Fashion

Abbey Dawn — Avril Lavigne's pop‑punk fashion line Abbey Dawn Abbey Dawn is Avril Lavigne's clothing label known for pop‑punk aesthetics and an exclusive U.S. retail partnership with Kohl's. Covers design, origins, product range, and notable…

Abercrombie & Fitch: American lifestyle clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch American lifestyle clothing retailer founded in 1892, known for casual apparel and youth-focused marketing. Operates multiple brands including Hollister and abercrombie kids, with…

Afro (hairstyle): definition, history, care, and cultural significance Afro An afro is a rounded, voluminous hairstyle formed by tightly curled hair. This article explains its characteristics, history, styling and care, cultural meanings, variations, and c…

Alexander McQueen — British fashion designer and couturier Alexander McQueen Lee Alexander McQueen (1969–2010) was a British designer celebrated for sharp tailoring, theatrical runway shows and provocative, technically ambitious garments that left a lasting…

Anna Wintour: Editor of American Vogue and influential fashion figure Anna Wintour British-born editor-in-chief of American Vogue since 1988, Anna Wintour is a powerful fashion industry figure, known for her signature look, influence on designers and the Met Gala…

Apron: design, history, types, uses and cultural significance Apron An apron is a protective garment worn over clothes to shield, carry tools, or signal role. This article covers its design, materials, common types, historical development, workplac…

Artificial leather Man-made material designed to mimic animal leather: types, production, uses, advantages, drawbacks, and environmental and ethical considerations.

Auburn hair: characteristics, origins, care, and cultural notes Auburn hair Auburn hair is a reddish-brown hair color. This article describes its shades, genetics and frequency, care and styling tips, historical notes, and distinctions from similar hues.

Azzedine Alaïa: Tunisian Parisian Haute Couture Designer (1935–2017) Azzedine Alaïa Concise biography of Azzedine Alaïa, the Tunisian-born Paris-based haute couture designer celebrated for body-conscious tailoring, craft-based practice, major honours and his museu…

Backpack: design, history, types, and common uses Backpack A backpack is a bag worn on the back to carry personal items. This article reviews its design, main components, historical development, common uses, types, and fitting consideratio…

Bag (flexible container): types, materials, uses, and safety Bag An overview of bags as flexible containers: materials, parts, common types and uses, brief history, environmental and safety concerns, and tips for choosing and caring for bags.

Ballet flat A low-profile, lightweight shoe inspired by classical ballet slippers; features a thin sole, low vamp and often a ribbon or bow. Widely adopted for everyday wear with many variatio…

Bandana: history, forms, uses and cultural meanings Bandana A bandana is a square or triangular piece of cloth worn on the head, face or neck. Originating in South Asian textile traditions, it serves practical, decorative and symbolic roles…

Barbara Palvin — Hungarian model and actress Barbara Palvin Barbara Palvin (born 1993) is a Hungarian fashion model and actress known for a Prada runway debut, L'Oréal ambassadorship, Victoria’s Secret appearances and a film role in Hercule…

Barber (profession) Barber A barber is a trained professional who cuts, trims, shaves and grooms mainly male hair and facial hair; the role blends practical skills, hygiene, and social tradition with regulat…

Baseball cap: design, history, uses and cultural significance Baseball cap A rounded crown hat with a projecting bill originally worn by baseball players; now a global casual accessory. Covers design, parts, history, variations, and cultural uses.

Basque (clothing): fitted bodice and long corset-style jacket Basque (clothing) A basque is a women's garment—originally a closely fitted bodice or jacket extending over the hips—later applied to some corsetlike and lingerie pieces. History, design, and modern…

Beard: Definition, Types, History, and Grooming Beard A beard is facial hair growing on the lower part of a male face. This article explains what beards are, common styles, cultural history, grooming practices, and notable distinction…

Belt (clothing): types, history, components, and uses Belt A belt is a band worn around the waist to support clothing, carry tools, or signal status. This article covers materials, parts, fastening methods, common types, care, sizing, and…

Beret: Soft Round Hat — History, Styles and Uses Beret A beret is a soft, round, brimless cap with cultural, military and fashion roles worldwide. This article explains its form, materials, history, variants and common uses.

Berlei — Australian lingerie and shapewear brand Berlei Berlei is an Australian-founded brand of women's underwear, best known for bras and shapewear. Established in 1917, it expanded internationally in the early 20th century and is now…

Bias (textile): definition, properties, history and uses Bias (textile) In woven textiles the bias is the 45° direction between warp and weft. Cutting on the bias gives stretch and drape used in garments, tailoring and historical clothing construction.

Big hair (hairstyle) Big hair A voluminous hairstyle characterized by height, fullness and visible structure. Prominent in late 20th-century fashions and several subcultures, created with teasing, products and…

Bikini (two-piece women's swimsuit) Bikini A two-piece women's swimsuit that exposes the midriff; ancient precedents and a modern revival after WWII. Varied styles, notable cultural and commercial influence, and many fashio…

Billabong (clothing brand) Billabong (clothing) Billabong is an Australian surfwear and lifestyle brand known for boardshorts, surf culture marketing and a global presence across surf, skate and snow markets.

Blonde (hair color) Blonde Light hair color ranging from pale yellow to golden; results from low melanin, genetic variants, environmental bleaching, and has notable geographic and cultural associations.

Blouse (women's garment) Blouse A blouse is a loose-fitting upper garment for women, made in many fabrics and styles. Worn for casual, professional, and formal occasions, it differs from a shirt in cut, detailing…

Blouson (jacket) Blouson A blouson is a short jacket with a full body gathered at the waist so the upper fabric 'blouses' over the band. It appears in workwear, military jackets and many fashion variants s…

Blush (Rouge) — Definition, Types, History and Uses Blush Blush, or rouge, is a cheek cosmetic used to add color, shape and perceived vitality. This entry explains forms, application techniques, historical development and how it differs f…

Bodice: garment covering the torso — history, construction, and uses Bodice A bodice is a women's garment covering the torso from neck to waist. This article explains its forms, construction, historical development, and distinctions from related garments.

Boot (footwear) Boot A boot is a sturdy form of footwear that covers the foot and at least the ankle. This article explains parts, history, common types, uses, materials, and basic care.

Boutique: definition, history, types and modern uses Boutique A boutique is a small, specialized retail or service business notable for curated products, distinctive design, and personalized service. The term also describes niche firms, hotel…

Bowler hat — design, history, and cultural significance Bowler hat A hard-felt, rounded-crown hat introduced in mid-19th century Britain, the bowler (Derby in the U.S.) blends practical protection with wide cultural symbolism across classes and co…

Boxer briefs: tailored men's underwear combining support and coverage Boxer briefs Boxer briefs are a hybrid men's underwear style that combines the snug support of briefs with the longer leg coverage of boxer shorts; available in many fabrics, fits and performan…

Boxer shorts: history, design, and common variations Boxer shorts Boxer shorts are a style of men's underwear inspired by boxing trunks. This article explains their design, history, common materials and variants, practical uses, and how they diff…

Braces (suspenders): purpose, styles, history and wearing guide Braces Braces, called suspenders in the U.S., are straps that hold trousers at the proper height. This article explains their parts, history, types, uses in formal and everyday wear, and…

Brassière (bra): definition, structure, history and common types Brassière A brassière, or bra, is a garment that supports and shapes the breasts. This article explains its parts, materials, historical development, common types, cultural role, fit and car…

Bratz: history and influence of the fashion doll franchise Bratz Bratz is a fashion-doll franchise introduced by MGA Entertainment, noted for its stylized characters, rapid commercial success, multimedia spin-offs, legal disputes, and lasting in…

Breeches: knee-length trousers, history and uses Breeches Breeches are a form of lower-body clothing that cover each leg separately, traditionally ending at or below the knee. This article explains their features, history, uses and distin…

Brooch (jewelry) Brooch A brooch is a decorative pin or clasp worn on clothing. Originating as functional fasteners called fibulae, brooches later became chiefly ornamental and are made from metals, gems,…

Brown hair: characteristics, distribution, biology and cultural roles Brown hair Overview of brown hair covering pigmentation, genetic and regional distribution, common variations, distinctions from black and blonde, cultural meanings, and basic care and cosmet…

Burgundy (colour) Burgundy is a deep red hue named after Burgundy wine from France. It features purple-brown undertones and is widely used in fashion, interiors, and branding to suggest richness and…

Burlap (Hessian): coarse woven fabric, properties, history and uses Burlap Coarse woven fabric made from jute, hemp or similar bast fibers. Common for sacks, gardening, erosion control and crafts; breathable and biodegradable but rough and not waterproof.

Burqa: full-body outer garment worn by some Muslim women Burqa A burqa is an outer garment that covers the entire body and face, with a mesh or grille over the eyes. This article explains its characteristics, origins, variations, uses, and dis…

Cable knitting Cable knitting is a textured technique that produces twisted, braid-like motifs in knitted fabric. Common on sweaters such as Aran garments, it uses crossed stitches and special ne…

Calico: origins of the cotton fabric, printed textiles, and tri‑colored cat patterns Calico Overview of calico: the cotton cloth from Calicut, its printed textile history and industrial spread, modern fabric uses and distinctions, and the genetics and appearance of tri‑co…

Calvin Klein — American fashion house and global lifestyle brand Calvin Klein Calvin Klein is a New York–based fashion brand founded in 1968, known for minimalist design, denim and underwear, fragrances, provocative advertising, and global licensing.

Calvin Klein (American fashion designer) Calvin Klein (fashion designer) Overview of Calvin Klein, the American fashion designer who founded Calvin Klein Inc., his minimalist aesthetic, signature products, business growth, advertising impact and cultura…