streets of Lower Manhattan. At age 22, he decided to design his own line of costume jewelry, influenced by the antique collectible he grew up around. In 2004, Bittar opened his first jewelry boutique, located in SoHo, New York.
Black Lapel
Black Lapel is a widely known online retailer for men's custom clothing specialized in fine suits. Users not only can buy products on the website but even more so design it the way they want it to look. Black Lapel was founded in 2011 by Warren Liao, Christopher O'Young and Derek Tian. From their headquarters in New York City, Black Lapel ships its products around the globe.
Blahnik, Manolo
Manolo Blahnik, Spanish fashion designer, born 1942 in Canary Islands, Spain. He is the head designer and founder of his namesake high-end shoe brand that was founded in 1972. Blahnik started off his fashion career after graduation from the University of Geneva in 1965, before he worked at a fashion store called 'Zapata' three years later in London. The young and talented designer had the opportunity to show his portfolio of self-made fashions to then famous fashion editor of Vogue Magazine, Diana Vreeland. (more)
Blanks, Tim
Tim Blanks, TV-show host and fashion journalist, born in New Zealand. Tim Blanks is one of the most important names in fashion journalism. He started his career as the host of the famous Canadian TV-show Fashion File, which he hosted from 1989 to 2009. He continued to be the editor-at-large and principal show reporter for Style.com and is an editor-at-large for The Business of Fashion. Blanks is known for his exceptional intellect and seemingly endless knowledge about virtually any topic and has written for famous publications such as Vogue, GQ, The Financial Times, Fantastic Man and Arena Homme Plus. Blanks has received the prestigious Media Award from the CFDA for fashion journalism.
Blass, Bill
William Ralph Bass, American fashion designer, born in 1922 in Fort Wayne. As the son of a dressmaker Blass was influenced by fashion already at an early age drawing and designing first garments in school. At the age of 23 Blass began to work in the fashion business in New York, where he bought the company Maurice Rentner for which he had been working for 20 years and gave it his own name.
(more)Blazer
A blazer is a more formal kind of jacket made of lighter, more durable fabric also used as a suit coat. In comparison to a sport coat though it is more tailored and formal. The name blazer originates in bright red striped jackets worn by the rowing club of St. John’s College in Cambridge in 1825. They were called blazers because of their stripes and vibrant color. Also blazers have typically been worn in school uniforms, by airlines or boating clubs, which is the reason for some blazers featuring nautical details. Blazers can be combined with almost any garment and can be worn by men and women in a more or less casual manner.
Bloomers
Bloomers are long pants ruffled at the ankles. Originally invented by Elizabeth Smith Miller, the pants - which were mostly worn underneath a skirt - were popularized by Amelie Bloomer, a women's rights activist during the 1850s. Back at the time, the general public mostly made fun of the awkward looking bloomers, which soon ended in their disappearance as a standalone fashion item. Although, long pants cuffed at the hem are still referred to as bloomers.
Bloomingdale’s
Bloomingdale's aka 'Bloomie's', US department store, founded by Joseph and Lyman G. Bloomingdale in 1872. Today, the brick-and-mortar retailer is a well known department store and a subsidiary of Macy's Inc. Amongst other products, the retailer carries fashion labels such as Dolce & Gabbana, Catherine Malandrino, Ralph Lauren, and Donna Karan, only to name a few.
Blouson Top
A blouson top is a loose fitting blouse that has a gathered waistband and covers the upper body and may cover the hips. Blouson tops create the look of a blouse tucked into the pants or skirt worn with it. Blouson tops are made of lightweight fabrics such as cotton and silk and are available in various designs.
Bluemarine
Blumarine, core brand of the Italian fashion house 'Blufine S.p.A.', founded by Anna Molinari and her husband Gianpaolo Tarabiniin in 1977. Bluemarine was inspired by the Anna's and Gianpaolo's favorit color and their mutual affinity to the sea. Today, the brand expandes into three different lines: 'Miss Bluemarine' - an extension aiming at 8-14 year old girls, 'Bluegirl' - a line for teenager - and 'Anna Molinari' - which appears as a high-end fashion line for women.
Boat Neck
A boat neck, also known as bateau neck is a wide neckline that runs pointed towards the collarbones. Characteristic for a boat neck is that the neckline is wider than deep. This kind of neckline is featured on blouses, tops, elegant cocktail attire and evening dresses. The boat neck is popular in womenswear but is also used on sweaters and t-shirts in mens fashion.
Bobble Knitting
Bobble knitting is a type of knitting that incorporates “bobbles” or round elevations into the knitted fabric. Stitches are increased within a single stitch to create this structural effect.
Bodenschatz
Bodenschatz, German handbag label, founded in 1927. Bodenschatz has produced high quality leather goods for over 80 years. The brand is known for practical and functional leather goods, especially handbags for men and women. Their fine craftsmanship and the products’ durability have earned the label three German Leather Goods Prizes. Also the brand has been an official partner of the German Olympic Team over 25 times. The label consists of timeless classics and is expanded every season with new series.
Bodice
Bodice is a term used to describe a piece of women's clothing that covers the body from the shoulders to the waist. From the 16th to the 18th century, a bodice typically referred to a specific type of upper garment, also known as a 'corsage' and very common in Europe at the time. In modern usage, the term refers more to the upper portion of a dress that helps distinguish it from the skirt and other items. The term 'bodice' is an abbriviation of the phrase 'pair of bodies' and pays tribute to the fact, that the original garment consisted of two separat pieces.
BOF – Business of Fashion
BOF, short for Business of Fashion, is an online fashion website founded in 2007 by Imran Amed. Over the last couple of years, BOF developed a thight network of fashion insiders around the world, which covers up and coming business trends in a fast changing market.
Bohemian Style
The 'Bohemian style' or 'Boho look' is inspired by the hippie styles of the mid 1960s. Today it basically refers to an unconventional lifestyle where fashion is being used to show ones differentiates. After its first appearance in the 60s, the 'Bohemian style' was on and off again during the decades and became extremely popular in the mid 2000s, when model Kate Moss and actress Sienna Miller brought it up into the spotlight again. Main elements of the modern, 21st century 'Bohemian style' are short floaty skirts in vivid colors and tops with gaudy embellishments such as fur. Historically, the 'Bohemian style' reflected a person who didn't care to look fashionable at all. The original bohemians were mostly refugees from central Europe where the French term "bohémien" means 'gypsy'.
Boho Look
The 'Boho look' or 'Bohemian style' is inspired by the hippie styles of the mid 1960s. Today it basically refers to an unconventional lifestyle where fashion is being used to show ones differentiates. After its first appearance in the 60s, the 'Bohemian style' was on and off again during the decades and became extremely popular in the mid 2000s, when model Kate Moss and actress Sienna Miller brought it up into the spotlight again. Main elements of the modern, 21st century 'Bohemian style' are short floaty skirts in vivid colors and tops with gaudy embellishments such as fur. Historically, the 'Bohemian style' reflected a person who didn't care to look fashionable at all. The original bohemians were mostly refugees from central Europe where the French term "bohémien" means 'gypsy'.
Boho-Chic
'Boho-Chic' is a made up word combining the term 'bohemian' - French for 'gypsy' and 'chic' - English for 'stylish' or 'elegant'. The made up term describes a female style of fashion, influenced by the hippie style of the mid 1960s. Main elements of the modern 'Boho-chic' are short floaty skirts in vivid colors and tops with gaudy embellishments such as fur. Historically, the 'Boho-chick' or 'Bohemian style' reflected a person who didn't care to look fashionable at all.
Bolero
A bolero is a short kind of jacket that ends above the waist and is usually worn open without buttons or with one single closure close to the neck. Boleros are knitted, can be decorated with braids and other details and are often made in bright colors. They are worn mostly by women and Spanish men and were very popular in the mid 19th century.
Bonnie Cashin
Bonnie Cashin, American Fashion Designer, born 1908 in Oakland, died 2000 in New York. Cashin started her career designing costumes for chorus girls in Los Angeles and later moving on to design for the Roxyettes in New York. Here she continued to work for the coat and suit manufacturer Adler & Adler with which she was awarded the American Designers Coty Award. This motivated Cashin to open her own studio Bonnie Cashin Designs, where she created designs for the modern, strong and independent woman, offering comfortable utilitarian designs during a time when womens fashion was extremely feminine. (more)
Boot Cut Pants
A Bootleg cut pant is a type of flared pant with a tight fit around the thigh and upper leg that widens slightly from the knee down to fit a boot inside the pant leg. Bootleg cut pants are worn by men and women alike.
Boss
Hugo Boss, German fashion and lifestyle house, founded in 1924 by Hugo Ferdinand Boss (1885–1948). Based in Metzingen, a small town close to Stuttgart, the label specializes in high-end men's- and womenswear.
Bottega Veneta
Bottega Veneta, Italian luxury store, founded in 1966. The store's name means translated in English "Venetian atelier”. Headquartered in Vicenza, Italy and best known for its leather goods, the brand was purchased by Gucci in 2001 and is hence part of the French based international fashion conglomerate PPR. Bottega Veneta itself first started off producing artisan leather goods for which it developed a unique manufacturing technique called "intrecciato". This distinct production stlye remains the brands trademark up to this day.
Bound Pocket
A bound pocket aka slit pocket, welt pocket or slash pocket, is usually a breast pocket sewed on the left side front of a men’s suit blazer or coat, made with a slit. It is a pocket that is finished with a narrow, welted piece of fabric, known as piping or lip. This makes the pocket more resilient and gives it a seamless look.
Bow Tie
A bow tie is a strip of fabric, that is tied around the collar of a shirt originally to close the top of the shirt and joins ends in the front in a bow. Bow ties were first worn by Croatian mercenaries in the 17th century. They were soon adapted by the French high society and made popular especially in the 18th and 19th century. Nowadays bow ties have been crowded out by regular ties and are rarely worn if not at a black-tie event or by fashionistas. Bow ties can be adjustable or one-length and can be pre-tied for those who do not know how to tie a regular bow tie. They can be made of cotton, silk, blends and in rare cases wool. Some people have made bow ties their trademark such as Winston Churchill, James Bond or Korean singer Psy.
Box Pleats
Box pleats are knife pleats back-to-back. They have a tendency to spring out from the waistline and have the same 3:1 ratio as knife pleats, and may also be stacked to form stacked box pleats. These stacked box pleats create more fullness and have a 5:1 ratio. They also create a bulkier seam. Inverted box pleats have the 'box' on the inside rather than the outside.
Boxer Shorts
Boxer shorts, also known as boxers is a kind of underwear that is popular for men but also worn by some women. In 1925 the first shorts for professional boxers were made with an elastic waistband for more comfort. This was the inspiration for boxer shorts as underwear, which are more comfortable to wear as they are cut loosely. In a Levi’s commercial in 1985 a model was shown in boxer shorts, which helped boxers gain popularity. Boxer shorts are commonly made of cotton but can also be made of silk or synthetic fibers and come in different designs and colors.
Bracelet
A bracelet is a piece of jewelry that is worn around the wrist or lower arm or ankle. It usually consists of a band or chain and can be made out of nearly any material including plastic, pearls and other gems. Bracelets are one of the oldest kinds of jewelry and were very popular in ancient Egypt 5000BCE. Some Bracelets are worn for fashionable others for religious reasons. In ancient Egypt people wore bracelets decorated with scarab bugs which were symbolic for rebirth. Bulgarians tie white and red strings around their wrists hoping for an earlier spring.
Braganza, Jean-Pierre
Jean-Pierre Braganza, Canadian-born fashion designer. Based in London, Braganza is known for his structured and tailored womenswear blazers. He describes his target group as strong and confident women with good taste and no fear to embrace the dark side of life. Before starting his own label in 2009, Braganza worked with Roland Mouret.
Breast Pocket
A breast pocket is a pocket located on the breast of a garment. The breast of a garment is the part that covers the chest. It can be found on the inside or the outside of a garment.
Breeches
Breeches are a type of short pants that were commonly worn by men in the 17th, 18th and 19th century before they were replaced by the modern pant worn today. Breeches cover the lower body from waist to typically below the knee where they were gathered with drawstrings or straps with decorative buckles. Before the modern pant, breeches were the standard in western men’s clothing.
Brick-and-Mortar
Brick-and-Mortar businesses are physical locations of retail stores, boutiques and department houses. In other words: anything retail but online.
Brioni
Brioni, luxury men's fashion house headquartered in Rome, Italy. Brioni always specialized in handmade, luxury men's suits, altough they broadened their portfolio with other men's clothing during the last couple of years. Brioni was founded in 1945 by the two tailors Nazareno Fonticoli and Gaetano Savini. After selling their luxury items mainly to affluent European businessmen, the brand became widely known in the mid 1990s, when one of their suits was worn by Special Agent 007 in a James Bond movie. Still headquartered in Rome, Brioni got aqcuired by the fashion conglomerate Kering, formerly PPR, in 2011.
Brocade
Brocade is a highly decorative, heavy and expensive satin weave fabric. It is made of silk, rayon or similar fibers, frequently in combination with gold or silver threads. Brocade became popular in the Middle Age in China, Japan, Korea and Greece and was worn by nobility and clergy. Today, it is used for expensive upholstery, drapery, gowns and coats and remains very expensive.
Broderie Anglaise
Broderie anglaise is a kind of needle lace that was especially popular in England in the 19th century but is used in fashion till today. The technique used to create broderie anglaise or English lace is basically the same used to make a buttonhole. These buttonholes are cut and sewn all over the fabric in oval and round shapes to create patterns. Broderie anglaise used to be very popular for undergarments and the trim for dresses. Today it is still used but on a much smaller scale.
