Descriptionary

diamante a glittery article of clothing, consisting of beads, sequins, or paillettes.

dinner a formal dress with covered shoulders, worn with a jacket.

dirndl a bell-shaped dress having a gathered waist­line and attached to a snugfitting bodice.

Empire dress a dress with a very high waistline, raised right below the bust.

Ethiopian shirtdress a basic shift trimmed with embroidery of Ethiopian design.

evening gown any formal gown or ball gown.

fitted formfitting or clinging to one's body outline.

flamenco a dress having a long top and a flounced skirt, reminiscent of Spanish flamenco dancers.

flapper a dress having a long torso and a short skirt, popular in the 1920s and revived in the 1960s.

granny dress an old fashioned, ankle-length dress having a high, tight neckline and long sleeves trimmed with ruffles.

halter dress a sleeveless dress with either spaghetti straps or material that ties at the back of the neck.

Juliet a medieval-style dress having puffy sleeve tops and a high waistline, inspired by Shakespeare's Juliet.

kabuki a wraparound dress having kimono sleeves and no collar, held together by sash; inspired by Japa­nese actors in the kabuki theater.

kiltie dress designed after the Scottish kilt, with wrap skirt closed with a safety pin.

kimono a wraparound dress held together by a sash, inspired by the Japanese kimono robe.

maternity any dress designed with a full front for the comfort of pregnant women.

maxi an ankle-length dress, popular 1969 to 1970.

mermaid formfitting, curve-revealing dress that fits tightly around the torso and waist and flares at the calf.

micro a very short minidress, riding to the top of the thigh, popular in the 1960s.

midi any calf-length dress; first introduced in 1967.

minidress a short-skirted dress popular in the 1960s and reintroduced in the mid-1980s.

monk a cowl-necked dress having bell sleeves and a cord belt, designed after a monk's robe.

muumuu a loose-fitting, ankle-length, Hawaiian, floral-print dress.

patio a light, floral-print shift.

peasant European peasant-style dress having a tight bodice, puffed sleeves, drawstring neckline, and a gathered skirt.

peplum a narrow dress having a short overskirt or ruffle extending below the waistline, popular in the 1930s, 1960s, and again in the 1980s.

pinafore a child's sleeveless dress worn with a sepa­rate bib-top apron tied in the back, introduced in 1870.

Pocahontas dress see American Indian.

prairie an old-fashioned dress having a stand-up neckline, gathered sleeves at the shoulders and bands at the wrist, accompanied by a gored skirt with ruf­fled hem.

rhumba a dress having a ruffled skirt split up the front, inspired by Carmen Miranda in the 1940s.

sack a chemise.

safari a dress reminiscent of a safari or bush jacket, having multiple pockets on the chest.

sailor a dress having a sailor-suit collar, popular from 1890 to 1930.

sari a gold-embroidered silk or cotton dress wrapped about the waist with one loose end draped over the shoulder or covering the head, a Hindu design.

sarong a brightly colored dress wrapped about the waist and draped to one side, an Indonesian design.

seloso a long, flowing African dress.

sheath a snug-fitting dress with a narrow skirt slashed in the back to make walking possible.

shift a chemise.

shirtdress a dress hanging straight from the shoul­ders and buttoned down the front, as a man's shirt.

shirtwaist dress a classic dress with a shirtlike top, buttoned down to the waist, accompanied by a full or straight skirt, popular in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1980s.

slip dress a dress hanging straight from shoulder straps.

spaghetti straps thin strips of material that hold a dress or shirt at the shoulders, leaving the arms bare.

square dancing a dress having puffed sleeves and a full, circular skirt, for square and folk dancing.

step-in a coat-like dress that buttons or zips three- fourths of the way down.

strapless a dress ending at the top of the bosom and held in place by shirring or boning.

sundress a strapless or halter-style dress.

sweater dress a knitted dress.

tent dress a triangular-shaped dress, introduced in the 1960s.

T-shirt dress

T-shirt.

toga an elegant dress that leaves one shoulder uncovered; from the Roman design.

a dress with the fabric and style of a

vintage any classic dress from another era.

wedge a tapering, V-shaped dress having large shoulders and dolman sleeves.

wrap a wraparound dress.

Fabrics and Fabric Designs

abattre quilted or depressed effects in fabric.

abercrombie Scottish tartan with a blue and black ground and a green and white overcheck.

accordion pleat see pleat.