FASHION & CLOTHING TERMINOLOGIES

 (Including Ital’s fashion terms)

 

 

A

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.

.

 

B

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

 

C

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.

 

 

F

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.

 

 

G

Garments- piece of clothing.

Gabardine- closely woven cotton or wool twill; durable

Georgette- thin silk

 

H

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.

 

 

I

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

 

J

Jacquard-intricately woven; spotted and multicolor fabric; loom for making jacquard

Jewel collar- round neckline resting at the base of the neck

 

K

Kangaroo Pocket- a piece of cloth sewn over the jacket or any garment as pockets 

            leaving 2 open ends

 

L

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.

 

M

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)

 

N

Natural Waist- leveled on the waist area.

Notched collar-“V” shape hollow collar.

Notched lapel-“V” shape hollow on the fold of the lapel

 

 

 

O

Oxford- soft durable plain-woven cotton

 

P

Peak Lapel- (peak-top) a lapel that extends upward above; bottom or top of the collar

            Jacket

Pile- quantity; stack load

Pinstripes-

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

 

R

Ready-to wear- ready-made clothing;

 

S

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

Shadow stripes-

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)

 

 

 

T

Tea Length

Tone on tone-

Traditional suits-

Tweed-rough twill wool

Twill- diagonally wove fabric

 

 

U

Unitard- a close fitting garment for the upper body, leg, arm and feet.

 

V

Vent/vented-

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

 

W

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.

Wide leg-

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

Y

 

Z

Zoot suits-

Zipper- fastener consisting a two row of interlocking teeth in an apparel, luggage etc.

            that closes an opening.