Blazer (above)
This is a jacket with gold or silver buttons and is cut to resemble a suit jacket. Blazers are often featured as part of uniforms.
Originally a classically cut double-breasted navy blue jacket, the blazer now comes in varying styles, cuts and colours.
Suit jacket (above)
This, on the other hand, will always be made of finer fabrics, most commonly worsted wool.
They are meticulously made to ensure a clean silhouette and are never skin-tight or body-hugging.
A suit jacket, as the name suggests, is matched exactly in the same colour as the pants to comprise a suit.
In traditional designs, the suit jacket is single-vented.
This means the slit is placed at the bottom rear, or tail, of the jacket.
Modern designs, however, may have jackets with single or side vents, or not have vents at all.
PLAID AND TARTAN
While there is much confusion surrounding the meaning of plaid and tartan, it is okay to use the two terms interchangeably.
They both refer to checks made up of horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours crossing each other.
A key feature is that visible diagonal lines with different colours cross to give the appearance of new colours (above).
They are particularly associated with Scotland because Scottish kilts almost always bear the pattern.
Pattern purists may want to check this out, though: Plaid is actually the North American term for tartan.
In Scotland, plaid refers specifically to a tartan cloth slung over the left shoulder by Highlanders or a blanket bearing tartan prints.
ESPADRILLES AND WEDGES
Espadrilles refer to the style of the footwear while wedges are usually meant to describe the heel type.
Sole:
Espadrilles are casual flats or high-heel sandals. They usually have a canvas or cotton fabric upper and a flexible sole made of rope or synthetic materials cast to resemble rope.
This rope (or faux rope) sole is the defining characteristic of an espadrille, which originated in the French Pyrenees in the early 14th century and was made from a tough grass called espardenya.
The soles of espadrilles may be flat, platform or wedge-shaped.
Heel:
Wedges refer to shoes with heels that run the length of the shoe in the shape of a wedge.
Shoes with wedge heels are often called wedges.
The design of the wedge shoe is often credited to Italian luxury shoemaker, Salvatore Ferragamo, in 1936 when he, experimenting with materials such as string and straw, produced wedge heel shoes as orthopedic footwear.
It is easy, however, to confuse platforms with wedges.
While wedges may have platform heels, the two features do not always appear together.
When they do, they are known as platform wedges.
Wedge heels can be made out of artificial wood-grain, be covered with jute rope, as is the case with espadrilles, or simply look like an extension of the sole because the upper is in the same colour.
CHANEL 2.55
They all have the distinctive quilt patterning, boxy shape and, of course, the double-chain shoulder straps.
They are all Chanel’s signature flap-style handbags – but just which model they actually are can cause confusion, even among double-C devotees.
These days, everyone calls such bags the 2.55.
This was the name of the first version released in February 1955, hence its name. Over the years, 2.55 has become a loosely accepted umbrella term referring to three variations: timeless classic flap bags, reissue 2.55s and 2.55s.
The classic flap bag came after the original 2.55, being introduced only in the 1980s by designer Karl Lagerfeld.
Then, in Feb 2005, Lagerfeld re-made the 2.55 that Coco Chanel first made in 1955, to commemorate the bag’s 50th anniversary.
All 2.55s made in 2005 came to be known as the 2.55 reissue.
The success of the 2.55 reissue led to the model being permanently reintroduced by Chanel after 2005 and all subsequent makes of the model are simply called the 2.55.
Here are three ways to distinguish between the 2.55 and the timeless classic flap bag:
1. By lock
This may surprise some folks but the 2.55 original and the reissue do not have the famous “CC” lock. That was invented by Lagerfeld.
The lock they sport is a rectangular one (above) called the “mademoiselle”, which was the creation of Coco Chanel herself. (In case you were wondering, she never married so that is why it is not named the “madame”).
The classic flap, on the other hand, does have the double-C on its lock.
2. By handle
The classic flap’s straps have leather interwoven between the chain links.
The modern-day 2.55 (made since 2005) has an all-chain strap.
Historically, 2.55s were made with both straps that had interwoven leather and full-chain ones.
3. By leather
The 2.55 uses distressed vintage calfskin.
The classic flap comes in “caviar” leather or lambskin which has a smooth appearance.
JUMPSUITS, PLAYSUITS AND JUMPERS
While these are all one-piece garments, they differ in length and style.
Playsuit (above)
This is also commonly known as a romper.
It is a loose, one-piece garment that combines a shirt or blouse and short, balloon-like pants.They are made of various materials.
Playsuits, as the name suggests, are mostly for casualwear and commonly made with lightweight materials like cotton and treated, thin denim.
Jumper:
This is an American term for a one-piece; sleeveless dress; or a skirt with straps around the waist and a complete or partial bodice, usually worn over a blouse.
It is also commonly known as a pinafore.
The British refer to jumpers as sweaters or pullovers.
Jumpsuit (right):
This is a one-piece garment usually combining a shirt or bodice with a pair of pants.
Historically, the jumpsuit was used by parachutists and skydivers but has come to be used as a common term for any one-piece garment with sleeves and trouser-length legs.
Modern-day fashion jumpsuits are made of luxe fabrics such as silk and satin and can be worn for dinner events or cocktail parties.
MEN’S DRESS SHOES
Oxfords, Monks, Derbies and Brogues are all traditional men’s dress shoes.
The easy way to work out which is which is to look at how they lace or fasten:
The Oxford
Oxfords have two flaps of leather with piercings for the laces which are stitched together at the bottom, as with the Louis Vuitton shoe shown above.
The Derby
Derbies are similar to Oxfords but are less formal because, as you can see on this pair from Bally (above), they have open lacing – leather flaps where the lacing holes are not stitched to the tongue at the bottom.
The Monk
Unlike the Oxford and the Derby, the Monk has no laces and is fastened by a strap with buckles, such as this pair from Bally.
Brogues versus brogueing
