https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 12 May 2026 07:29:06 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions#post-11229 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:39:57 +0000 Angie 11229@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It sounds like two different people to me. Mainstream fashion brands often invite designers to add flair to their collections to boost the brand, like Madonna did for H&#38;M and Penelope Cruz did for Mango. Status darling, unfortunately it’s all about status. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions#post-11225 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:52:29 +0000 Nicole 11225@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>OK I have another question. I noticed a line of clothing at Macy's online...Tahari by Arthur Levine. What does that mean? Is it Elie Tahari ? Did he approve of this Arthur Levine guy and gave him carte blanche to design his own line? Why use Tahari's name? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions#post-11218 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:13:45 +0000 Angie 11218@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>There you go, Ana. You're right! </p> <p>Fashion week is a mixture of couture and pret. I don’t frequent couture shows, San. Following trends online from these shows is good enough. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions#post-11206 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:18:19 +0000 Ana 11206@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm not sure what is shown at Fashion Week. I think a lot designers show a mix of couture and pret-a-porter. Stars go mostly as an art show (since almost all of them have stylists that tell them what to wear anyway), and to support their favorite designers (publicity), and I get the feeling that in a lot of those circles, Fashion Week is one of THE place to be seen. I think some stars wear a mix of couture (especially to awards shows) and pret-a-porter.</p> <p>The shows that showcase Spring fashion are shown in Fall, and the Fall/Winter shows are shown in Spring, so it can give someone a "heads up" as to what sort of styles and colors will be seen in "fashion forward" boutiques and stores for the next season, like Marc Jacobs boutique or Chanel, etc. Then about a year or so later, the trickle down affect will influence the "rest" of fashion, and you'll be seeing the more popular elements in higher end stores. Does this make sense? </p> <p>I might be wrong, though since I'm no expert. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions#post-11199 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:15:50 +0000 Tanya 11199@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm, I believe that fashion weeks include mostly ( if not totally) pret-a-porter lines. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions#post-11190 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:53:50 +0000 Anonymous 11190@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So when the stars go to 'fashion week' or fashion shows', they are seeing haute couture? Surprising that they want to see a show of clothing that will not probably be worn other than the run way. Especially odd that the male stars would be interested in this show of clothing not to be really worn. Do they go and see it as an art show? Do they shop there?<br /> Angie do you go to the haute couture shows? Is it for the reason of being able to read into what you are seeing, a possible next trend, or a trend that is taking hold for another season? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions#post-11188 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:33:04 +0000 Angie 11188@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You are completely correct Tanya and nice visual Maya. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions#post-11169 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:28:43 +0000 Maya 11169@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Everyone is posting at the same time tonight!</p> <p>Ana, I agree that the ready-to-wear version is VERY understated. I think they could have gone crazier with the blouse, since the skirt is so clean and fitted...but the dress was gorgeous.</p> <p>The other one I like was the punky/gothic trench. It was a fun challenge to watch.</p> <p>The human hair was creepy, but I can't deny innovation where I see it. I dunno, you either love or hate Christian. I happen to be on the loving side. He was like a cartoon version of a real person. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions#post-11168 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:26:47 +0000 Ana 11168@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Did you see the episode where Chris made that jacket with human hair on it? OMG--yikes! I loved how he made the skirt out of safety pins though, very innovative/goth and yet still pulled together and polished.</p> <p>Christian annoyed the heck out of me (I didn't really like his attitude), but the guy has talent, I gotta admit it. Did you see he sleeps/works in a closet?! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions#post-11166 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:24:56 +0000 Maya 11166@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>No prob! If you want to look at the other dresses they're here:</p> <p><a href="http://www.bravotv.com/Project_Runway/season/4/rate_the_runway/index.php?e=Episode%208" rel="nofollow">http://www.bravotv.com/Project.....pisode%208</a></p> <p>But the winning look was probably my favorite garment ever in the history of PR. It was just breathtaking. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions#post-11165 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:24:04 +0000 Ana 11165@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for the info Tanya, Angie, and Maya! </p> <p>What confused me the most was the difference between pret-a-porter and everything else they are carrying in stores, since I know that means "ready to wear," so technically, anything you can walk in and buy would be ready to wear. Thanks for clarifying that point. I totally understand what you mean about couture looking daft when you wear it as everyday wear, Angie. I like perusing some designer's websites, and I was cruising the Chloé website (is it Clow-EE or Clow-AY?), and I saw a blouse and dress that was made of some see through gauzy material that was beautiful, but looked totally unwearable. Then I saw the same blouse, but in a white cotton-silk blend at Neiman Marcus, and I thought it was gorgeous and was COMPLETELY wearable, which sort of got me thinking and prompted this question. So thank you, I feel straightened out now! :)</p> <p>Maya, I sort of/sometimes watch that program, but I happened to catch this one you were talking about last season! The dress is insane, but I love it! I felt like his "everyday" outfit was a little so/so though. He could have been more dramatic with the blouse (especially the collar) and I think it would have been fine, but I'd probably still wear it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions#post-11163 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:19:49 +0000 Julia 11163@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A picture is worth a thousand words! Thanks Maya for posting the links. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions#post-11158 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:04:28 +0000 Maya 11158@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ana, I don't know if you are/were a Project Runway fan, but last season they had a challenge to design an avant garde dress in addition to a prêt a porter piece that is based on the couture dress. It illustrated perfectly how they work together. </p> <p><a href="http://www.bravotv.com/Project_Runway/season/4/rate_the_runway/photos/Episode%208/rate_runway_03_408.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.bravotv.com/Project.....03_408.jpg</a><br /> <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/Project_Runway/season/4/rate_the_runway/photos/Episode%208/rate_runway_04_408.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.bravotv.com/Project.....04_408.jpg</a></p> <p>(That was the winning look) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions#post-11151 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:53:42 +0000 Tanya 11151@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>He he Angie it looks we wrote our posts at the same time. I'm glad I was somewhat correct. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions#post-11149 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:50:46 +0000 Angie 11149@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Couture and haute couture are the same thing. This is all the “un-wearable and dramatic” avant-garde stuff that you see on catwalk shows. It’s for effect and inspiration and trends are set from haute couture collections. Clothing like this usually looks daft worn in everyday life. </p> <p>Prêt a porter means “ready to wear” and it refers to designer collections that you can actually wear daily. So, Donna Karen will have a haute couture range AND a prêt a porter range. Same with Chanel, Dior, Marc Jacobs. </p> <p> J Crew is a mainstream chain store and does not qualify as a prêt a porter range. Does that make sense? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions#post-11148 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:50:02 +0000 Tanya 11148@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well, I'm sure Angie will have perfect answer, I can only partially answer this. I hope I don't embarrass myself!</p> <p>I believe the following: couture and haute couture is the same. Some designers show both haute couture and pret-a-porter lines (separately), some specialize in one type, some have multiple lines of one type and so on and some even have lower cost lines - so-called bridge line. Pret-a-porter ( well at least most of it) will arrive in fancy stores as shown on the runway and you can buy it there.<br /> Haute couture is not available in stores and can only be custom made for you upon your request. Technically I think BR is not not pret-a-porter, although any company can have a fashion show and call it that.</p> <p>And I've learned from a great book ( "Pocket Stylist") that in general fashion lines can be divided into following groups based on price/quality ( I'm omitting the lowest since I don't know how to classify them):</p> <p>Better Lines ( e.g BR, J Crew, Zara etc)</p> <p>Bridge (Theory, Elie Tahari, Nanette Lepore), very often also called Contemporary.</p> <p>Designer (self-explanatory).</p> <p>Some designers will have both bridge and designer lines, e.g. Marc Jacobs has his namesake designer line and also a bridge line called ' Marc by Marc Jacobs'. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fashion-terminology-questions#post-11137 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:28:00 +0000 Ana 11137@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi All!</p> <p>Can anyone explain the difference between couture, haute couture, and pret-a-porter? I know pret-a-porter means "ready to wear," does this include stuff like J. Crew or Banana or Wal-mart for that matter? Is the stuff they showcase at fashion shows on the runway couture, or pret-a-porter, or is it a mix? And what constitutes "designer"? This whole thing is confusing, and while it's not really that important (I doubt I'll be wearing any couture any time soon, if ever), I'm just really curious. </p> <p>Thank you! </p>