GLOSSARY
COMPETENCY:
4.00
Explain merchandise information used in fashion merchandising.
OBJECTIVE:
4.02
Explain the elements and principles of design.
Accented neutral: White, gray, black, or beige with a bright color accent.
Added visual texture: The finishes and designs applied to the surface of the fabric.
Alternation: Rhythm created by alternating elements such as light and dark colors or stripes of two colors or
sizes.
Analogous colors: Two to five colors that are adjacent on the color wheel.
Balance: The principle of design that implies equilibrium or steadiness among the parts of a design or outfit.
Balance in garments is produced by structural parts and added decoration.
Color schemes: Plans that can be used to provide harmonious color combinations.
Color wheel: A diagram that illustrates hues and their relationship to each other.
Complementary colors: Two colors opposite each other on the color wheel.
Cool colors: Green, blue, and violet.
Curved Lines: Circular or gently waved lines.
Decorative lines: Lines created by details added to the surface of clothing including fabric design and trims
such as top-stitching, lace, tabs, flaps, and buttons used to decorate the garment.
Diagonal lines: Lines that slant at an angle rather than being vertical or horizontal.
Emphasis: The principle of design that uses a concentration of interest or area of focus in a particular part or
area of a design.
Formal balance: Equilibrium provided by symmetrical parts.
Gradation: Rhythm created by a gradual increase or decrease of similar design elements.
Harmony: The pleasing visual effect of a design created by tasteful use of the elements of design following
the principles of design.
Horizontal lines: Lines that go across.
Hue: (1) The technical word for color. (2) The name given to a color, such as red or yellow, that distinguishes
one color from another.
Informal balance: Equilibrium provided by asymmetrical parts.
Intensity: The brightness or dullness of a color.
Fashion Merchandising
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Intermediate hues: (1) Blue-violet, blue-green, yellow-green, yellow-orange, red-orange, and red-violet. (2)
Colors made by combining equal amounts of adjoining primary and secondary hues.
Line: A distinct, elongated mark that can lead the path of eye movement up and down, side to side, or around
objects.
Monochromatic color: Different tints, shades, and intensities of a single color.
Neutrals: Black, white, beige, and gray.
Primary hues: (1) Red, yellow, and blue. (2) Colors that cannot be made using any other color.
Principles of design: Guidelines/rules for using the elements of design.
Proportion: The principle of design dealing with the relative sizes of all the parts in a design to each other and
to the whole.
Radiation: Rhythm created by lines emerging from a central point like rays, resulting in the parts being an
equal distance from a given point.
Repetition: Rhythm created by repeated lines, shapes, colors, or textures in a garment.
Rhythm: The principle of design concerned with the pleasing arrangement of the design elements to produce
a feeling of continuity or easy movement of the observer’s eye.
Secondary hues: (1) Orange, green, and violet. (2) Colors created by mixing equal amounts of two primary
colors.
Shade: The darker hue created when black is added to a color.
Shape: The silhouette or the overall form or outline of an outfit or clothing style.
Split-complementary colors: One color plus the colors on each side of its complement.
Straight lines: Lines without curves or bends.
Structural lines: Lines formed by the seams, darts, pleats, tucks, and edges when garments are constructed.
Structural texture: Texture determined by the fibers, yarns, and the method of construction used to produce
a garment.
Texture: The look and feel of fabric.
Tint: The lighter hue created when white is added to a color.
Triad colors: Three colors that are equidistant from each other on the color wheel.
Value: The lightness or darkness of a color.
Vertical lines: Lines that go up and down.
Warm colors: Red, orange, and yellow.
Fashion Merchandising
D-32