Components of Clothes: English Vocabulary List

a piece of metal or plastic with a hinged pin that is used for fastening a belt, bag, shoe, etc.

"The buckle broke."

"He fastened the leather belt buckle and adjusted it to fit snugly around his waist."

the part of a sleeve at the wrist that can be turned back

"The cuff was wet."

"He rolled up the cuff of his shirt before washing the dishes."

the edge of a piece of cloth or clothing that has been doubled back and sewn in place

"She shortens the dress hem."

"She carefully sewed the hem of her trousers so they would not drag on the ground and get dirty."

the part of an item of clothing that completely or partly covers one's arm

"The long sleeve is ripped."

"She rolled up her sleeves before starting to paint because she did not want to get acrylic colors on the fabric of her new shirt."

a hard protective material worn under the jersey on the shoulder of players in sports such as ice hockey or football

"The jacket has thick shoulder pads."

"The jacket had exaggerated shoulder pads that made her silhouette look very strong and powerful."

a narrow piece of cloth, leather, etc. used for fastening, carrying, or holding onto something

"The watch strap was made of leather."

"She adjusted the strap of her bag so it would rest comfortably on her shoulder while walking."

a small piece of wood or plastic that is used as a fastener by being pushed through a hole or loop on a piece of clothing

"The coat uses toggle buttons."

"The duffle coat closed with long wooden toggles that looped through leather loops instead of buttons."

a long and thin string or cord that is passed through the hooks on a shoe and pulled tightly to fasten it

"My shoelace came loose."

"He tied the shoelace quickly before running out the door."

a device, such as a buckle, hook, or clip, used to fasten or hold two objects together

"The gold clasp is broken."

"The clasp on her necklace was very small and difficult for her to fasten by herself."

a clasp or a fastener that holds the two ends of a belt together

"His belt buckle is silver."

"He polished the silver belt buckle until it shone before the rodeo competition."

a small, shiny, flat or round decorative object that is typically sewn onto garments or accessories to add sparkle and glamour

"The sequin catches the light."

"Her dress was covered in thousands of tiny silver sequins that sparkled every time she moved under the stage lights."

a slit or hole on a piece of clothing that a button is put through to be fastened

"Sew the buttonhole carefully."

"He threaded a small red carnation through the buttonhole of his jacket lapel for the wedding."

a cut or opening in a piece of clothing, such as a shirt or jacket, designed to accommodate the wearer's arm

"The armhole is too tight."

"The armhole of the dress was too tight so she could not lift her arms without feeling restricted."

a piece of jewelry worn around the upper arm, typically made of metal, wood, or cloth, and may be adorned with stones or other decorative elements

"She wears a gold armlet."

"The chief wore a gold armlet around his bicep as a symbol of his authority and status."

a detachable accessory worn around the neck and chest area of a shirt or blouse to create the illusion of a full shirt

"His dicky is detachable collar."

"He wore a white dicky a false shirt front that only covered his chest under his suit jacket so it looked like he was wearing a full shirt."

a type of ornamental shoulder piece or badge worn on military or police uniforms

"The uniform has gold epaulettes."

"The military uniform had gold epaulettes on the shoulders added for decoration and to denote rank."

a strip or piece of fabric that is gathered, pleated, or ruffled and attached to a garment, creating a flowing or decorative effect

"The dress has a flounce."

"The hem of the skirt was adorned with a delicate lace flounce that added a touch of elegance and movement."

a triangular or diamond-shaped piece of fabric that is inserted into a garment to add extra room or reinforcement

"The gusset adds extra room."

"A triangular gusset was sewn into the underarm of the shirt to give the wearer more room to move freely."

the bottom edge of a garment that has been folded and sewn to prevent fraying, adding structure and a finished look to the clothing item

"The hemline falls below knee."

"The hemline of fashion that year was very short with most dresses ending well above the knee."

a decorative clothing accessory, typically made of lace or ruffles, that is worn around the neck and chest of a shirt, blouse, or dress

"The jabot has ruffled lace."

"The man's formal shirt had a lace jabot at the neck a frilly decoration that hung down the front."

a folded flap of fabric on the front of a jacket or coat that extends from the collar to the chest

"His lapel holds a flower."

"The lapels of his suit jacket were wide and made of contrasting velvet, a very stylish look that season."

the shape or style of the opening at the top of a garment that surrounds the neck, shoulders, and upper chest area

"The neckline is very low."

"The dress had a deep V neckline that showed a hint of her collarbone and was very elegant."

a type of pocket that is sewn onto the outside of a garment, usually a flat piece of fabric with an opening at the top

"Her jeans have patch pockets."

"The shirt had a patch pocket on the chest sewn directly onto the front of the garment."

a folded-back collar on a garment, resembling a shawl

"The sweater has a shawl collar."

"The cardigan had a soft shawl collar that could be folded over or left open, draping around the neck."

a woman's piece of clothing worn on top fastened by a strap behind the neck leaving the back, arms and midriff bare

"She wears a halter top."

"She wore a halter top that tied behind her neck leaving her shoulders and back completely bare."

the measurement around the middle part of someone's body

"Her waistline changed."

"The waistline of the dress was adjusted slightly for a better fit."

a part of a garment that is constructed from two or more layers of fabric, typically located at the shoulder or waist

"The dress has a yoke."

"The yoke is the part across the shoulders."

a decorative frill or extension of fabric that is attached at the waist of a garment

"The jacket has a peplum."

"Peplum adds a flared detail at the waist."