French fashion vocabulary is rich with descriptive terms that go beyond basic words like “shirt” or “pants.” Understanding these words allows you to discuss clothing with nuance and precision, whether you’re shopping in Paris or simply admiring someone’s outfit.
The French meticulously categorize clothing based on shape, texture, and overall appearance. This leads to a diverse range of adjectives and expressions used daily to describe garments. Before delving into these descriptive terms, it’s essential to understand the fundamental rules of French adjectives, including their agreement with nouns in gender and number. For instance, most adjectives ending in a consonant add an “e” for feminine forms and an “s” for plural forms. Adjectives typically follow the noun they modify, and their final consonants are usually silent unless followed by a vowel.
To further refine descriptions, adverbs like “trop” (too), “pas assez” (not enough), and “vraiment” (truly) are frequently used to modify fashion adjectives. Mastering these terms is crucial for everyday conversations, as fashion is a popular topic in French culture.
Let’s explore some common French fashion words and expressions categorized by attribute:
Shape (La Forme)
- Droit: straight
- Plissé: pleated
- Fendu: with a split
- Serré: tight
- Moulant: clingy
- Ample: large
- Évasé: flared
- Décolleté: low-cut
- Cache-coeur: wrapped or crossed over the chest
Appearance and Texture (L’aspect et la texture)
- Doux (douce): soft
- Rugueux (rugueuse): rough
- Épais (épaisse): thick
- Fluide: flowing
- Fin: thin
- Chaud: warm
- Un pull qui gratte: a sweater that itches (no single word for “itchy”)
- Confortable: comfortable
- Transparent: see-through
The Look (Le look)
- Chic: stylish
- Élégant: elegant
- À la mode: fashionable
- Démodé: old-fashioned
- Branché: trendy
- Cool: cool, hip
- Sympa: nice
- Joli: pretty
- Beau (belle): beautiful
- Magnifique: gorgeous
- Pas mal: not bad
- Laid: ugly
- Moche: ugly (slang)
- Uni: plain
- Chargé: busy, overloaded with details
- Sobre: understated
- Voyant: gaudy
- Vulgaire: vulgar
- Sexy: sexy
- Imprimé: printed
- Rayé: striped
Size (La taille)
- Grand: big
- Large: broad, wide
- Long (longue): long
- Court: short
- Étroit: narrow, tight
Price (Le Prix)
- Cher (chère): expensive
- Hors de prix: extremely expensive
- Pas cher: inexpensive, cheap
- Soldé: on sale
Common Expressions
When discussing how clothing looks on someone, the French use specific expressions:
-
Cette robe… (This dress…)
- …tombe bien sur toi: falls nicely on you
- …te va bien: suits you well
- …t’amincit: makes you look thinner
-
Ce pantalon… (These pants…)
- …ne te va pas du tout: don’t suit you at all
- …te grossis: makes you look fat
- …me gratte: itches me
Learning these French fashion words will significantly enhance your ability to describe clothing and engage in conversations about style. Expanding your vocabulary to include colors will further enrich your descriptive abilities. French color adjectives have specific rules regarding gender and placement, making them a worthwhile addition to your fashion lexicon.
