basics

English translation: essentials

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:basics
Selected answer:essentials
Entered by: Rafal Korycinski

16:43 Apr 6, 2010
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Marketing - Retail / store department name
English term or phrase: basics
I've got a list of departments in the store. I would appreciate any hint what can be sold in the department named "Basics".

Here comes the list

Mens Apparel
---------------
Tailoring
Active Outdoor
Knitwear
T-Shirts & Sweatshirts
Jeans
Shirts
Trousers
Jackets & Coats
Activewear
***Basics***
Casual Accessories
Lifestyle Accessories

The document is a merchandising handbook, however I've only got the index page, the chapter itself is not available.
Rafal Korycinski
Poland
Local time: 09:54
essentials
Explanation:
I believe this is what it means - those essential items of basic clothing that you can't do without, unless you want to go for the high-fashion items in the other departments.

This particular department would sell the store's own-brand range of basics - average quality, low-to-average price, minimum styling, etc. Unlike other departments' ranges, the articles in this department will not necessarily be changed from month to month or even season to season.

Items in the range would be plain T-shirts in white and a few other colours, sweatshirts, jumpers, jeans, maybe underwear (of the utilitarian type rather than "lingerie").

Some ranges I've come across have been "Basics", "Back-to-basics", "Back-2-basics", "Essentials"
Selected response from:

Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 08:54
Grading comment
Thank you, Sheila!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +3essentials
Sheila Wilson
3 +3underwear, socks, etc.
Filippe Vasconcellos de Freitas Guimarães
3 +1bare necessities
Rolf Keiser


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
underwear, socks, etc.


Explanation:
Just my opinion. I'd usually associate "basics" with items such as jeans, T-shirts, or discount items, but in this case it probably refers to undergarments, socks, etc. In fact, those are the only items of clothing not mentioned elsewhere on the list :)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2010-04-06 16:58:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The other possibility is that it does refer to a "basic" product line, with no-frills or plainer versions of the items mentioned elsewhere.

Filippe Vasconcellos de Freitas Guimarães
Brazil
Local time: 05:54
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  B D Finch: We thought that at the same time, but I won't agree for the same reason I didn't post it as an answer - just guessing.
2 mins
  -> Yes, I'll admit is just that—guessing! Not my cup of tea either, although I do think there's a fair chance this is it.

agree  Ildiko Santana
1 hr
  -> Thank you :)

agree  British Diana
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, Diana!

agree  Paula Vaz-Carreiro
16 hrs
  -> Thank you, Paula!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

24 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
bare necessities


Explanation:
am alternative covering standard under- and topwear

Rolf Keiser
Switzerland
Local time: 09:54
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ildiko Santana
1 hr
  -> Thanks, ildiko
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
essentials


Explanation:
I believe this is what it means - those essential items of basic clothing that you can't do without, unless you want to go for the high-fashion items in the other departments.

This particular department would sell the store's own-brand range of basics - average quality, low-to-average price, minimum styling, etc. Unlike other departments' ranges, the articles in this department will not necessarily be changed from month to month or even season to season.

Items in the range would be plain T-shirts in white and a few other colours, sweatshirts, jumpers, jeans, maybe underwear (of the utilitarian type rather than "lingerie").

Some ranges I've come across have been "Basics", "Back-to-basics", "Back-2-basics", "Essentials"

Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 08:54
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Thank you, Sheila!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Filippe Vasconcellos de Freitas Guimarães: Certainly a possibility.
22 mins
  -> Thanks

agree  marybro: Yes, wardrobe essentials
1 hr
  -> Thanks

agree  Paula Vaz-Carreiro: also possible
14 hrs
  -> Thanks
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