To celebrate my recent boost of inspiration and motivation, I’ve decided to go on a hunt to answer my own fashion questions that I’ve been eager to know. Luckily, these questions have been asked by thousands of other fellow fashion enthusiasts since I didn’t have trouble finding the answer to them. I dived into my Teen Vogue Handbook, drawer of recent magazines, and some trusty internet browsing to discover and unveil these fashion mysteries that have been floating around in my head. I even had some answered that I never thought of (for one, I’ve been pronouncing ASOS incorrectly this whole time… read on!)
For all those times I’ve stumbled upon fashion news or simply upon getting dressed in a certain print or combination and never found an answer as to why that is – why did YSL change to SLP, what is a houndstooth print, and is a black/brown combination fashionably acceptable? – I’ve finally found the answers to these lingering questions and more.
Why is houndstooth called houndstooth?
I love houndstooth, especially with all the pieces I snagged when working at Betsey Johnson. The print is a two-toned textile design that has small, broken or uneven check marks. Its origin is Scottish and yup, you guessed it, it does have something to do with pups! Inspired by the uneven shape of hound dog’s teeth, the pattern appears commonly on jackets, dresses, tops, and even winter accessories.
What does the ‘Prorsum’ in Burberry Prorsum stand for?
Thomas Burberry’s clothing label is easily identifited with the English style and culture. Prorsum is the fashion house’s Latin motto which is translated to “forward” – Burberry Forward.
What does Martin Margiela even look like?
His models have been seen wearing face masks on the runway as if he is further masking his own identity to the public. An anomaly in an industry that places high value on image, Margiela has remained astonishingly hidden for as long as his designs have come into existence. His preference has led him to become fashion’s invisible man… until now! Can you believe it? He should allow himself to be photographed more often!
How do you pronounce ASOS?
I felt incredibly silly after finding out I’ve been incorrectly pronouncing one of my favorite online fashion sites, ASOS. This entire time, I’ve been saying “A-sohs” when in actuality it is pronounced “A-sauce”. Mind. Blown.
Why are there only two main seasons in fashion/fashion week?
I never knew the answer to this until a professor of mine taught us and it just made sense. The process to design, produce, and present a collection typically takes six months on average. Therefore, the Fall/Spring breakdown is not only justified according to the weather, but it allows enough time for designers to create and distribute their collections. As the fashion industry continued to grow throughout the decades, it has been able to gain speed in the process, allowing designers to create pre-fall, resort, and couture collections.
Why the red sole, Louboutin? (We love it, just wondering)
The red sole was seen as early as the days of Louis XIV, but Christian Louboutin made it his signature in 1992 upon being inspired by an assistant at the time who was painting her nails in a red Chanel polish. Louboutin decided to test the same color on the bottom of one of his early designs and voila! The red sole was brought to life and into our closets (well I’m still waiting for mine).
What were the measurements of the first model?
The first editorial model in the fashion industry was Lisa Fonssagrives, who stood at 5-foot-7 with a 23-inch waist and a 34-inch bust. That’s not a big difference from the 5-foot-7, 24-inch waist, 32-inch bust average of models today.
Do you have to go to design/fashion school to be successful in the fashion industry?
This is a huge question that I can (and possibly will at some point) write an entire post about. I believe it’s entirely opinion-based, while some have stronger views than others. I for one feel that it’s not necessary at all to attend a fashion school in order to be successful in the fashion industry. Of course it’s going to look nice on your resume and some schools are better at providing you with a greater array of fashion knowledge than others, which in turn can help you immensely with a fashion career. However, I believe that fashion is something that you absolutely must be passionate about, and with that, you can learn the ins, outs, and craftsmanship on your own – whether it’s to become a designer, stylist or buyer. Take this book above for example… haha ^_^
Why are the buttons on mens’ and womens’ shirts on different sides?
I can easily say that I know much more about women’s fashion than men’s, and it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I discovered the answer to this question that I had to share it now. It’s an old tradition that began when high-class women used to get dressed with the help of a chambermaid, when men didn’t. Seamstresses put the buttons on the side of the item of clothing that eases being right-handed. Thus, men had the buttons along the left side of the shirt while women, who needed assistance in getting dressed, had the buttons sewn onto the right side. So silly since nobody helps me get dressed today…
Is it fashionably acceptable to wear brown and black together? What about navy and black?
Just like the question of “is it ok to wear white after labor day” this burning thought is often on people’s minds upon getting dressed. I for one simply don’t see it as a question to even ask. I featured it because I wanted to let you all know that yes, IT’S OK! As a matter of fact, I find the combination to be very chic and easily put together. Since all three colors are neutral, there’s not much work involved when thinking about if your outfits matches or not.
Always nice knowing what you’re wearing and who you’re obsessing over and why! If you have any other questions floating around, please let me know and I’ll feature it in a post (especially if it has to do with styling or fashion history).
Panache Offblast 
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