Fashion is a major form of art and innovation. New looks and styles are being created all the time, but sometimes those new styles have names that aren’t so chic. The fashion world is full of funny portmanteaus, or word combinations that take the names of two well-known items and mash them together into something brand new and, well, sometimes a bit silly. Ever heard of jeggings? What about shooties?
We may love the looks we’re able to achieve with these fashion innovations, but some of their names could use a makeover. Here are 13 of the zaniest fashion word combos that might be due for a redesign.
jorts
Jorts are jean shorts, either purchased that way or made by cutting off the legs on a pair of denim pants. Jean shorts have been around since at least the ’60s, so where does the term jorts come from? Specifically, it emerged in the ’90s as a way of mocking “dorky” jean shorts worn primarily by men. That said, Vogue has declared jorts “in”now, so perhaps it’s time to retire the mocking term.
jeggings
Leggings and jeans are two of the most popular kinds of pants, so it makes sense that their forces combined into jeggings. Jeggings are “denim leggings that resemble tight jeans.” They’re an offshoot of the revival of skinny jeans in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Some might consider jeggings to be a fashion faux pas, but they’ve had surprising staying power. Is it time to drop the portmanteau and just call them leggings?
murse
It’s not uncommon to need a bag to carry your belongings around, but in the early 2000s, bags carried by men got their own special name: murse. Murse is a shortened version of man-purse, though bags for men have also been called a man-bag. The term implies that bags and purses are a feminine accessory, and men need a more masculine name. In 2022, it’s much more understood that anyone can carry the accessories they want to use, with or without needing a special name for them.
skort
If you grew up in the ’80s or ’90s, you probably know the word skort. A skort is “a women’s garment resembling a short skirt but having individual leg sections covered by a flap in front.” In other words, it’s a blend of skirt and shorts. The design was inspired by the bloomers worn under dresses long before the 1900s, and took off in the 1950s as a way for women to both appear feminine and participate in activities, like riding a bike or gardening. The popularity of skorts peaked in the ’80s and ’90s—that is, until Gen Z rediscovered them on TikTok in 2021. Now, they’re back. Will Gen Z keep the name along with the style?
Dress up your vocabulary with nine words that have come from the fashion world.
jurse
A jacket that becomes a purse? Yes, it’s a real thing, and it’s called a jurse. The jurse was invented in 2020 by chemist Brandi Long after she got tired of having to carry her purse and jacket around whenever she went out. The jurse includes pockets for essential items that don’t need to be emptied during the transition from jacket to purse. The idea is an innovation befitting of a title that doesn’t rhyme with curse.
shacket
By now, it’s clear the fashion world loves combining words. Take shacket, for example. It’s the combination of shirt and jacket. Shacket emerged as a popular term in the 2010s, though the actual clothing article has existed much longer. Originally, shackets were workwear and even included some military clothing. Interestingly, a shacket is also a type of hornet, and that might be a clue it’s time for this name to buzz off.
spant
Move over, skort. It’s time to talk about the combination of skirt and pants known as the spant. The spant is a longer length alternative to a skirt that offers coverage and versatility. Spants first came on the fashion scene in the late 2000s. They usually resemble culottes, which might make one wonder: why aren’t they just called culottes?
joots
If you’re anti-jorts or spants, you may want to brace yourself for what’s up next. Joots are a combination of jeans and boots that make it possible to wear denim from waist to toe. Joots emerged as a trend in 2021, thanks to celebrities. Famous fashionistas may lend these styles some credibility, but the name sounds a little bit like an exclamation you shout when you accidentally stub your toe. Ah, joots!
shootie
A shootie is a combination of a bootie and a shoe. In this case, bootie means “a woman’s boot having a short leg.” Shootie is a slightly redundant name, since bootie already describes a shortened boot and most shooties also look like shortened boots. The difference is that booties are slightly taller. Given this confusion, is it time for the name shootie to, well, shoo?
glitten
It’s a glove! It’s a mitten! It’s a … glitten? If you’re a fan of combination gloves and mittens with a hoodlike pouch over the fingers that can fold back, congratulations. You’re wearing glittens. Glittens are descendants of fingerless gloves and provide a go-between for the two different kinds of winter handwear. Of course, the name also sounds a bit like a cross between glitter and kitten. (Is that adorable … or confusing?)
shants
If you guessed that shants are a combination of shorts and pants, you’re correct. But you might also be wondering how that’s possible. How does one combine shorts and pants? With a zipper, of course! Shants typically have a zipper at the knee. They were especially popular in the ’70s and ’80s, with the style mostly originating in outdoor clothing. (Because the zipper is so convenient for hiking, we’re here to suggest shants could use a name that doesn’t make us think of ants.)
treggings
Ever wish you could wear leggings to work? Enter: treggings. Treggings are a cross between trousers and leggings, offering the comfort of the latter while still fitting into office casual dress codes. Treggings have been around since the 2010s. Like jeggings, their name is a natural evolution of the two styles from which they were derived. Treggings are sold by many major retailers, so if they’re here to stay, can we just call them trousers?
pantaboot
Kim Kardashian and well-known designers like Balenciaga have been credited with bringing pantaboot to the mainstream. The term describes a pant-boot combo. It looks like a pointy, high heeled boot that transitions seamlessly into a pair of skin-tight pants. Pantaboot doesn’t have a long history in fashion. The word (and style) is just being established. Perhaps we could have a group brainstorm on the name before it becomes the next closet staple?
Take the quiz
Have you been dressing your lingo with these fashion-forward terms? Whether this is the first time you’ve seen them or you are long-time wearer of shooties and more, pull your boots (or joots) on and head over to our quiz.
