Agender
To be without gender or to be making a statement that one is gender-neutral.
Athleisure
A trend in fashion whereby brands create clothing that is designed for workouts and athletic activities, but that can also be worn during work, casual or social surroundings.
Atelier
A workshop or studio of a designer where the designer and his team can work together to create pieces under the designer’s supervision.
Brogue
A low-heeled shoe or boot, characterised by multiple piece, sturdy leather uppers with decorative perforations and brouging along the visible edges.
Bespoke
Derived from Savile Row, the term “bespoke” means to have an item specifically commissioned to a customer’s specifications. In tailoring terms, it relates to having clothing made to exact and individual measurements.
Double Denim
Ill-advised fashion trend. Unless you are Zayn Malik.
Dandy
A man that places significant importance on his appearance, language and hobbies, pursued with the appearance of nonchalance.
Double-breasted
A coat or jacket with wide, overlapping front flaps and two parallel columns of buttons.
Cufflinks
Nifty device designed for the fastening together of the sides of shirt cuffs.
Cape
Incredibly rakish, typically sleeveless outerwear garment that drapes the wearer’s back, arms and chest and fastens at the neck.
Cashmere
Cashmere wool is a fiber obtained from cashmere goats. Commonly defined as wool, but finer and softer than sheep wool.
Fair-Isle
A traditional knitting technique used to create patterns with multiple colours. So named after Fair Isle, an island in the north of Scotland.
Evening dress
This dress code (oft found on the wedding invites of wealthy friends in The Hamptons or for high society events) typically consists of a tailcoat, formal trousers, a white bow-tie and white waistcoat with wing collar, white, double-cuffed shirt and patent black leather court shoes.
Gloves
A necessity for anyone that lives in England from November – February.
Handkerchief
A smart square of cotton or other finely woven material that is primarily intended for blowing one’s nose.
Irish tweed
Otherwise known as "Donegal" this is a tweed fabric characterised by bright flecks randomly distributed on a typically light grey fabric.
Jeans
Trousers, made from denim. Wear yours skinny, with a red Harrington jacket a la James Dean.
Knitwear
Garments created by the knitting of woven fabrics.
Lapel
Those folded flaps of cloth on the front of your suit jacket. Formed by folding the front edges of the jacket and sewing them to the collar.
Manscaping
The painful process of trimming or removing the hair on your body.
Neckerchief
A short scarf worn by tying the triangular piece of cloth around ones neck.
Oxford shirt
A versatile and easy to wear menswear staple. Defined by a thick basket-weave pattern which gives it its smart/ casual feel.
Pyjama
Comfortable, loose-fitting garments that are chiefly worn for sleeping and lounging.
Pocket Square
A handkerchief, more often than not coloured that is worn in the breast pocket of a suit or blazer as an accessory. Can be folded in an array of ways to create a bold style statement.
Quilting
The process of sewing two or more layers of fabric together to make a thicker padded material.
Ready to wear
Clothes that are made for general sale and sold in stores/ online as opposed to made to order (bespoke) for the individual customer.
Savile Row
Spornosexual
Coined by writer Mark Simpson, the term refers to a modern day selfie and social media obsessed man that looks to emulate the bodies of sport and porn stars.
Trilby
A rakish soft felt hat with a narrow brim and indented crown.
Three-piece
A suit consisting of three items comprising of jacket, trousers and waistcoat.
Tuxedo
A dinner suit, immediately identifiable by satin or grosgrain facings on the lapel of the jacket and a similar, slim stripe along the outseam of the trousers. A traditional feature of the men’s black tie dress code.
Underwear
Clothes worn under your proper clothes. For men, underwear can basically be proposed into two categories – i) briefs are short and snug and ii) boxers that are made designed to be looser and extend down the thighs.
Varsity jacket
A blouson style jacket, traditionally in the colours of a school, college or sports team. Also known as a “letterman jacket”.
Watch
A timepiece worn on the wrist, that every man has to have.
X-ray fabrics
Fabrics that have a sexy, see-through effect and that are sheer or iridescent.
Yarn
Spun thread used for knitting, weaving or sewing.
Zips
A nifty device consisting of two flexible strips of plastic or metal with interlocking projections, closed or opened by pulling a slide.
