Dimensions of Ukrainian Fashion
Fashion Glossary
410 terms across 8 dimensions: from styles and silhouettes to materials, techniques and jewelry.
Latest Fashion Terms
Recent additions
Acrylic
Acrylic is a synthetic fibre created as an affordable alternative to wool, which it resembles in look and feel: soft, fluffy and warm. Acrylic is light, holds bright colours well, is resistant to moth, mildew and fading, is non-allergenic and inexpensive. It is knitted into sweaters, hats, scarves, blankets and woven into faux fur and plush. Its main drawbacks are a tendency to pill, a build-up of static and poorer breathability compared with natural wool, so acrylic is often blended with wool or cotton to improve its properties. Despite this, it remains one of the most popular materials for warm knitwear thanks to its affordability and practicality. Acrylic is a democratic, versatile material that makes the warmth, colour and softness of a woollen aesthetic accessible to everyone.
A-line
The A-line is a garment shape that fits closely at the top (shoulders, bust or waist) and widens smoothly toward the hem, tracing the outline of a capital letter A. The term was introduced by couturier Christian Dior in his Spring 1955 collection as a development of his New Look. The A-line is versatile and remarkably flattering: it skims the hips, adds lightness and suits almost every body type. It is used in dresses, skirts and coats. Thanks to its balance between a restrained top and a free hem, the A-line remains one of the most classic and popular cuts in the history of fashion.
Alpaca
Alpaca is the precious, soft and warm wool of the South American camelid of the same name, bred for millennia in the high Andes. The alpaca fibre is lighter, warmer and stronger than sheep's wool, contains no lanolin (so it is hypoallergenic), hardly pills and has a natural silky sheen. Alpaca comes in more than twenty natural shades — from white to deep black. It is knitted into sweaters, cardigans, hats, scarves and woven into luxurious coating fabrics that combine lightness, warmth and noble softness. Fine baby-class alpaca is especially prized. Historically this wool was sacred to the Inca peoples. Alpaca is the embodiment of natural, high-mountain luxury, in which an ancient tradition and the unique properties of the fibre give exceptional warmth and softness.
Amber
Amber is not a stone but the fossilised resin of ancient coniferous or flowering trees, tens of millions of years old; sometimes insects or plants of those eras are frozen inside it. Ukraine is one of the amber capitals of the world: Volyn-Polissia amber (Rivne, Volyn) has long been prized for its warm honey colour and lightness. In folk tradition amber (an 'amber necklace') was worn as a talisman of health and, by belief, protection from illness. To the touch it is warm, light and becomes electrostatic when rubbed. Amber is worked gently, preserving its natural inclusions and shades — from light honey to dark cherry. It is an organic, 'living' gem with a deep connection to the Ukrainian land.
Amethyst
Amethyst is a semi-precious variety of quartz of a characteristic violet colour, from tender lilac to deep purple. Historically amethyst was a stone of kings and clergy, a symbol of power, wisdom and spiritual purity; its name comes from the Greek amethystos — 'not intoxicated', because the stone was believed to protect from drunkenness. Amethyst facets well, plays with light beautifully and has a noble, 'royal' hue. It is one of the most popular and affordable precious stones, and large, clear specimens are especially valuable. It combines beautifully with silver and gold. Amethyst is a semi-precious stone of noble violet colour, in which an ancient symbolism of power, wisdom and purity combines with a deep, 'royal' hue that makes it one of the most beloved and expressive stones of the jeweller's art.
Androgynous
The androgynous style is a current that deliberately blurs or entirely erases the boundary between 'masculine' and 'feminine' in dress, creating gender-neutral looks. The name comes from the Greek andros (man) and gyne (woman). This style borrows elements of the traditionally male wardrobe for women (and vice versa): suits, shirts, straight silhouettes, a restrained palette, the absence of emphatically 'feminine' or 'masculine' details. Historically important milestones were Yves Saint Laurent's 'Le Smoking' tuxedo for women and the looks of Marlene Dietrich. Androgyny is about freedom of self-expression beyond stereotypes, about an elegance built on cut and character rather than gender codes. Today it is one of the key currents of modern, inclusive fashion.
Angora
Angora is an extraordinarily soft, light and fluffy yarn from the wool of the Angora rabbit. Its chief traits are incredible tenderness, a 'cloudy' fluffy halo and exceptional warmth: the hollow fibres hold a lot of air, so angora warms far better than ordinary wool at less weight. Because of the fineness and slipperiness of the fibre, angora is almost always blended with wool or other threads for strength. It is knitted into sweaters, cardigans, hats and scarves that envelop the body in soft, almost weightless warmth. Angora requires careful handling — it is delicate and can shed. It is valued for its luxurious tactility and tender appearance. Angora is the embodiment of fragile, 'fluffy' tenderness, in which a natural fibre gives a feeling of warmth, softness and an almost fairy-tale cosiness.
Ankle boots
Ankle boots are short boots whose shaft reaches the ankle or slightly above. It is one of the most versatile types of footwear: they combine the coverage and protection of boots with the lightness and compactness of shoes, so they suit almost everything — from dresses and skirts to jeans and trousers. Ankle boots come with any heel: stiletto, block heel, wedge or flat sole. Popular varieties are Chelsea (with elastic gussets), cowboy, zip-up or lace-up ankle boots. They work well in the between-seasons, when full boots are still too early and shoes are already cold. Ankle boots visually lengthen the leg, giving a look completeness and character. It is practical, stylish and incredibly flexible footwear that has deservedly become a staple of the modern wardrobe.
Anklet
An anklet is an ornament that wraps the leg just above the foot. It is one of the oldest forms of body adornment, widespread in many cultures — from Ancient Egypt and India (where anklets with little bells had a ritual meaning too) to modern beach and resort fashion. An anklet accentuates the leg and the line of the foot, adding lightness, femininity and effortless sensuality to a look. It is worn mostly in summer, with open footwear or barefoot, often on tanned skin. It comes thin and delicate (a chain) or expressive, with pendants, beads or bells. An anklet is a leg ornament with ancient roots in many cultures, in which wrapping the ankle accentuates the line of the foot, adding summer lightness, femininity and effortless, slightly exotic sensuality to a look.
Applique
Appliqué is a decorative technique in which shaped pieces of another fabric, leather or material are sewn or glued onto a base cloth, creating a pattern by layering. Unlike thread embroidery, appliqué works with whole pieces, so it yields large, expressive, often contrasting motifs. Its edges are secured by overcasting, a decorative stitch or trim. Appliqué is used both in folk dress (sewn-on coloured inserts on sheepskin coats and waistcoats) and in modern fashion — from children's clothing to couture dresses with flowers and three-dimensional elements. It is a faster way than solid embroidery to add graphic quality, colour and texture to a look.
MODA01Styles
From minimalism to streetwear — the horizons of Ukrainian fashion.
70 stylesOpen
MODA02Silhouettes
The lines that shape an outfit — from A-line to oversize.
53 silhouettesOpen
MODA03Materials
Linen, silk, wool and modern composites — the language of touch.
59 materialsOpen
MODA04Techniques
Embroidery, tailoring, knitting — techniques passed down generations.
50 techniquesOpen
MODA05Details
Stitching, hardware, buttons — the language quality speaks.
44 detailsOpen
MODA06Jewelry
From minimalist author pieces to heirloom family treasures.
43 piecesOpen
MODA07Footwear
From classic oxfords to modern handcrafted sneakers.
45 modelsOpen
MODA08Accessories
Bags, belts, eyewear, headwear — the nuances that complete a look.
46 accessoriesOpen
ALL FASHION TERMS
Alphabetical index — 410 terms across 25 letters
Acrylic
Acrylic is a synthetic fibre created as an affordable alternative to wool, which it resembles in look and feel: soft, fluffy and warm.
See 14 terms starting with A
Backpack
A backpack is a bag carried on the back on two shoulder straps that distribute the weight evenly across both shoulders and free the hands.
See 44 terms starting with B
Cabochon
A cabochon is a way of working a precious or semi-precious stone in which it is not faceted but ground and polished to a smooth, convex (mo…
See 49 terms starting with C
Damask
Damask is a dense fabric with a fine, reversible pattern woven through the contrast of two weaving methods: a matte ornament emerges on a l…
See 18 terms starting with D
Ear cuff
An ear cuff is an ornament worn on the ear without the need for a piercing: it 'hugs' the edge of the ear or descends along it in a strikin…
See 18 terms starting with E
Fabric painting
Fabric painting is a technique of applying a pattern by hand with special paints directly onto the cloth, as onto an artist's canvas.
See 24 terms starting with F
Gabardine
Gabardine is a firm fabric with a distinctive diagonal twill rib, tightly spun and durable.
See 13 terms starting with G
Hair clip
A hair clip is a hair accessory that secures, holds or adorns a hairstyle by means of a clamping mechanism (spring, claw, snap).
See 16 terms starting with H
Inlay
Inlay is a decorative technique in which pieces of one material — precious stones, mother-of-pearl, metal, bone, wood — are cut into and se…
See 2 terms starting with I
Jacquard
Jacquard is not a specific fabric but a method of weaving intricate patterns into the very structure of the cloth, rather than printing or…
See 3 terms starting with J
Kaftan
Kaftan is a long, loose robe-like garment (historically often buttoned down the front in the Middle East and the Ottoman Empire, while the…
See 5 terms starting with K
Lace
Lace is an openwork textile with an open pattern, formed by interlacing, plaiting or embroidering threads without a solid woven ground.
See 13 terms starting with L
Macrame
Macramé is a technique of knotted work in which the pattern and the fabric itself are created by tying rows of decorative knots by hand, wi…
See 18 terms starting with M
Namysto
Namysto is a traditional Ukrainian neck ornament of strung elements (corals, glass beads, dukach coins), one of the oldest and most deeply…
See 9 terms starting with N
Off-shoulder
Off-shoulder is a cut in which the neckline drops below the shoulders, baring them completely, and often the top of the bust too.
See 10 terms starting with O
Palazzo
Palazzo are very wide, loose trousers that widen evenly from the waist to the hem, creating a smooth, flowing silhouette resembling a long…
See 28 terms starting with P
Quiet luxury
Quiet luxury is a style of restrained, 'invisible' luxury in which status is read not through logos but through impeccable quality, cut and…
See 2 terms starting with Q
Raglan
Raglan is a type of sleeve cut together with the shoulder part of the garment in one continuous piece, so the seam runs diagonally from the…
See 17 terms starting with R
Safari
Safari is a practical, adventurous style inspired by clothing for African expeditions and travel.
See 48 terms starting with S
Taffeta
Taffeta is a firm, smooth and crisp plain-weave fabric made from tightly twisted yarn, historically silk and now also acetate or polyester.
See 29 terms starting with T
Ugg boots
Ugg boots are soft sheepskin (mouton) boots with the fleece turned inward, named after the Australian and New Zealand word ugg, whose origi…
See 3 terms starting with U
Veil
A veil is a light transparent covering of tulle, lace or chiffon that traditionally covers the head and face of the bride.
See 10 terms starting with V
Waistband
The waistband is a detail that finishes a garment along the waistline, securing the fit of trousers, a skirt or a dress.
See 13 terms starting with W
Y2K
Y2K is the style of the turn of the millennium (late 1990s — early 2000s), its name derived from 'Year 2000'. It absorbed the era's fascina…
See 2 terms starting with Y
Zipper
The zipper is a fastener of two tapes with teeth that a slider engages and disengages, joining the edges of a garment quickly and securely.
See 2 terms starting with Z
