Lesson 13: Fashion & Design Phrasal Verbs: Complete Tutorial with 14 Essential Expressions, Examples & Practice Exercises

• Minimalist fashion really caught on in the 2010s, with designers like Jil Sander leading the movement. Describes how a particular aesthetic philosophy became widely popular during a specific decade.
• The designer hoped her sustainable clothing line would catch on with environmentally conscious millennials. Shows future intention; the designer anticipates her target demographic will embrace her eco-friendly designs.
• Oversized blazers didn't catch on immediately; it took several fashion weeks before retailers started stocking them. Illustrates that trends don't always gain popularity instantly; negative form shows initial resistance.
• When athleisure first appeared, many traditional fashion houses dismissed it, but it eventually caught on and revolutionized casual wear. Demonstrates how even controversial styles can eventually become mainstream.
• The vintage revival caught on so quickly that thrift stores couldn't keep up with demand. Emphasizes the speed of trend adoption; shows how rapidly fashion movements can spread.

• Many luxury brands are doing away with fur in their collections due to ethical concerns and changing consumer values. Shows how the fashion industry is eliminating specific materials; reflects broader societal shifts toward animal welfare.
• The fashion house decided to do away with traditional runway shows and instead present their collection through digital lookbooks. Innovation driving the elimination of conventional practices; shows how technology is transforming fashion marketing.
• Personal stylists often advise clients to do away with clothes that no longer fit their lifestyle or body shape. Advice-oriented and practical; focuses on wardrobe optimization and personal development.
• The designer did away with unnecessary embellishments, creating a cleaner, more modern aesthetic. Demonstrates artistic decision-making; elimination of decorative elements serves a specific aesthetic purpose.
• Fast fashion retailers are being pressured to do away with exploitative labor practices and adopt fair trade standards. Addresses ethical and social responsibility issues; emphasizes the need for systemic change.

• The design team drew up initial sketches for the spring collection, incorporating floral motifs and pastel color palettes. Shows the creative beginning of a fashion collection; emphasizes the preliminary nature of the work.
• Before launching her boutique, the entrepreneur drew up a comprehensive business plan that included market analysis, financial projections, and branding strategies. Applies to business planning rather than design; demonstrates the multifaceted nature of fashion entrepreneurship.
• The pattern maker drew up technical specifications for each garment, ensuring manufacturers could replicate the designer's vision accurately. Highlights the technical side of fashion production; refers to creating precise, detailed documents.
• After the successful fashion show, the brand's legal team drew up licensing agreements with several international distributors. Shows how "draw up" applies to legal and contractual contexts in the fashion business.
• The costume designer drew up mood boards and character sketches before beginning work on the period drama's wardrobe. Refers to preparatory creative work; mood boards and character sketches guide the overall aesthetic direction.

• For the Met Gala, celebrities dress up in extravagant designer gowns and avant-garde ensembles that push the boundaries of fashion. Illustrates "dress up" in its most glamorous context; captures the transformation from everyday wear to spectacular clothing.
• The fashion blogger showed her followers how to dress up a simple white t-shirt with statement jewelry, a blazer, and heeled boots. Means to elevate or enhance a basic item; demonstrates the styling concept of making casual pieces more formal.
• Children love to dress up in their parents' clothes, experimenting with different looks and playing with identity through fashion. Shows "dress up" in a playful, exploratory context; highlights how clothing serves as a tool for imagination.
• The stylist advised her client to dress up for the job interview, suggesting a tailored suit and polished accessories to make a professional impression. Demonstrates "dress up" as strategic self-presentation; implies conscious effort to appear more formal and professional.
• The designer dressed up the basic black dress with intricate beading and embroidery, transforming it into an evening gown. Used transitively; describes the process of adding decorative elements to elevate a garment's formality.

• Before the fashion show, the creative director went over every detail of the collection, from the order of looks to the music selection and lighting cues. Demonstrates comprehensive review in a high-stakes situation; emphasizes the meticulous nature of preparation.
• The pattern cutter went over the measurements three times to ensure the garment would fit the model perfectly during the runway show. Implies repetition for accuracy; in technical fashion work, precision is crucial.
• During the design review meeting, the team went over customer feedback from the previous season to inform their new collection. Shows "go over" in an analytical context; the team is examining data to extract insights.
• The fashion student went over her professor's critique multiple times, trying to understand how to improve her draping techniques. Illustrates "go over" in an educational setting; repetition serves learning purposes.
• Before signing the manufacturing contract, the brand's legal team went over all the terms regarding quality control, delivery schedules, and payment conditions. In business contexts, implies careful scrutiny of important documents to protect the brand's interests.

• Children grow out of their clothes so quickly that many parents prefer buying affordable, durable pieces rather than expensive designer items. Most literal use; refers to physical growth making clothing too small; highlights practical parenting considerations.
• As the fashion designer matured, she grew out of her early maximalist aesthetic and developed a more refined, minimalist approach. Metaphorical use describing artistic evolution; suggests natural progression and development.
• Many teenagers grow out of fast fashion trends as they develop their personal style and become more conscious of quality and sustainability. Combines both literal age progression and metaphorical development of taste and values.
• The brand grew out of its niche streetwear origins to become a mainstream luxury label, expanding its product range and retail presence. Demonstrates business evolution; describes how a company transcends its initial market position.
• Maternity wear is designed with adjustable features so that garments can accommodate body changes and won't be immediately grown out of. Shows how fashion design responds to the challenge; passive form emphasizes the design solution.

• The vintage Chanel suit was handed down from grandmother to granddaughter, representing three generations of elegant style and family tradition. Classic use with luxury fashion; emphasizes continuity, family bonds, and the enduring quality of well-made garments.
• Many wedding dresses are carefully preserved to be handed down through families, with each bride adding her own modifications while honoring tradition. Demonstrates how "handed down" items can be both preserved and adapted; balance between respecting tradition and personalizing.
• The jewelry designer created timeless pieces intended to be handed down through generations, focusing on classic designs rather than trendy styles. Shows how awareness of future inheritance affects creative decisions; design philosophy based on lasting value.
• Traditional textile techniques are handed down from master craftspeople to apprentices, preserving cultural heritage in fashion production. Extends "handed down" to knowledge and skills rather than physical objects; highlights mentorship and cultural preservation.
• The fashion archive contained pieces handed down from the house's founder, serving as inspiration for contemporary designers while maintaining brand DNA. In corporate fashion contexts; refers to design legacy and brand heritage that informs current collections.
• Sustainable fashion advocates encourage buying quality pieces that can be handed down, challenging the disposable culture of fast fashion. Uses "handed down" in environmental and ethical discussions; supports arguments for investment in durable clothing.

• Before the runway show begins, models line up backstage in the precise order they'll appear on the catwalk, with dressers making final adjustments. Shows the organizational aspect of fashion shows; describes systematic preparation for smooth execution.
• Fashion enthusiasts lined up for hours outside the flagship store, eager to purchase limited-edition sneakers from the designer collaboration. Describes consumer behavior and hype culture in fashion; captures the physical manifestation of demand.
• The visual merchandiser lined up the mannequins in the window display to create a dynamic composition that told a cohesive style story. Demonstrates "lined up" in retail presentation; describes deliberate spatial arrangement for visual impact.
• During fashion week, the designer lined up an impressive roster of celebrity attendees, influencers, and fashion editors to generate media coverage. Means to arrange or secure participation; shows strategic planning behind fashion events.
• The fashion student lined up fabric swatches on her mood board, organizing them by color gradient to visualize the collection's palette. Shows "lined up" in the design development process; physical arrangement aids creative decision-making.

• The personal shopper suggested her client pop into the boutique whenever she's in the neighborhood to see new arrivals before they're displayed on the sales floor. Shows casual, convenient shopping behavior; emphasizes the low-pressure, informal nature of the visit.
• Fashion editors often pop into designer showrooms during fashion week to preview collections and select pieces for editorial shoots. Describes professional networking and industry practice; despite the casual-sounding verb, these visits serve important business purposes.
• The seamstress asked her client to pop in for a quick fitting between the initial measurement and the final garment completion. Demonstrates "pop in" in custom clothing production; minimizes the perceived inconvenience of the appointment.
• While shopping for groceries, she decided to pop into the vintage store next door and discovered a perfect 1960s cocktail dress. Captures the spontaneous nature; the unplanned visit leads to a serendipitous find.
• The fashion blogger encouraged her followers to pop into local independent boutiques rather than always shopping online, supporting small businesses and discovering unique pieces. Used in advocacy for physical retail; makes the action sound easy and appealing.

• The fashion house's head designer personally showed the journalist around the atelier, explaining the intricate craftsmanship behind their haute couture collection. Demonstrates use in a prestigious context; the personal tour emphasizes the importance of the visitor and the value of the work.
• During the factory tour, the production manager showed the sustainability auditors around the facility, highlighting eco-friendly dyeing processes and waste reduction initiatives. Serves transparency and accountability purposes; describes a formal inspection process.
• The boutique owner showed the fashion student around her store, sharing insights about visual merchandising, inventory management, and customer service. Shows "showed around" as mentorship and education; the tour becomes a learning experience.
• When celebrities visit fashion weeks, brand representatives show them around backstage areas, offering exclusive access that generates social media content and publicity. Demonstrates strategic marketing; the behind-the-scenes access creates valuable content and strengthens relationships.
• The textile museum curator showed the design students around the archive, allowing them to examine historical garments and understand construction techniques from different eras. Facilitates research and education; describes guided access to valuable resources that inform contemporary design practice.

• Backstage at fashion shows, models must quickly take off one outfit and put on another, sometimes with only seconds between runway appearances. Highlights the fast-paced, high-pressure environment; emphasizes the speed and efficiency required.
• The stylist advised taking off one accessory before leaving the house, following Coco Chanel's famous rule that less is more in elegant dressing. Strategic styling advice; describes the editing process that refines an outfit.
• After the photoshoot, the model gratefully took off the uncomfortable six-inch heels and changed into sneakers for the journey home. Captures the relief of removing uncomfortable fashion items; humanizes the modeling profession.
• The costume designer instructed the actor to take off the period corset carefully to avoid damaging the delicate historical reproduction. Demonstrates "take off" with valuable or fragile items; removal requires as much care as wearing.
• In many cultures, it's customary to take off shoes before entering homes, which has influenced the design of entryway-friendly footwear and storage solutions. Connects "take off" to cultural practices and their influence on fashion design.
• The fashion blogger created a video tutorial showing how to take off makeup and properly care for clothing after wearing it, extending garment lifespan through proper maintenance. "Take off" is part of a broader care routine; initiates the process of garment maintenance.

• Distressed denim gets its characteristic look when designers deliberately tear up and fray the fabric, creating an intentionally worn appearance that's become a fashion staple. Shows "tear up" as a deliberate design technique; describes controlled destruction that adds value and aesthetic appeal.
• In frustration, the fashion student tore up her unsuccessful design sketches and started fresh with a new concept for her collection. Represents creative frustration and the iterative design process; physical destruction symbolizes rejection of ideas.
• The punk fashion movement embraced tearing up clothing as a form of rebellion, with ripped t-shirts and safety-pinned garments becoming iconic symbols of the subculture. Connects "tearing up" to cultural and political expression; intentional destruction as communication.
• Quality control inspectors must tear up defective samples to ensure they never reach the market, protecting brand reputation and customer satisfaction. Demonstrates "tear up" in manufacturing quality assurance; destruction is systematic and protective.
• The costume designer carefully tore up the fabric edges to make the post-apocalyptic costumes look authentically weathered and worn for the film. A specialized technique in costume design; controlled damage creates believable aging effects.
• Fast fashion's poor construction quality means garments often tear up after just a few washes, contributing to textile waste and environmental problems. Uses "tear up" to critique industry practices; describes unintentional damage resulting from poor quality.

• Personal stylists encourage clients to try on styles they wouldn't normally choose, often discovering flattering silhouettes and colors that expand their fashion comfort zone. Shows "try on" as an exploratory, educational activity; describes experimentation that can lead to self-discovery.
• Online retailers have developed virtual try-on technology using augmented reality, allowing customers to see how clothes might look without physically wearing them. "Try on" is being reimagined through technology; shows how e-commerce is addressing one of its major challenges.
• During fashion week, buyers try on samples from designer collections to assess quality, fit, and commercial viability before placing orders for their stores. Demonstrates "try on" in B2B contexts; professional evaluation where buyers must imagine how garments will work for their customer base.
• The bride tried on over twenty wedding dresses before finding the perfect gown, experiencing how different silhouettes, fabrics, and details affected her appearance and confidence. Shows "tried on" as part of a significant life event; extensive process reflects the emotional importance of the purchase.
• Fitting models try on prototype garments during the design development phase, providing feedback on comfort, movement, and construction issues before production begins. "Try on" serves product development purposes; testing that identifies problems and informs improvements.
• Sustainable fashion advocates suggest trying on clothes in natural lighting and moving around to truly assess whether a piece deserves wardrobe space, reducing impulse purchases and returns. Uses "trying on" as part of mindful consumption practices; embedded in a more thorough evaluation process.

• High-quality leather shoes can last for decades with proper care, while cheap synthetic alternatives often wear out within months, making investment pieces more economical long-term. Contrasts different rates of wearing out based on quality; supports arguments for investing in better-made items.
• The fashion designer's favorite jeans had worn out in the knees and seat, but she couldn't bear to discard them, instead repurposing the remaining fabric into a patchwork jacket. Describes partial damage that inspires creative reuse; marks a transition point where garments move to new applications.
• Athletic wear is engineered to withstand intense use, but even the best performance fabrics will eventually wear out, losing their moisture-wicking properties and structural integrity. Shows "wear out" in technical textile contexts; describes the failure of specific functional properties.
• Fast fashion business models depend on clothes wearing out quickly, encouraging consumers to continuously purchase new items rather than maintaining a stable wardrobe. Demonstrates "wearing out" as part of business strategy critique; central to discussions about planned obsolescence.
• Vintage clothing collectors must carefully assess whether garments are authentically aged or simply worn out, as there's a fine line between desirable patina and unusable deterioration. Raises questions about value and aesthetics; describes a threshold that collectors must evaluate.
• The costume department's stock of period garments gradually wears out through repeated use in productions, requiring constant replacement and restoration to maintain the collection. Shows "wears out" in institutional contexts; describes ongoing maintenance challenges in costume collections.
• Sustainable fashion brands provide repair services and replacement parts to extend garment life, helping customers avoid the wear out phase for as long as possible. Demonstrates how brands are addressing "wear out" through innovative services; represents a challenge companies are working to delay.

Designer: Let me show you around the atelier.
Visitor: Thanks! I'd love to see where you draw up your sketches.
Designer: We go over every detail before production. That's why our pieces don't wear out quickly.

Stylist: Let's try on this blazer—it'll dress up your jeans perfectly.
Client: I'm not sure... I've grown out of wearing structured pieces.
Stylist: Just try it on—you might surprise yourself!

Producer: Models need to line up in order now.
Dresser: This one needs to take off the jacket for the next look.
Producer: Quick! We went over the timing—only 30 seconds per change.

A: We need to do away with fast fashion's wasteful practices.
B: Exactly. Quality pieces can be handed down through generations instead of wearing out after one season.
A: That's why investment dressing is finally catching on.

A: Should we pop into that new boutique?
B: Sure! I need to try on some dresses for the wedding.
A: Their vintage section is amazing—pieces that have been handed down and restored.

Professor: Let's go over your collection concept again.
Student: I tore up my first sketches and started over.
Professor: Good. You've grown out of that early aesthetic—this is much stronger.