https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:06:38 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1730505 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 09:05:46 +0000 Astrid 1730505@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sharan, yes of course. That u sounds like an ü, to me. I learned French in school before I learned English, so I never thought of it any different.</p> <p>I generally think this is a fascinating topic. It has happened in the past that while I was telling a story my friends stopped me to ask what I was talking about. Seems the term I thought was High German was in fact dialect. We once talked about it in a small group and between six people from different regions we came up with five terms for the endpiece of bread... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1730465 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 04:43:17 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 1730465@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It never occurred to me that English speakers would be pronouncing this word the French way. It's always been COOL-otts to me!</p> <p>But just to be correct, all you francophiles: I hope you are puckering up appropriately to get that French "u" sound at the beginning of the word. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1730287 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 20:08:11 +0000 Mauvish 1730287@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I checked how to say "gilet" too and I was way tooooooo far from correct one. Well one learns something new everyday... aham! </p> <p><a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TEwir0I1ZDI" rel="nofollow">https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TEwir0I1ZDI</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1730282 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 19:58:35 +0000 Sal 1730282@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wikipedia tells me that gilet is pronounced dji lei!!</p> <p>I don't think I have used the word in spoken language though!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1730134 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 14:50:40 +0000 Diana 1730134@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I say gilet like jee-lay (with the French g) and waistcoat the way it looks (so, waist+coat). </p> <p>Mauvish, that's so interesting that the words are similar in your language! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1730126 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 14:41:48 +0000 Aziraphale 1730126@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, this has turned into a thread about word choice! I love it!</p> <p>A <i>vest</i> is a strappy sleeveless undergarment for me, too! Again, the influence of an English mother. Your <i>vest</i> was her <i>waistcoat</i> (if it was like the third piece of a three piece suit). She also said <i>knickers</i> for underpants, <i>trousers</i> for pants,&nbsp;<i>jumper&nbsp;</i>for sweater, <i>plimsolls</i> for flat canvas shoes, <i>anorak</i> for ski jacket, <i>wellies</i> for rain boots, and <i>trainers</i> for running shoes.</p> <p>I am a home-grown Canadian, though. Of the above, I use <i>waistcoat</i> and <i>wellies</i>, and I use <i>trousers</i> and <i>pants</i> interchangeably. All the other charming English terms have not become a part of my vocabulary. I'd feel like a poseur if I said <i>trainers</i> instead of runners, for example. And nobody would know what I was talking about if I used the word <i>knickers</i>!</p> <p>When I occasionally use the word <i>vest</i>, I'm referring to a garment worn by a small child. If I mean a similar garment made for a woman, I call it a <i>camisole</i>. If I'm talking about a white man's sleeveless undershirt, it's a <i>wifebeater</i> (a horrible yet evocative word -- if you use it, people know EXACTLY what kind of garment you're talking about!). A sleeveless top with thicker straps worn by women is a <i>tank top</i>.&nbsp;</p> <p>To my French sister-in-law, <i>culottes</i> are women's underpants.</p> <p>Until this past decade, <i>gilet</i> wasn't in my vocabulary. I learned it when I started getting Mini Boden catalogues in the mail when my kids were small. The catalogues sometimes had fuzzy or puffy sleeveless garments worn as outerwear that were labeled <i>gilets</i>. I assumed it was a European term, and pronounced it jhee-LAY.</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1730120 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 14:29:00 +0000 April 1730120@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I admit it had never occurred to me to say "gilet" any way other than to rhyme it with "kill it," with a hard G like in the kind of gills that fish have. &nbsp;</p> <p>I will watch with interest to see how others are pronouncing that one, as I can see that there is an obvious French pronunciation. &nbsp;(But would the "g" then go soft so that it was more like "jee-lay"?) &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1730116 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 14:21:00 +0000 Astrid 1730116@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I say it the French way. Although I think Culotte in French is now used exclusively for underwear? "Our" Culottes are jupes-culottes, which ist the same as the German Hosenrock. And I'd probably use Hosenrock if I were talking to someone else IRL (not that the topic has ever come up). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1729968 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 05:32:18 +0000 Mauvish 1729968@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>being a multilingual person who can fluently speak two languages and can understand four (including one regional ), i can see so many similarities /variations of various words thrown in this post. I am really loving everybody's input on how they say "xyz" word.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Angie: </b>before i moved to US --- a vest was a sleeveless undershirt for me (mostly used for men's or kids undershirt)</p> <p>and when i found out that sometime they are called wifebeaters too, my eyes widened and laughed really hard. still do</p> <p>for more girly versions we called them "shameez" (think the word chemise but spoken a bit differently)</p> <p><b>Viva, </b>your reference of camiseta remnds of spanish word "camise= shirt" &nbsp;which we call in urdu/hindi as "Kameez"&nbsp;</p> <p><b></b>April: <b></b>funny how you say "weskit"in your head... that is similar to what we call a desi version of waistcoat --- we call it "waasKit" and my definition is like <b><i></i><i></i></b><b>Diana's</b> <b></b>too</p> <p>picture here:<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.pakreviews.com/sites/default/files/amir%20adnan_27.jpg">http://www.pakreviews.com/site.....nan_27.jpg</a></p> <p><b>Xtabay</b>: i am enjoying this "out of control" version of you ;)</p> <p><b></b><b>Sally</b>:<b></b> Gilet is completely new word for me... right now i am saying it as "gi'LAY" in my head.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1729965 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 05:09:02 +0000 Gigi 1729965@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>COO-lotz here. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1729908 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 01:20:59 +0000 Sal 1729908@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I say&nbsp;</p> <p>cu-LOTZ....but not often....because they don't come up in conversation all that much..</p> <p>A vest to me has both meanings - a singlet is traditionally what is worn under clothes and a tank is a sleeveless tee. &nbsp;I certainly used to call a vest a waistcoat.</p> <p>And how you do pronounce gilet - is like a fish fillet or a 'filet of fish"? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1729906 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 01:11:35 +0000 April 1729906@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>minimalist, I never say it out loud, but when I say it in my head I pronounce it "weskit". </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1729875 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 22:49:06 +0000 Anonymous 1729875@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for the shout-out, <b>minimalist</b>.&nbsp; I know I'm out of control, but the heat here is driving me nuts!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1729861 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 22:17:24 +0000 minimalist 1729861@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Xtabay is killing me this week. </p> <p>Now I want to know how people pronounce waistcoat. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1729720 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 16:59:43 +0000 Diana 1729720@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I say vest or waistcoat, although I think waistcoat very properly only refers to the menswear item.&nbsp; But I would never call a pullover vest a waistcoat; it must have buttons. <br />In my head, gilet is just french for waistcoat and also must have buttons.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1729713 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 16:50:08 +0000 RobinF 1729713@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>COO-lotz here, and vest. La Pedestrienne, I had some of those gauchos about then. They were really comfortable and I hate to admit it but I think I still have some black ones that I only wear for lounging around the house (maybe I need to get those back out!)&nbsp;</p> <p>It's funny the regional differences in language. I expect it internationally but am always surprised by more local differences. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1729674 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 15:22:25 +0000 viva 1729674@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, Xtabay, although I will throw a monkey wrench in here. I spent the first few years of my life in Mexico City, so for all of my youth (and some of my young adulthood) I referred to a sleeveless undershirt, or cotton camisole (what Angie calls a <i>vest</i>) as a "<i>camiseta</i>." &nbsp;So it's all a great soup of personal heritage, place of birth, and current location, I think.</p> <p>PS I think a gilet would be a pretty sleek car.</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1729643 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 14:36:46 +0000 Anonymous 1729643@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Heh, Viva!&nbsp; Same where I live.&nbsp; If I said I bought a "gilet," everyone would probably think it was either some kind of car or exotic plant!&nbsp; When in Rome, right? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1729603 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 13:05:13 +0000 viva 1729603@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Xtabay: right on.&nbsp;</p> <p>If I described my long plaid vest as a "gilet" in any of my New England friend circles, I would either sound like an alien or so incredibly pretentious I would instantly be laughed away from the table. And, since I already dress up more than anyone I know, I prefer to speak the local language.</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1729588 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 12:28:14 +0000 LaPed 1729588@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The "French" way here. cu-LOTZ. </p> <p>I remember the shorter lengths having a moment about a decade ago while I was in college. I think we called them gauchos, mostly. Lots of swishy knit fabrications, like dance/yoga pants. This could just be because I took a lot of dance and theatre classes, though. Maybe we were big weirdos. :)</p> <p>I had brown and black ones, and a pair of grey pinstriped wool ones too. I have yet to add any this time around, but if I find the right pair I'd gladly rock this look. The current longer lengths seem a bit more practical for fall-winter, though it still requires a mild climate or savvy layering... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1729587 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 12:27:59 +0000 BlondeAmbition 1729587@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Am I the only one who pronounces them kee-yOHts? &nbsp;I have no idea why but that's how I say them in my head when I read the word. &nbsp;</p> <p>Frankly I avoid cullotes at all costs, not a good look on plus-sized pear shapes I'm afraid. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1729572 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 11:54:23 +0000 El Cee 1729572@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>COO-lots in this neck of the woods. I am a lover of all the culotte varieties and lengths... but I realize I am in the minority. I admit to having quirky tastes.</p> <p>Some interesting articles about the history of culottes. Some of the previous decades' versions were more billowy and, yes, shorter.</p> <p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://blog.mccall.com/2015/07/01/the-inescapable-unavoidable-culotte-past-and-present-patterns/">http://blog.mccall.com/2015/07.....-patterns/</a></p> <p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://costumesociety.org.uk/blog/post/culottes-a-brief-history">http://costumesociety.org.uk/b.....ef-history</a></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes/page/2#post-1729556 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 11:06:45 +0000 April 1729556@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Pretty evenly mixed so far. &nbsp;I maintain, however, that "culottes" are a far shorter item than the ones being shown in today's trend. &nbsp;Here's my own taxonomy:</p> <p>Culottes: &nbsp;wide-legged, above-the-knee or at-the-knee shorts<br />Gauchos: wide-legged, just-below-the-knee pants, often worn with &nbsp;boots (and a matching gilet!)</p> <p>As far as I'm concerned, these longish, wide-legged cropped pants don't have a name yet. &nbsp;Too long to be culottes, too long to be gauchos, too short to be ankle pants. &nbsp;But&nbsp;I don't need a name for them since I'm sitting out the trend. &nbsp;</p> <p>How about we just call them GULOCKS.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes#post-1729530 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 10:04:09 +0000 Summer 1729530@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The French way for me.&nbsp; I'm with Angie on the gilet/vest subject, too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes#post-1729517 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 09:01:24 +0000 Sisi 1729517@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>French way: coo-&nbsp;lot. Withe the French narrow "u", no "s" pronounced, and accent on the second syllable.</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes#post-1729434 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 01:58:01 +0000 April 1729434@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Like my English grandmother couldn't bear it when we called knee-length pants, like below, "knickers". &nbsp;So of course we did it just to be cheeky. &nbsp;:) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes#post-1729432 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 01:53:48 +0000 Angie 1729432@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>And to me - a vest in an undergarment. A camisole. I can't call a gilet a vest!&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes#post-1729430 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 01:51:02 +0000 Janet 1729430@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What Xtabay said. I just can't bring myself to call a vest a gilet. My friends would wonder what the heck I'm talking about. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes#post-1729426 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 01:45:53 +0000 Echo 1729426@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm with Xtabay! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-em-or-hate-em-how-are-you-pronouncing-culottes#post-1729424 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 01:40:16 +0000 Jaime 1729424@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Cu-LOTZ I think, but I actually have an auditory processing problem in hearing accents. So maybe CU-lotz, I would have to ask someone else and no one is up this early. </p>