Hatrack River Writers Workshop: names of clothes

This is topic names of clothes in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by babooher (Member # 8617) on :

Does anyone have a good place to look up the names of clothing? I was hoping for some place that might show different styles and the names of each of the pieces. That way I wouldn't confuse jodhpurs with jumpers, or have to describe a snood.

Posted by billawaboy (Member # 8182) on :

Here's a few links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clothing_terminology

http://www.apparelsearch.com/glossary.htm

http://septicscompanion.com/showcat.php?cat=clothing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_clothing_and_textiles

Posted by TrishaH24 (Member # 8673) on :

This is pretty specific so I don't know if it will help. I worked as a lady on the court at a renaissance fair and we had to be period accurate (down to the freaking corsets and hoops). This page was my bible when I went to sew my dresses (and a few costumes for friends I worked with.) It is fantastic, in my oppinion. I hope it helps at least a little.

http://www.elizabethancostume.net/

Posted by Lyrajean (Member # 7664) on :

Happy to be of service, MA in Costume and Textiles, not that it ever ever helped me get a job, but...

you can always type in the garment name in google and punch in images and see what pops up. Check wikipedia etc...

Do be careful to check whether the garment name was actually in use at the time of your setting or a modenr invention to describe old clothing. Some terminology changes over time like stays to corset between the 18th and 19th centuries.

I'll spare sending you to web sites and give you some good hard books to pluck from Amazon or your library,

20,000 Years of Fashion by Francois Boucher.

http://www.amazon.com/Fashion-History-Costume-Personal-Adornment/dp/0810916932/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269174646&sr=8-1

400 Years of Fashion by Avril Hart (from the V&A)

http://www.amazon.com/400-Years-Fashion-Natalie-Rothstein/dp/1851773010/ref=cm_lmf_tit_9_rsrssi1

These are 2 good survey books with a broad overview of western fashion. For other parts of the world or time periods, you'll need more specific books.

Posted by babooher (Member # 8617) on :

Thanks all.

My problem is that I often know the look, but not the name. So it took forever to figure out the term jodhpurs when I wanted a person in those pants that flare above the knee but were tighter from the knee to the ankle. Google doesn't handle that kind of search well. It's kind of like when a person asks how to spell something you tell them to look it up in the dictionary. The picture books and such will be most helpful, thanks.