Fashion & Personal Adornment, POI-TUR
Looking to make a statement without ever saying a word? Fashion designers know that clothing and accessories can speak volumes about the wearer, affecting both how the wearer is perceived by others and how the wearer perceives of him- or herself. The fashion industry has become a multibillion-dollar global enterprise devoted to the business of making and selling clothes; it thrives by being diverse and flexible enough to gratify any consumer's desire to embrace or reject fashionability, however that term might be defined.
Fashion & Personal Adornment Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Poiret, Paul
Paul Poiret was a French couturier, the most fashionable dress designer of pre-World War I Paris. Poiret was particularly......
Poke bonnet
Poke bonnet, hood-shaped hat tied under the chin, with a small crown at the back and a wide projecting front brim......
Polonaise
Polonaise, in clothing, a coatlike dress, originally worn by Polish women, that was extremely popular in the 1770s......
Pompadour
Pompadour, style of dressing the hair in which the front hair is rolled back and the side hair up to meet it in......
Poncho
Poncho, article of clothing of ancient origin, a cloak made of a square or rectangle of cloth with a hole in the......
Porkpie
Porkpie, round hat with a turned-up brim and a flat crown. The porkpie, so called because of its shape, became......
Posen, Zac
Zac Posen is an American fashion designer best known for his glamorous evening gowns and cocktail dresses. Posen......
Prada, Miuccia
Miuccia Prada is an Italian fashion designer who transformed Prada, her grandfatherâs leather goods business, into......
Princess style
Princess style, in dress design, style of womenâs clothing characterized by garments that are closely fitted to......
Pucci, Emilio, Marchese Di Barsento
Emilio Pucci, marquis di Barsento was an Italian fashion designer and politician. Pucci, who came from a wealthy,......
Puttee
Puttee, covering for the lower leg consisting of a cloth or leather legging held on by straps or laces or a cloth......
pyrope
pyrope, magnesium aluminum garnet (Mg3Al2), the transparent form of which is used as a gemstone. Its colour varies......
Quant, Mary
Mary Quant was an English fashion designer of youth-oriented fashions, responsible in the 1960s for the âChelsea......
Rabato
Rabato, wide, often lace-edged collar wired to stand up at the back of the head, worn by both men and women in......
Redingote
Redingote, fitted outer garment. The manâs redingote, worn in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, was a full-skirted,......
Regency dress
Regency dress, style of clothing prevalent in Great Britain during the Regency period (1811â20) when George, prince......
Rei miro
Rei miro, wooden gorget, or pectoral (breast ornament), once worn by high-ranking inhabitants of Rapa Nui (Easter......
religious dress
religious dress, any attire, accoutrements, and markings used in religious rituals that may be corporate, domestic,......
Rhinegraves
Rhinegraves, wide breeches worn by men in the mid-17th century in Europe. The breeches were probably named for......
rhinestone
rhinestone, colourless, faceted glass used in jewelry; also foil-backed or silvered cut glass used to imitate diamonds.......
ring
ring, circular band of gold, silver, or some other precious or decorative material that is worn on the finger.......
rock crystal
rock crystal, transparent variety of the silica mineral quartz that is valued for its clarity and total lack of......
rose cut
rose cut, method of faceting gemstones so that the base of the stone is wide, flat, and unfaceted, whereas the......
rose quartz
rose quartz, translucent, usually turbid, very coarse-grained variety of the silica mineral quartz found in pegmatites.......
ruby
ruby, gemstone composed of transparent red corundum (q.v.), a mineral form of aluminum oxide, Al2O3. Its colour......
ruby spinel
ruby spinel, natural or synthetic gem-quality spinel (q.v.; magnesium aluminum oxide) that resembles ruby. The......
Ruff
Ruff, in dresswear, crimped or pleated collar or frill, usually wide and full, worn in Europe, especially from......
Sabot
Sabot, heavy work shoe worn by European peasants, especially in France and the Low Countries. There are two kinds......
Saint Edwardâs sapphire
Saint Edwardâs sapphire, rose-cut gem with a fine blue colour set in the finial cross of the imperial state crown......
Saint Laurent, Yves
Yves Saint Laurent was a French fashion designer widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in 20th-century......
Sandal
Sandal, type of footwear consisting of a sole secured to the foot by straps over the instep, toes, or ankle. The......
Sander, Jil
Jil Sander is a German fashion designer and founder of the Jil Sander label, noted for her luxurious understated......
sapphire
sapphire, transparent to translucent, natural or synthetic variety of corundum (q.v.; aluminum oxide, Al2O3) that......
sari
sari, principal outer garment of women of the Indian subcontinent, consisting of a piece of often brightly coloured,......
Sarong
Sarong, principal silk, cotton, or synthetic-fabric garment worn in the Malay Archipelago and the Pacific islands.......
sceptre
sceptre, ornamented rod or staff borne by rulers on ceremonial occasions as an emblem of authority and sovereignty.......
Schiaparelli, Elsa
Elsa Schiaparelli was an Italian-born fashion designer who established an important couture house in Paris. She......
Sears, Richard W.
Richard W. Sears was an American merchant who developed his mail-order jewelry business into the huge retail company......
Segoni-kun
Segoni-kun, mask derived from the antelope form, worn by a member of the Tyiwara society of the Bambara tribe in......
Sen, Sushmita
Sushmita Sen is an Indian model and actress who made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win the Miss......
Shawl
Shawl, square, oblong, or triangular protective or ornamental article of dress worn, generally by women, over the......
Shirt
Shirt, any of a variety of garments having sleeves and worn on the upper part of the body, often under a coat,......
Shoe
Shoe, outer covering for the foot, usually of leather with a stiff or thick sole and heel, and generally (distinguishing......
sillimanite
sillimanite, brown, pale green, or white glassy silicate mineral that often occurs in long, slender, needlelike......
Simons, Raf
Raf Simons is a Belgian fashion designer who worked for various labels, notably serving as creative director of......
Sims, Naomi
Naomi Sims was an American model and business executive who shattered the barrier that had prevented Black models......
Slimane, Hedi
Hedi Slimane is a French fashion designer and photographer who was known for shaking up the menswear fashion industry......
Smith, Anna Nicole
Anna Nicole Smith was an American model, actress, and television personality who rose to fame in the early 1990s......
Smock
Smock, loose, shirtlike garment worn by women in the European Middle Ages under their gowns. The smock eventually......
smoky quartz
smoky quartz, very common coarse-grained variety of the silica mineral quartz that ranges in colour from nearly......
sneakers, History of
Trainers, gym shoes, runners, tennis shoes. No matter what you call them, sneakers seem to be everywhere. But whatâs......
Snood
Snood, either of two types of hair ornament worn by women. The Scottish snood was a narrow circlet or ribbon fastened......
snowshoe
snowshoe, a light, oval wooden frame that is usually strengthened by two or more crosspieces, strung with thongs,......
Soccus
Soccus, soft light low-heeled sock shoe worn in ancient Greece and Rome. The actors in Roman comedies, specifically......
Sokutai
Sokutai, Japanese emperorâs court dress, worn for coronations and other important ceremonies. The costume, which......
Sombrero
Sombrero, broad-brimmed high-crowned hat made of felt or straw, worn especially in Mexico and the southwestern......
spessartine
spessartine, manganese aluminum garnet that is a semiprecious gem when clear. Found combined with almandine, it......
Star of India
Star of India, a large, cabochon-cut, gray-blue star sapphire, slightly oval in shape. The polished but unfaceted......
step cut
step cut, method of faceting coloured gemstones in which the stone produced is rather flat with steps, or rows,......
Stomacher
Stomacher, ornamental garment worn at the front of the upper body by men and women from the end of the 15th until......
Suit
Suit, in dress design, matching set of clothes consisting, for example, of a coat, vest, and trousers. The shift......
sunstone
sunstone, a gemstone variety of feldspar that has minute platelike inclusions of iron oxide (hematite or goethite)......
Supermodel
Supermodel, a very famous and successful fashion model. Often recognized by their first name only, supermodels......
Surcoat
Surcoat, sleeved or sleeveless outer garment worn by European men and women during the 13th and 14th centuries.......
Sweater
Sweater, outer garment, usually knitted or crocheted, that is worn on the upper part of the body, either pulled......
Swimsuit
Swimsuit, garment designed for wearing while swimming. In Europe, North America, and Australia, sea bathing became......
synthetic diamond
synthetic diamond, man-made diamond that is usually produced by subjecting graphite to very high temperatures and......
Taj
Taj, brimless hat, usually conical or curved on top, worn by men and women in Muslim countries. The taj (from the......
Talley, André Leon
André Leon Talley was an influential fashion editor who grew up in the segregated South and rose through the historically......
Taotie
Taotie, monster mask commonly found on ancient Chinese ritual bronze vessels and implements. The taotie characteristically......
Tarboosh
Tarboosh, close-fitting, flat-topped, brimless hat shaped like a truncated cone. It is made of felt or cloth with......
Tassie, James
James Tassie was a Scottish gem engraver and modeler known for reproductions of engraved gems and for portrait......
Tattoo
Tattoo, permanent mark or design made on the body by the introduction of pigment through ruptures in the skin.......
Taylor, Krissy
Krissy Taylor was an American fashion model perhaps best known as a face of the cosmetics companies CoverGirl and......
Taylor, Niki
Niki Taylor is an American fashion model best known as a face of the cosmetics company CoverGirl. She is the sister......
Testino, Mario
Mario Testino is a Peruvian fashion photographer known for his evocative portraits and vivid advertisements. Testino,......
tigereye
tigereye, semiprecious quartz gem displaying chatoyancy, a vertical luminescent band like that of a catâs eye.......
Timur ruby
Timur ruby, jewel that is in fact not a ruby but one of the worldâs largest polished red magnesia spinels (see......
Tippet
Tippet, long, narrow, cloth streamer, usually white, worn around the arm above the elbow, with the long end hanging......
Today in HistoryâDecember 29: The âWanderer in Manâs Apparelâ
On December 29, 1852, 17-year-old Emma Snodgrass was arraigned in Boston for the heinous crime ofâwait for itâwearing......
Today in HistoryâFebruary 10: The Bride Wore White (for the First Time)
On this day in 1840, Queen Victoria got marriedâŠto her cousin, Albert. He was the second son of a foreign dukeâand......
Today in HistoryâJanuary 15: Dashing the Myth of the Haberdashery Riot
The story goes that on this day in 1797, an alarming sight caused a ruckus on the streets of London: a man wore......
Today in HistoryâJanuary 26: Worldâs Largest Diamond FoundâŠand Thrown Out
On this day in 1905, the worldâs largest diamond was unearthed at the Premier Mine in South Africa. Then it was......
Today in HistoryâJuly 5: The Atomic Origins of the Bikini
Would you wear a fashion item named after a nuclear test site? Maybe you already have. On this day in 1946, a French......
Today in HistoryâMay 20: How Jeans Turned the Whole World Blue
On this day in 1873, two men were granted a patent for trousers reinforced with rivetsâthe origin of what we now......
Today in HistoryâSeptember 13: The Start of the Straw Hat Riots
âThe average manâs devotion to his HAT is one of lifeâs greatest mysteries.â Thatâs a line from a September 5,......
Toga
Toga, characteristic loose, draped outer garment of Roman citizens. Adopted by the Romans from the Etruscans, it......
topaz
topaz, silicate mineral that is valued as a gemstone. It is believed that the topaz of modern mineralogists was......
Toque
Toque, small, round, close-fitting hat, brimless or with a small brim, once worn by both men and women. In the......
torque
torque, in jewelry, a metal collar, neck ring, or armband consisting of a bar or ribbon of twisted metal curved......
Toupee
Toupee, originally, any raised roll of hair just above the forehead, either natural or artificial; today, a small......
tourmaline
tourmaline, borosilicate mineral of complex and variable composition. Three types of tourmaline, distinguished......
treated gem
treated gem, genuine gem material whose colour has been artificially enhanced or produced to increase the value......
TrigĂšre, Pauline
Pauline TrigĂšre was a French-born American couturiere whose award-winning design work was especially popular in......
Trousers
Trousers, an outer garment covering each leg separately and extending from the waist to the knees, calf, or ankles.......
Trump, Melania
Melania Trump is a Slovenian American former fashion model who served as first lady of the United States during......
Tunic
Tunic, basic garment worn by men and women in the ancient Mediterranean world. It was fashioned from two pieces......
Turban
Turban, a headdress consisting of a long scarf wound round the head or a smaller, underlying hat. Turbans vary......
Turlington, Christy
Christy Turlington is an American fashion model best known as a face of the cosmetics company Maybelline and the......