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Topic: names of clothes

babooher
Member
Member # 8617

posted

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.

Posts: 823 | Registered: May 2009 | IP: Logged |

billawaboy
Member
Member # 8182

posted

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

Posts: 342 | Registered: Aug 2008 | IP: Logged |

TrishaH24
Member
Member # 8673

posted

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/

Posts: 184 | Registered: Jun 2009 | IP: Logged |

Lyrajean
Member
Member # 7664

posted

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.

Posts: 175 | Registered: Jan 2008 | IP: Logged |

babooher
Member
Member # 8617

posted

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.

Posts: 823 | Registered: May 2009 | IP: Logged |

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