Every month is busy in the fashion universe, as there is always something going on in the industry that never seems to sleep.
Amid the blizzard of online shows, collaborative drops and ever-shifting sartorial shapes, it can get confusing with all the specialist talk of appliques and yokes. To help you stay ahead of the curve, here is a handy guide to the most commonly used descriptions, to help you know your boucle from your storm vents.
A
Applique: A surface decoration made by sewing one piece of fabric on top of another.
Asymmetric: Where opposing sides of a garment are different to one another.
B
Balloon cut: Also known as the puffball, this involves a shape that, like a balloon, billows out before coming back in again. It is seen in dresses, skirts and, occasionally, jackets.
Bardot top: Also called off-the-shoulder, this is in homage to the style of top made famous by the French actress Brigitte Bardot.
Beading: Beads sewn on to a garment for decoration. It includes different styles – such as bugle, crystals and metallic.
Bias cut: Fabric that is cut on the diagonal to give a sensual fit. Made famous in the 1930s, it requires great skill to handle properly.
Boxy: A square cut to a garment, giving it a box-like shape.
Boucle: A type of tweed that is used extensively by Chanel.
Bracelet sleeve: A slightly shorter sleeve, cut to show off a bracelet. It is a cut favoured by designer Giorgio Armani.
C
Calf-length: A garment that stops at the calf.
Cap sleeve: A small sleeve that is in between sleeveless and short.
Cape: A circular cut of cloth that is open-fronted and hangs from the shoulders.
Cashmere: A very soft wool made from the fleece of Kashmir and Pashmina goats.
Chiffon: A sheer, lightweight fabric used in dressmaking.
Cigarette pants: Straight leg trousers.
D
Damask: A dense fabric with a pattern woven into it, originally from Damascus, Syria.
Drop shoulder sleeve: Where the sleeve seam is dropped below the natural shoulder line.
Duchesse satin: A heavy, lustrous fabric used in evening and wedding gowns.
E
Embroidery: Decorative stitching on the surface of clothing.
Epaulettes: A decorative element on the shoulder, often seen in military clothing.
F
Flap pocket: A pocket that has a flap of fabric over the top, to close. The term also refers to upscale bags such as the Dior Caro bag and the Chanel 2.55.
G
Gaiter: A protective layer worn over the shoe and ankle. Originally used in outdoor wear, but has now been adopted as a boot shape.
Gewgaw: A shiny, showy bauble or trinket.
Georgette: A type of sheer crepe, normally in silk, with a typically matte surface.
H
Haute couture: The very highest level of clothes-making. With pieces made almost entirely by hand, it uses skills and techniques that take years to master and can be only done by specialists. La Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode is the only organisation legally capable of bestowing the moniker to a brand.
High-low top / skirt / hemline: A garment that is shorter at the front than it is at the back.
I
Inseam pocket: A pocket that is hidden in the seam of clothing, usually seen on dresses.
K
Kangaroo pocket: Usually seen on hoodies, this is a large, double-ended pouch pocket.
Kick flare: Trousers or skirts that flare at the bottom, and are cropped to the ankle.
Kimono sleeve: The large, rectangular sleeves found on a traditional Japanese kimono.
Knife pleat: A small, precise fold in the fabric.
L
Leg o' mutton sleeve: A large, voluminous sleeve that tapers to fit snugly around the wrist. Originally an Edwardian style, the name is taken from the distinctive shape, said to resemble the leg of a sheep.
M
Mandarin collar: A short, stand-up collar on a shirt or top. It is also called a Mao collar.
Mock pocket: A pocket intentionally sewn shut. It is used to give visual interest, but without disrupting how the garment will hang.
N
Notched collar: A formal collar used on jackets and coats, where the collar meets the lapel, with a "notch" missing.
O
Ombre: Dyed colour that gradually shifts from dark to light, also called degrade.
Oversized: A garment deliberately made to be several sizes too big for the wearer.
Oxford bags: Very wide-cut trousers, worn by Oxford undergraduates between 1920 and 1950.
P
Palazzo: Lightweight, very loose-cut women's trousers.
Patch pockets: Where the pocket sits entirely on the surface of the garment.
Patchwork: A cloth made by piecing together many different types of fabric.
Paperbag waist: A loosely gathered waistline, similar in look to a paper bag that has been scrunched at the top. This is often used on loose cut trousers.
Peter Pan collar: A flat collar with rounded corners that sits on the collarbone. It takes its name from the costume worn by the actress Maude Adams who played Peter Pan in a Broadway production 1905.
Princess line: A dress cut with no waist seam. Instead, the dress is created from long vertical panels from bust to ankle that are sewn together.
R
Raglan sleeve: A sleeve that runs from wrist to neck, with the seam not on the shoulder, but instead as a diagonal under the arm. Often used on sports tops, hoodies and athleisure wear, it takes its name from Lord Raglan, who had a coat cut to this style after losing an arm at the battle of Waterloo.
Ruch or ruching: A light gathering of fabric to create a rippled surface effect.
Ruffles: Fabric gathered into rippling shapes, used to adorn neck and hemlines.
S
Shrug: A loose, buttonless lightweight jacket with no fastenings that sits on the shoulders.
Skater skirt: A short, full skirt cut almost as a full circle. It has lots of movement.
Slash pockets: Pockets that slant backwards, most commonly found on trousers.
Slub: The uneven thickness of fibres when woven. Traditionally a sign that fibres were hand-spun, this creates small bumps in the surface of the fabric. It is usually seen in wool and silk.
Slip dress: A dress cut to resemble lingerie. Often in silk and usually cut on the bias, it will skim the body and is invariably trimmed with lace.
Spaghetti straps: Thin straps on a garment, said to resemble the pasta, spaghetti.
Stovepipe pants: Very straight, narrow-fit trousers.
T
Tiers: Layers of different length cloth that create horizontal levels. These are often seen on dresses and skirts.
Toile or toile de Jouy: Fine linen printed with pastoral scenes, usually in blue or black. It's a style that dates back to 1700s France.
Trompe l'oeil: An art term meaning to create realistic imagery that tricks the eye into seeing a 3D image.
Tweed: A woven cloth, usually made from wool. It is very hardwearing and warm, and often used for coats and jackets. Different patterns include Prince of Wales, herringbone, houndstooth and boucle.
Two-piece suit: A suit of matching jacket and trousers. A three-piece has an additional waistcoat.
Tuxedo: A formal evening suit for men, usually characterised by satin lapels.
V
Velvet: A soft, very luxurious fabric, with a dense pile. Originally made from silk, the fibres are knotted and cut to create a smooth nap. It is used for dresses, skirts and suits.
Vent: A split in the back of jackets and coats to allow movement. Originally it was used to allow the wearer to ride a horse comfortably (now called a storm vent). Vents are today used most commonly as a single or double split at the back of jackets.
W
Welt pockets: A pocket set into the cloth, so just a slit is left visible.
Y
Yoke: The part of a garment around the neck, front and back.
Z
Zori: Traditional Japanese split toe footwear. Originally worn with split toe button-up tabi socks, this is the inspiration behind flip-flops.
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Read more:
Fashion Trust Arabia Awards: Designers from the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq among finalists for 2021 prizes
Haute couture spring / summer 2021: The best looks from Dior, Chanel, Valentino, Viktor & Rolf and Schiaparelli
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Top%2010%20most%20competitive%20economies
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Company profile
Name: Tharb
Started: December 2016
Founder: Eisa Alsubousi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Luxury leather goods
Initial investment: Dh150,000 from personal savings
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Norway v Spain, Saturday, 10.45pm, UAE
Company Profile
Company name: NutriCal
Started: 2019
Founder: Soniya Ashar
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food Technology
Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount
Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia
Total Clients: Over 50
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
Results:
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 2,000m - Winner: Powderhouse, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap Dh165,000 2,200m - Winner: Heraldic, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Conditions Dh240,000 1,600m - Winner: Walking Thunder, Connor Beasley, Ahmed bin Harmash
8.15pm: Handicap Dh190,000 2,000m - Winner: Key Bid, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
8.50pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 1,200m - Winner: Drafted, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
9.25pm: Handicap Dh170,000 1,600m - Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
10pm: Handicap Dh190,000 1,400m - Winner: Rodaini, Connor Beasley, Ahmed bin Harmash
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Price: from Dh498,542
On sale: now
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Virtuzone GCC Sixes
Date and venue Friday and Saturday, ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City
Time Matches start at 9am
Groups
A Blighty Ducks, Darjeeling Colts, Darjeeling Social, Dubai Wombats; B Darjeeling Veterans, Kuwait Casuals, Loose Cannons, Savannah Lions; C Awali Taverners, Darjeeling, Dromedary, Darjeeling Good Eggs
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Abu Dhabi GP starting grid
1 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
3 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
4 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
5 Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
6 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
7 Romain Grosjean (Haas)
8 Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
9 Esteban Ocon (Force India)
10 Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
11 Carlos Sainz (Renault)
12 Marcus Ericsson (Sauber)
13 Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
14 Sergio Perez (Force India)
15 Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
16 Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
17 Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
18 Stoffe Vandoorne (McLaren)
19 Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
20 Lance Stroll (Williams)
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
Bahrain%20GP
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com