(Including Ital’s fashion terms)
Academic Clothing- A traditional clothing worn specifically in academic location.
Seen on graduation ceremonies such as graduation tassel, honor cord, cap, gown
& hood. Solid color on graduations in white or black depending on their requisite
dressing. In most private intermediate schools, boys are required to wear a classic
2 pc black suit for graduation, wherein on the ceremony itself they wear the gown
with hood over it known as “toga”- a long loose flowing garment worn by the
faculty and student body of a university.
Accents- Distinctively features the look of the garment, can be a touch of color, tone,
stripes or embroidery that makes the designers work look unique.
Accessories- additional or accompaniments that enhances a wardrobe (tuxedo-cufflinks,
boutonnières, cummerbunds etc.)
A-line gown- form fitting bodices that flare out from the waistline to a full skirt, as it speaks for itself- “a-shape or cut” in skirts
Arm Band- an expandable stretch band worn over a shirt on upper arm undercoat to
shorten a shirtsleeve.
Ascot- a necktie with wide trimmings hanging from a knot worn with a stickpin and wing
tip shirtsleeve.
.
Back
drape- a length of fabric
attached either at the shoulder or the waist that flows over
the back down that
reaches the floor length.
Bag
Lining- sew around the hem (on the sides)
Base Layer-bottom layer; essential part of the clothing
Basic suits- a classic wear; traditional wear of 2, 3 or 4 buttons, patterned with stripes or
solid, considered a traditional wardrobe way before our parents exists.
Described as a customary casual or formal wear.
Big-and Tall- terms used for taller men from 6’foot and above with a larger size from 56
jacket and up. It is likewise categorized on uneven big sizes in men or women.
Black Tie- known as dinner jackets (U.S, U.K and Canada). In the U.S they wear
tuxedos, a dress code for semi- formal or evening event worn on social functions
but not to wear a white tie.
Business Suits- the variation in designs, cut and cloth commonly worn in 2 or 3 pc.;
Single or double breasted which determines the work and social appropriateness of the garment.
Beasom pocket- a pocket sewn inside the garment with access
through a welted slit-type
opening.
Bespoke tailoring- patterned and crafted individually in men’s clothing. It is traditionally
cut from a pattern drafted from scratch for the customer, thus it differs among the
ready-to-wear clothing. Bespoke tailoring is more costly that the general ready-to-
wear wardrobe.
Blazer- a long-sleeved sports jacket with lapel;
Boutonniere- Flower worn on jackets hanging on the left lapel
Bow-ties- a ribbon tied around the collar in a symmetrical twist.
Brocade- a woven, patterned fabric using multi-colored
threads; commonly used in
upholstery and clothing; heavier fabric
Camp pockets- pockets that are sewn to the outside of the garment, usually squared
off
and
characterized by seaming.
Cashmere-soft twilled fabric made of fine goat wool
Cane- a tall or stick woody grass, steel or weed matched as combination with a hat
(Fashion trend)
Challis- velvety silk, wool or cotton with protruding quantity.
Chamois- cotton
fabric made in imitations of chamois leather
Chiffon- sheer fabric
Chino-strong twilled cotton cloth
Corduroy-durable cotton piled fabric with vertical ribs
Corset-women’s stiffened undergarment
Cotton-soft thread or cloth; the inner layer; economical alternative with a reasonable
only when low insulation and moisture transfer is needed.
Costume- attire or mode of dressing in general that portray a distinctive style
used in theatrical plays portraying a character, celebrations such as Halloween- vampires, ghost angels or all same outfit in groups. Mardigras, Easter like Easter bunny, Christmas such as Santa clause, angels, Rudolph, secular holidays like Uncle Sam on Fourth of July and New Year. These are just among the holidays and events that costumes are famous as their manner of dressing.
Covered button- in general most of the buttons are synthetic or made of plastic, these are
the standard
buttons used in shirts, jackets, or even casual coats and more. A
covered button has the fabric covered over it to add a fancy look on the clothing,
The fabrics covered over the button are the same fabric of the clothing. These are
commonly used in formal wears naming tuxedo’s, fashionable suits, jackets and
vests that are now being incorporated in the fashion production, which has been
Crew Neck- a rounded shirt opening with ribbed
banding that fits close to the base of
the neck.
Cropped Top/ Jacket- hem is cut above the waist.
Cummerbund-
It is a
wide waist sash, generally pleated worn with a tuxedo, or a single-
breasted suit.
D
Damask-
comparable to brocade material, only thinner; a woven patterned fabric using
all
one color; such fabric are usually
cotton, linen, silk, rayon that are artificial or
synthetic
blend.
Denim-durable twilled cotton fabric; pants of denim;
Designs-create and work out of details; making a decorative pattern or a sketch
Dinner Jacket- a white or winter white shawl collar jacket.
Dress Code- a set of rules prevailing a certain combination in clothing.
Dropped Waist- a waistline of a dress, gown or pants that leveled at the hips rather than
the natural waist; also known as a “low waist”
E
Embossed
Velvet- a heat pressed design or
are chemically pressed to flatten some of the
pile
Embroidery-
patterned designed with needle work
Extra-fine- A deluxe material or fabric make, that consists of an exceptional cut; hand-
made in its tiny details.; an exceptional make
Empire
waist- higher than normal
waist seam; fits below the bust or a few inches down.
Fashion- prevailing custom or style.
Flannel- light woolen fabric
Flap Pocket- a flat flap over pocket opening that hangs loose
Flat front pants- front pants does not have any folds right below the belt handle.
Flat lining - sewing with the lining flat; a sewing
term.
French Cuff- a double cuff; as on the sleeve of the
shirt, that it turns back to its self and
fastened to a cuff link.
Frock Coat- loose outer garment; double-breasted men’s coat with a full skirt
reaching
to the knees.
Formal wear- general terms of clothing suitable for formal social events such as wedding ceremonies, formal dinner, dance or even a race field. Considerable
formal wear clothes are tuxedo’s or black men’s suits with either a bowtie or a
a necktie to match the outfit.
Garments- piece of clothing.
Gabardine-
closely woven cotton or wool twill;
durable
Georgette- thin silk
Hip-hop fashion- It is an extended basics of it’s culture. A distinctive style of dressing
originated mainly with African-Americans and young Latino’s in the city. It is
altogether a mode of dressing as an expression of attitude and hand in hand with
their racial culture, which are commonly loose fitting tops (shirts, blouse or
jackets), and rather larger and loose-fitting trousers, that may be categorized as
casual-rugged, or rugged.
Haute Couture- a custom-fitted clothing; made to order for a particular customer.
A make made in a high-quality and expensive fabric. The designers put more
emphasis on the detailed cut, stitches and finish. Such couture needs ample time
to meet it’s perfection. “Haute couture”- is a protected name that could only be
used by company that meets certain well-defined standards. However, it is now
used as a common term that describes “high-fashion custom-fitted clothing”.
Hook & Eye- a fastening device with metal hook that hooks the bar into the loop.
Inseam- inner seam of a garment; measures the length of a pants
Insulation Layer- layer to protect from heat loss in a clothing
Illusion bodice- “illusion” as it speaks by itself, a fabric giving the illusion of no bodice
Illusion sleeves- a sleeve sheer-finished material giving the illusion of no sleeves
Jacquard-intricately woven; spotted
and multicolor fabric; loom for making jacquard
Jewel
collar- round neckline resting at the base of the neck
Kangaroo Pocket- a piece of cloth sewn over the jacket or any garment as pockets
leaving 2 open ends
Lapel- Fold of the front of the coat
Lay-down-shirt-
tuxedo shirt with customary collar with pleated front.
Layered
Clothing- wearing multiple
garments on top of each other
Lining- Lounge Suit- considered as an casual clothes.
Manufactured- process of making
Matelasse- another type of jacquard weave, with a
quilted effect; elastic depending on
the weave. (silk , wool, cotton or
rayon)
Maxi Length-longer jacket; below the knee; 42’inch longer
Merino- soft wool of the merino sheep; any soft merino-like wool or wool and cotton
cloth
Mini skirts Length- skirts with a hemline length above the knee
Mid-Layer- practical in cold weather to provide additional insulation.
Mandarin Collar- stiff collar; rise straight and does not have any folds; 1-2 inches high,
Chinese imperial clothing “like”, however now used as a minimalist-style
.
Missy size- short size for misses; an intermediate size range in a clothing (women)
Natural Waist- leveled on the waist area.
Notched collar-“V” shape hollow collar.
Notched lapel-“V” shape hollow on the fold of the lapel
Oxford- soft durable plain-woven
cotton
Peak Lapel- (peak-top) a lapel that extends upward above; bottom or top of the collar
Jacket
Pile- quantity; stack load
Pique- Stiff durable corded fabric of cotton, rayon or silk
Pleate/d- fold in the cloth (e.g. 2 pleats on pants)
Plus size- clothing for full or larger figures
Pocket square- a piece of fabric folded on the breast pocket that accessorizes the jacket;
Poplin-corded woven silk and worsted
Ready-to wear- ready-made clothing;
Safavid Textile- Persian textiles; masterpiece of Persian art
Sateen-Mercerized cotton fabric in satin weave
which in the better grades resembles satin
Satin- Name of a basic weave. Most lustrous surface; smooth shinny surface
Semi-formal
wears –
Smock/ing- loose dress or protective coat
Super
150’s-
Shadow
print- (see warp
print) Lengthwise thread in a
woven fabric
Shawl collar/lapel- flat collar and lapel that is a curved piece extending to the
bottom of the lapel or collar.
Sheer-
very thin fabric
Shell
Layer- the outermost cloth
that blocks wind and water with a good mechanical
strength and durability;
it let’s moisture through to the outside, while not letting
Silk velvet- not pure silk; silk with rayon pile
Sloper- close fitted basic pattern from which you could make a whole range of patterns
by altering it with darts added ease. You could make a sloper either by draping it
to your body or by taking a range of measurements.
Shlumpadinka- a new word that “Oprah” (show) has came up to discover about fashion
wherein she
meant “ a woman who has given up in clothing, completely”. Ital Suit totally agrees on her
new term, as it seem that men these days may have
also given up in clothing, and just chose to wear anything that fits, regardless if it
works with them or not.As fashion expert, our business tries to get that
notion off the head of our growing consumers. Thanks to “Oprah” official or
unofficial, on that vocabulary, we agree!
Straight Legs- pants cut straight from the waist down; equal width from waist down to
the bottom
.
Suspenders- adjustable or clip type suspenders are
fastened or connected unto front and
back down to the
waistband with a clip or button whole to a pant.
Swatch-
piece of cloth used as samples.
Synthetic Fiberfill- economical that provides good insulation (example: polyester)
Tweed-rough twill wool
Twill- diagonally wove fabric
Unitard- a close fitting garment for the upper body, leg, arm and feet.
V-neck-
Velvet-soft piled fabric of silk, cotton or
synthetic material; rich looking fabric with thick
pile; woven with lots of
thread sticking out
Velveteen- cotton with silk pile
Warp-
Lengthwise thread in a woven fabric
Water
resistant-materials blocks
water partially in clothing
Weave- interlocking strands of material
White Tie- a terms used to describe the most formal evening dress code, worn in
balls or
gala, opera, formal
dinner. Men: dress coat, white bow tie, waistcoat, starched
shirt.
Wing collar- a collar with projections that covers shoulder seams of bodices and
doublets.
Wool- traditional mid-layer textile with several good properties such as good insulation,
absorbs moisture, and does not feel wet even when it holds considerable moisture.
Wrinkle-
Free- free from crease and
folds
Worcester- fine wool
X
Zipper- fastener consisting a two row of interlocking teeth in an apparel, luggage etc.
that closes an opening.