Clear Answers for Common Questions

A kilt is a knee length unbifurcated garment which is closely associated with Scotland and Scottish culture, although similar garments are worn in other parts of the United Kingdom and the world in general. A classic kilt is easy to identify with its tartan, also known as plaid, pattern and ...

Many Muslims around the world practice hijab, which is Arabic for cover, but is extended to mean modesty and privacy. For non-Muslims, hijab is most often associated with the modest clothing that Muslim women wear. In actuality, hijab is practiced by both men and women, and includes other requirements ...

A cape is a sleeveless outer garment which is designed to fasten at the throat and fall down the back of the wearer. Typically, luxurious materials are used to manufacture a cape, which is intended to be more fashionable than functional as a general rule. A cape falls only partially ...

The word tunic is a near direct translation from the Latin word tunica and is an ancient garment. It was first worn by the Byzantine Greeks, but became most associated with citizens and non-citizens in the Roman Empire. Yet in other countries that had little contact with Rome or ...

A cloak is a long, loose outer garment designed to protect the wearer from the elements. Like its relative the cape, this garment fastens at the throat with one or more clasps, and is cut from a generous swatch of fabric so that it can be draped over multiple layers ...

A skort is a garment that may slightly resemble a skirt, but has divided legs that give you the ability to be more active. The skort is a combination, or portmanteau word that brings together the two terms short and skirt. Traditionally the skort is fairly short, offering the coolness ...

Chino is a Spanish word translating as "China" or "Chinese." The term, which is synonymous with "khakis" when used to describe pants, migrated to the English language, when pants made of strong cotton fabric were used as part of military uniforms in both the UK and the US. In its ...

Khakis, sometimes called chinos, are a popular style of pants for both men and women. Their casual look, comfortable fit, and durability have held them in good stead for more than a century. The name khaki is a Hindi word that literally means "dust-colored." The term first referred to ...

The blazer or boating jacket is generally a double-breasted jacket, first worn by men, and normally by schoolboys during the late 19th century in England. While today’s blazer can be worn by either men or women and normally is available in subdued colors, the early jacket was often ...

Sarees are a type of clothing worn throughout India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. They are also known as saris or podavis, depending on spelling and region. Sarees are basically long pieces of cloth worn draped in a number of styles around the body. Sarees are usually worn over a blouse ...

A corset is a type of undergarment that serves to support the bust and define the waistline. It is most often worn by women, but sometimes by men as well. Corsets may be worn to support the spine for medical reasons or to create a certain shape for aesthetic purposes ...

A maillot is a one-piece swimsuit, typically cut high in the leg. Maillots run the gamut from modest suits designed for older women to maillot cutouts, swimsuits with daring cutouts or piece work designed to highlight a shapely body. The term is also used to refer to the stretchy ...

A hoodie is the urban version of the traditional cotton or poly blend zipper-front or pullover, large-pocketed, hooded sweatshirt. It is meant to be unique signature clothing with one-of-a-kind style. Hoodies often have screen-printed designs on the back, sometimes running down the sleeves. Having ...

A serape, or sarape, is a brightly colored, heavyweight shawl produced in Latin America. It is probably most closely associated with Mexico, although this garment can be found throughout Central America, and many visitors to the region purchase them as souvenirs. The brightly colored shawls are one of the many ...

A tankini could be called the more modest sister of the bikini. The tankini is a two-piece swimsuit that features a tank top, instead of the bra top common in bikini styles. The style first began to appear in the mid 1980s and has gradually gained in popularity. This ...

When most people think of kimonos, they think of the beautiful silk robes worn by geisha in the movies. These gorgeous robes are indeed kimonos, but they are not typical. Kimono means "clothing" in Japanese, and the style and wear of the garment have changed a great deal in the ...

Leggings scarcely need a definition for those who live in the western world. Especially in the US, and in the early 1990s, leggings were extremely popular wear for women and competed with jeans as some of the most popular pants styles. The trend of wearing these close-fitting pants died ...

A miniskirt is a type of skirt with a hemline that stops above the knee. It is related to the maxiskirt, a more modest garment in which the hemline ends closer to the ankles. The skirt can be made out of any sort of material, although stretchy synthetics such as ...

A bodysuit has several definitions. Most often, the bodysuit is defined as a leotard-like garment, often with long sleeves, that has snaps at the crotch. Fashion designer Donna Karan popularized this form of bodysuit in the 1980s. It was usually made of stretchable fabric, and provided the advantage of ...

A bikini is a two-piece women's bathing suit that resembles a bra and panties in shape. Though Louis Réard and Jacques Heim designed the first bathing suit known by this name for a 1946 fashion show, the style predates their design. Films and photographs from earlier ...

Capris are a style of pants with the bottom hem ending at mid to lower-calf. Capris are also sometimes referred to as pedal pushers, clam diggers, or simply cropped pants. Capris were originally designed to be worn by women, but in some cultures have recently become popular for men ...

In today’s usage, a girdle is most commonly known as a support garment worn by women to give the overall appearance of a flat tummy and more shapely buttocks. It is often called support underwear, or support panties. Many nylons incorporate support elements or a control top, like strong ...

Lingerie is a term used in English to refer to women's undergarments. It is borrowed from the French. In France, the term is used more generically, to refer to undergarments in general, which is actually the original usage of the word. Within most English speaking nations, lingerie is associated ...

A Utilikilt® is a modern take on the classic Scottish kilt, produced by the Utilikiltsreg; company, which is based in Seattle, Washington. Utilikilts® are marketed to men who want to enjoy the comfort of an unbifurcated garment while being able to work in a variety of environments. These ...

A teddy, a staple in the world of women's lingerie, elegantly combines style and comfort for intimate occasions. According to a report by Grand View Research, the global lingerie market size was valued at USD 88.32 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow, highlighting the significance of ...

A bustle is a crucial part of women's costume from the 1800s. It supported and elevated the heavy drapery in the rear of 19th century dresses so that the dresses did not drag or become misshapen over the course of the day. Historically, bustles took several forms before disappearing ...

Duster has several definitions. People may refer to feather household cleaning devices as dusters, meant to remove dust easily from objects. The other definition of the term refers to special types of clothing worn to minimize presence of dust or dirt on other clothes. These have had many uses over ...

A zoot suit is a flamboyant style of clothing that became popular during the 1930s and 40s. At that time, it was associated with certain minority groups in the United States, such as Chicanos and African-Americans. This style of suit was also associated in popular culture with youth gangs ...

A petticoat is a women's undergarment, generally designed to be slightly stiff, so that it will inflate skirts or dresses worn over it. A woman wearing a petticoat has full, flounced skirts, along with the illusion of a slim waistline. Petticoats have been included in women's undergarments for ...

Hot pants are actually not pants, but are shorts. They are, in fact, characterized by being short — about as short as possible — and are sometimes known as short shorts. Hot pants are thought to have been inspired by the miniskirt. Having two separate holes for the legs, they ...

A nightshirt is simply a reference to any shirt worn at night for sleeping in. The word nightshirt stems back to the 18th century when both men and women slept in the shirts or smocks that were worn under their normal clothing during the day. They would remove all their ...

The polo shirt would be better named the tennis shirt, since it was first designed by Jean René Lacoste, a world-class tennis player who was fondly called the alligator or crocodile because of his vicious playing tactics. Lacoste, like many tennis players in the early 20th century, felt tennis ...

A bustier is a piece of women's clothing which can be worn as an undergarment or an over garment, depending on style and personal taste. It is usually classified as lingerie and is also associated with sex appeal. Many lingerie stores sell bustiers, which should be custom fitted for ...

"Tuxedo" may be used to describe a type of semi-formal dress also known as black tie, or more specifically, the jacket worn with black tie attire. In some parts of the world a tuxedo is known as a dinner jacket. There is no strict convention governing what precisely comprises ...

Sarongs are single pieces of fabric wrapped around the body and worn as either a skirt or a full-body wrap. They may be worn by both men and women, depending on the culture, and are traditionally found throughout much of south-east Asia, India and the Pacific islands. They ...

Culottes are a form of split skirt. They are usually made full or calf length, and consist of a pair of loose, flowing trousers which strongly resemble a skirt until the wearer engages in vigorous physical activity. The shorter version is a skort, a pair of shorts with a flap ...

Pinned afore, or in the front, the pinafore was a ubiquitous child’s garment from the 1700s to as late as the early 20th century. The pinafore was designed on the lines of an adult woman’s full front apron, and served essentially the same purpose: to prevent the girl ...

Knickers can refer to several different types of clothing. In current usage in the UK, the term tends to mean panties or underwear. The expression “Don’t get your knickers in a twist” is a suggestion to remain calm, a state possibly not achieved if your underwear has bunched up ...

A muumuu is a loose-fitting dress of Hawaiian origin that is usually printed in bright colors and floral patterns. It is designed to hang from the shoulder and does not have a waistband or any other form-fitting features, causing it to appear bell-shaped when worn. Expecting mothers ...

A cardigan is a sweater that opens in the front and attaches with either buttons, hooks, or a zipper. Cardigan sweaters are thought to have originated in 17th century France and the British Isles, where fishermen wore heavy, hand-knitted woolen sweaters. Fondly known as fishermen's sweaters, the industry ...

A monokini refers to several types of women’s swimwear based on the bikini style. In some cases the monokini is merely a bikini bottom, worn without the top. This is the most common form, and is used quite frequently in countries where topless bathing is the norm. The monokini ...

A loincloth is a simple, one-piece garment worn in cultures throughout the world. At a minimum, it covers the genitalia and sometimes part of the buttocks, while at the other extreme, it may reach to the ankles. There are many variations on the loincloth, which may be worn alone ...

A maxiskirt is an ankle-length skirt. It was made popular in the mid- and late-1970s and has since seen a resurgence in the 2000s. The maxiskirt was popular among women in the 1970s as a less revealing article of clothing. It features the typical A-line design of ...

A Burqini™ is a piece of swimwear which is designed to meet the stipulations of appropriate wear for Muslim women. These standards are collectively known as Hijab, and many modest Muslim women comply with them as an expression of religious faith. The development of the Burqini™ represented a major breakthrough ...

If you’re a woman in the market for new lingerie, you may be wondering if boyshorts are a flattering style for you. Also known as boys’ cut panties, boy short panties, boyleg briefs, or shorties, this is a style of lingerie that is cut to go all the way ...

Lederhosen are leather shorts native to the Bavarian region of Germany. Many people associate them with the Alps, since they are a part of the traditional Alpine costume, along with the dirndl, another well-known example of German traditional dress. In some communities, lederhosen are still seen in daily use ...

The meaning of the word “shirtwaist” has evolved over the years, with changing fashions. In the first sense, a shirtwaist was a type of tailored women's blouse which was worn separately from a skirt or pair of trousers. In the later sense, the term came to mean a woman ...

Pea coats are warm, woolen, double-breasted coats that were originally worn only by sailors. Usually a classic navy blue, they were made of heavy, course wool to protect seafarers from harsh weather on the open seas. Some people believe that the name comes from the pea-soup conditions often ...

A shirtdress is a dress which borrows stylistic accents from the tailoring of shirts, particularly men's shirts. While the basic design of the shirtdress is simple, this style is quite versatile, and it can be worn in a range of ways and in an assortment of locations, from dates ...

Bellbottoms are a style of pants that are characterized by the way the pant leg widens greatly between the knee and the bottom hem. Usually these pants are worn tight from the waist to the knee, which exaggerates the bell-shaped flare at the bottom. This type of bellbottom pant ...

A pencil skirt is a woman's skirt with a straight and narrow cut. It often hugs the curves of a woman's body, making it figure revealing. Typically, the skirt ends just at or slightly below the knee. A popular style in the 1950s, the pencil skirt was frequently ...

A wrap dress is a great, versatile piece of clothing to have in your wardrobe. It is a v-neck dress designed with a slim-fitting top and a looser skirt, often with extra material across the bust and stomach, giving it the "wrap" look. This slimming cotton dress can ...

Leisure suits are one of the most memorable fashions from the 1970s. Consisting of pants and a matching shirt-like jacket, the leisure suit was typically made from double knit polyester. It often included features such as wide lapels, contrasting stitching, bell bottom hems, and bold geometric print fabric. Since ...

Cocktail attire is usually described as less formal than formal attire, but not too casual. Similar to but usually slightly less formal than semi-formal attire, it typically means a dark suit or slacks and a sport coat for men, and a cocktail dress or nice blouse and skirt for ...

Harem pants are a loose fitting garment gathered at the ankles. Typically made of cotton, rayon or sheer fabrics, they are often seen in belly dancing and as part of costumes. Harem pants are comfortable and extremely easy to make, and can be great for both lounging around the house ...

A muscle shirt is a type of sleeveless T-shirt that first became popular in the 1960s. As the name implies, the goal of the style is to showcase the physique of especially the male body. To this end, it clings closely to the body and has no sleeves. The ...

Graphic tees are T-shirts with a graphic design located somewhere on the shirt. The image is typically screen printed on the front of the shirt, but some have designs on the side, the back, or the sleeves. Graphic tees have been making rounds in the fashion circuit for years ...

A sheath dress can actually have several definitions. Some define it as a close fitting dress, suitable for cocktail parties or formal events. The sheath may have darts at the breast and curve slightly inward at the waist in order to suggest the form and curve of a woman’s ...

Pedal pushers are pants that are as symbolic of the 1950s as were poodle skirts. They are quite similar in style to the Capri pant that became popular in 1949 and were nearly instantly embraced by movie stars like Audrey Hepburn. Unlike the Capri pant, which is a slim fit ...

A raglan sleeve is often used when making items of clothing such as sweatshirts, certain types of jerseys, and other sportswear. The construction is different from that of typical shirt sleeves, because it has a seam that goes from the underarm straight to the neckline. A raglan sleeve is only ...

Footed pajamas usually refer to one-piece pajamas that cover the whole body, including the feet. These pajamas may also be called blanket sleepers, of Dr. Dentons. They are common wear for infants and young children in cold weather, but some manufacturers make versions for older children and adults. To ...

The term peasant blouse refers to type of women’s blouse with a design based on the traditional dress of Romania, Poland, and other European counties. In the United States, these blouses are best known as a staple of 1960s fashion. Teenage girls and young women loved the look because ...

Spaghetti straps are thin shoulder straps on garments such as tank tops, formal dresses, camisoles, some brassieres, and summer dresses. They are similar in width to the spaghetti pasta after which they are named. These straps are a lovely way of showing off the shoulders and décolletage. Spaghetti straps are ...

Fashion designers are always looking for a new way to make a neckline in a top or dress, and one way they can do this with the keyhole neckline. This neckline may be fashioned in a couple of different ways, but may be a simple slit in the neck of ...

A swimsuit coverup is a lightweight garment which is designed to be worn over a swimsuit to protect the modesty of the wearer. Swimsuit coverups are also used to provide shelter from the sun and reduce exposure to harmful UV radiation. They can also keep swimmers warm when they are ...