Only True Fashion Lovers Can Get a Perfect Score on This Quiz

BEAUTY & FASHION

By: Jane Andrews

6 Min Quiz

Image: Image Source / DigitalVision / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Picture it — Paris, France, 1858. An English fashion designer named Charles Frederick Worth decided to show his clients a selection of designs he had recently created. He called it a "collection," and he surprised his guests by presenting the garments on real, live people instead of mannequins. Many fashion historians consider this to be the first bona fide fashion show.

Fast forward to 1944, when Ruth Finley, an American businesswoman and pal of the famous fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert, created what she called the Fashion Calendar — a weekly, subscription-based publication that listed addresses and contact information for fashion shows in New York City and abroad. This enabled buyers, designers, manufacturers and other key players in the industry to come together at specific events. And, fun fact: the Fashion Calendar still exists online today and is used as a source for tracking runway shows and events during New York Fashion Week.

By the mid-1970s, designers were showcasing their collections in the U.S. twice a year, and soon cities like London and Milan followed suit. Today, bi-annual Fashion Weeks are held every year in the "Big Four" fashion capitals of the world — New York, London, Milan and Paris. 

If you're Fashion Week obsessed, consider this quiz the ultimate IQ test. It's packed with questions about the world of fashion, from famous designers and memorable moments in history to hot trends and insider terminology. Can you get a perfect score?

Which of the following is a common fashion term used to describe clothing?

In addition to clothing, retail apparel typically includes shoes, hats, handbags, luggage and other accessories. The term comes from the French word “apareillier,” which refers to the act of preparing, getting ready or getting dressed.

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What's another name for the runway at a fashion show?

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the term "catwalk" dates back to the late 19th century and refers to a narrow passageway that one has to walk across carefully, as a cat would. The term became associated with fashion show runways in the 1940s.

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This accessory is typically worn around the waist to hold up trousers. Can you name it?

Belts are believed to date all the way back to the Bronze Age. Originally used to carry tools or weapons, they've become a statement-making fashion accessory in addition to a helpful wardrobe staple.

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What do you call a person who popularizes a new, innovative style?

The term "trend" comes from an old Germanic word that refers to something that's turning, revolving or rotating. Trendsetters are also sometimes referred to as tastemakers or influencers.

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A style that is hugely popular for only a short period of time is called a __________.

Fashion fads come and go quickly and almost always seem ridiculous in hindsight. Some memorable fads from the '80s and '90s include shoulder pads, leg warmers, stirrup stretch pants and fingerless gloves.

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What's a fedora?

A fedora is a hat that features a soft, wide brim and an indented crown. Originally intended for men, it became a common fashion accessory for women in the 1880s when it was popularized by French stage actress Sarah Bernhardt.

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Workout clothes worn as everyday fashion — what's this trend called?

Also known as activewear, athleisure has soared in popularity in recent years, thanks to the rise of wellness influencers and comfortable, colorful brands such as Fabletics and Lululemon. Yoga pants, anyone?

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Can you tell us what LBD stands for?

The concept of the LBD can be traced back to the 1920s, when American Vogue featured a short black dress by Coco Chanel and described it as “a sort of uniform for all women of taste." Actress Audrey Hepburn further boosted the LBD in 1961's "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

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This fashion-focused reality show has featured notable designers such as Michael Kors and Zac Posen as judges. Which is it?

Currently in its 18th season, "Project Runway" debuted in 2004. It was hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum until 2018, when she moved on to other projects and was replaced by model Karlie Kloss.

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Do you know what a stiletto is?

Named for the stiletto dagger, an Italian knife that features a long, slender blade with a needle-like point, stiletto heels can vary in height from one to 10 inches. When worn, they create the illusion of a longer, slimmer leg and a smaller foot.

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Which term describes a skirt or dress with a triangular silhouette?

A-line dresses and skirts are named as such because they are small at the waist and widen out evenly toward the hem, resembling the shape of the capital letter A. They can be thigh-, knee-. calf- or ankle-length.

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What high-end accessory is designer Manolo Blahnik famous for?

Born in Spain in 1942, Blahnik began his career as a set designer but quickly realized he could showcase his creativity much more freely by designing footwear for women. His brand gained fame when it was repeatedly showcased on the TV show "Sex and the City."

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What's an inseam?

The inseam is one of the important measurements when it comes to pants, especially if you are taller or shorter than average. The distance between the middle of the crotch seam to the top of the waistband is called the rise.

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Nothing came between Brooke Shields and this American designer when she modeled his jeans in the early 1980s. Who was it?

In a 1980 TV commercial, Shields caused quite a stir when she uttered the now-famous line, “Do you know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing.” The ad was considered so scandalous it was banned by ABC and CBS in New York.

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When was the miniskirt invented?

English fashion designer Mary Quant is credited with popularizing the miniskirt during the Swinging Sixties fashion movement in London. She also created hot pants and was the first designer to use PVC (vinyl) as clothing material.

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This British designer is the child of one of the Beatles. Can you name her?

Born in 1971, Stella McCartney is the daughter of Paul McCartney and the late photographer Linda McCartney. A lifelong vegetarian and animal activist, the designer does not use leather or fur in any of her designs.

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What do you call a garment that's wrapped around the body and tucked in at the waist?

From the Malay word for "covering," the sarong is a traditional garment from Java and the Malay Archipelago. Today, the style is worn all around the world, often as a wrap skirt or a beach coverup.

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Which former child stars are the founders of the high-end fashion brand Elizabeth and James?

Mary-Kate and Ashley founded the brand in 2007, naming it for their siblings Elizabeth and James Olsen. The twins were also responsible for creating the clothing brand the Row a year earlier.

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Peplum refers to which of the following things?

The word "peplum" comes from a Greek word for "tunic," and the popularity of peplum has ebbed and flowed over the years. The style entered the world of high fashion in 1947 as a prominent feature in Christian Dior's debut couture collection, dubbed the New Look.

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The brand Miu Miu is a subsidiary of which Italian fashion house?

Founded by Mario Prada in 1913, Prada is a luxury fashion house that carries shoes, handbags, travel accessories, ready-to-wear, perfumes and more. Miu Miu was created in 1992 to appeal to younger fashionistas.

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What trademark characteristic are Christian Louboutin’s pumps known for?

Officially called the Pigalle pump and popularly known as sammy-red bottoms, Louboutin's signature red-soled shoes have been coveted by fashion lovers since 1993. They retail for close to $700 and up.

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When were blue jeans invented?

Blue jeans as we know them today were patented in 1873 by Jacob Davis, a Latvian-born tailor who emigrated to the U.S., and Levi Strauss, the owner of a wholesale fabric house in San Francisco. Their blue jeans featured metal rivets.

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Trousers that fall just below the knee and are cut to resemble a skirt are called ____________.

Originally worn by aristocratic men in 16th-century Europe, culottes became a popular style of clothing for American women in the 1930 and '40s. They're also sometimes referred to as divided skirts.

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He was the creative director of the French fashion house Chanel. Can you name him?

Hired by Chanel in the 1980s, Lagerfeld is credited with bringing the legendary fashion brand back to life after it stalled due to the death of Coco Chanel. It was Lagerfeld who integrated the interlocked CC monograph of Coco Chanel into a style pattern.

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What does the French term prêt-à-porter mean?

Ready-to-wear clothing is mass-produced and ready to buy off the rack in stores. Its opposite is haute couture, which features high-fashion pieces that are made to measure for a specific person.

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New York Fashion Week is held twice a year, during which months?

The first ever Fashion Week was held in New York in 1943. It's now a bi-annual event that occurs in the "Big Four" fashion capitals of the world, starting in New York and followed by shows in London, Milan and Paris.

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When was the first issue of Vogue magazine published?

Originally founded as a weekly periodical focused on society and fashion, Vogue has become the world's leading fashion publication. British-American journalist and editor Anna Wintour has served as editor-in-chief of Vogue since 1988.

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This Belgian-American fashion designer is known for creating the wrap dress. Who is it?

Furstenberg had no idea her concept for an easy-to-wear dress would become so iconic. "It started as a wrap top and skirt, and I thought it would make a simple and sexy dress. I had no idea it would be such a phenomenon," the designer is quoted as saying.

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What do you call a narrow piece of fabric worn around the bust as a strapless alternative to a bra?

Women have been depicted wearing bandeaus in Minoan wall paintings that date as far back as the 14th century. The term can also refer to a thin headband that's traditionally worn by nuns.

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What's the term for a stitched down double fold in a piece of fabric?

Pleats are often incorporated into skirts, typically as a way to add fullness from the waist, hip or hem. Common types include box pleats, knife pleats, inverted pleats and kick pleats.

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This famed fashion designer is also an accomplished film director. Who is he?

Before launching his eponymous line in 2006, Ford was the creative director for Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. He also owns his own film production company and directed the features "A Single Man" and "Nocturnal Animals."

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Supermodel Naomi Campbell famously took a tumble while wearing platform shoes during a 1993 Fashion Week show. What designer was she modeling for?

“I was embarrassed,” Campbell told British Vogue of the mishap. "I felt like I should have practiced more." She added, "The most important thing is that I said to myself, ‘Get up and keep going, that’s all you have to do.'”

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Do you know the name for a shoe with a fabric or canvas upper and a flexible rope sole?

Considered peasant footwear in 14th-century Europe, espadrilles have become popular all around the world. In the U.S., they were made famous by actress Lauren Bacall, who wore an ankle-laced pair in the 1948 film "Key Largo."

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One of the following fashion gurus was head designer for both Givenchy and Christian Dior. Who was it?

This Gibraltar-born British fashion designer led Givenchy from 1995 to 1996 and Christian Dior from 1996 to 2011. He also has his own eponymous line and is currently the creative director of the Paris-based fashion house Maison Margiela.

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What's distinctive about a duffle coat?

The duffle coat, first popularized in Europe in the 1850s, is made from a coarse, thick, woolen material called duffle. This coat's toggle fastenings are designed to be easily fastened and unfastened while wearing gloves in cold weather.

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