Designing Your Character & Other Handy Things

Parts of Clothing

arm

the part of a piece of clothing that your arm fits into

armhole

one of the holes for your arms in a shirt, jacket etc

basque

the short part of a jacket, skirt etc that fits closely below the waist

bib

a square part above the waist of some types of skirt or trousers that covers your chest

bodice

the part of a dress that covers a woman’s body from the waist up

breast

the top front part of a jacket or coat

breast pocket

a pocket on the front of a shirt or jacket, over your chest

buttonhole

a small hole in a piece of clothing through which you push a button to fasten it

care label

a label inside a piece of clothing that tells you how you should wash and dry it

coat-tails

the two long pieces that form the bottom part of the back of a man’s formal jacket

collar

the part of a coat, shirt, or dress that goes around your neck

crew neck

a tight round neck on a sweater

crotch

the part of a piece of clothing that covers this area

crutch

a crotch

cuff

the part of a sleeve that fits around your wrist

cuff

a turn-up on a pair of trousers

dart

a narrow pointed fold made in a piece of clothing by sewing so that it has a better shape or fits better

elbow

the part of a sleeve that covers your elbow

facing

cloth fastened to the inside edges of a piece of clothing to make it stronger

facings

the collar or cuffs of a jacket or coat when they are made in a different cloth or colour from the rest

finger

the part of a piece of clothing that covers one of your fingers

flies

the opening at the front of a pair of trousers that is fastened with buttons or a zip

fly

the flies on a pair of trousers

foot

the part of a piece of clothing that covers your foot

fringe

a row of fibres or thin pieces of cloth that hang down from a piece of cloth or clothing