Apparel
Household
Specialty
Petit Meurice
A
A-line gown – Form-fitting bodice that flares out from the waistline to a full skirt. This gown has a seamless waist.
A-line skirt/fit and flare skirt – A skirt that is fitted at the waist and flares out in an A-line or tulip shape at the hem.
acetate – A medium weight thermoplastic fiber that offers excellent drape and luxurious hand.
acrylic – A thermoplastic fiber often used as a replacement for wool or hair. Often used in knitting (e.g., sweaters) and fake furs.
alpaca – From the alpaca goat in South America. Durable, silky and lustrous, it is often used in sweaters and ponchos.
anionic detergent system – A dry-cleaning detergent that is negatively charged. This detergent carries water by solubilization. Anionic detergents are used in charged systems.
anorak – Believed to be an Aleut word (native population of Aleutian Islands, Alaska): a hooded garment, usually hip length and used by the native population living by the Arctic Circle to protect themselves from the wind and cold. It has been adapted by the fashion world, and is usually worn for sporting activities.
appliqué – (French for 'applied') The technique of sewing one piece of fabric onto another.
astrakhan – Fur fabric originally made from the expensive curly black or gray fleece of lambs from Astrakhan, southern Russia, now usually made from acrylic fibers. It is used for hats and trimming coats.
B
back drape – A length of material attached either at the shoulder or the waist that flows over the back to floor length. In some cases it is removable.
back yoke – A fitted or shaped piece at the top of a skirt or at the shoulder of various garments.
bactericides – Aka biocides. These are chemicals used to prevent biodegradation of petroleum dry-cleaning solvents. Bactericides are commonly contained in dry-cleaning detergents.
baize – Wool fabric resembling felt (usually green) used on gaming tables.
ball gown – Characterized by a very full skirt that begins at the waist and continues to a formal length. The skirt waist is seamed and can be of various styles.
ballerina neckline – A low neckline that usually occurs with strapless or spaghetti strapped dresses.
bandeau/tube top – A band-shaped covering for the breasts.
basque waist/V-waist – This dropped waist starts at or just below the natural waistline and dips in the center, creating a "V" shape.
batiste – Lightweight, plainly woven soft fabric. Usually made from cotton or wool blends.
bateau neck/boat neck – A high, wide neckline that runs straight across the front and back, meeting at the shoulders; the same depth in the front and back.
bell sleeve – Long sleeve that flares at the bottom like a bell.
bengaline – Medium weight, lustrous fabric with prominent crosswise ribs.
besom pocket – A pocket sewn inside the garment with access through a welted slit-type opening.
bespoke – A term referring to a custom-made article of clothing.
bias cut – Cut diagonally across the grain of a fabric. Used to create garments that follow the body curves closely.
bike tards – A close-fitting, one-piece garment from the top of the torso to the hem of the shorts.
blazer – A long-sleeved sports jacket with lapels.
bolero jacket – A loose, waist-length jacket that stays open in the front.
bonded fabrics – Two fabrics joined together using some type of adhesive binder.
boning – Used to give a garment support and body contouring. Once actually constructed of whale bone, today's boning is usually made of plastic strips slipped into sheaths sewn into the garment.
boot-cut – Cut below the belly button and slightly flared from the knee to the ankle.
bouclé – An uneven yarn of three plies, one of which forms loops at intervals.
box-pleated – Two folds of fabric brought together to form a pleat.
boy-leg – Shorts, undergarments or swimwear that has a close fitting leg reaching halfway down the thigh.
broadcloth – Lightweight, plain weave, tightly woven thin yarn fabric with crosswise ribs. Made of cotton or cotton/wool blends.
brocade – A heavy, luxurious fabric with a raised jacquard design.
broomstick – A skirt or dress that is characterized by numerous pleats and crinkled material.
buckram – Stiff, cotton-like fabric. Used for apparel interfacing and interlining.
burn-out – Fabric with alternating solid and sheer design, often in a vertical stripe format.
bustier – A sleeveless, strapless top or dress held in place by boning, elastic or stretch fabrics. It is designed to help shape and enhance the bust line.
C
camel hair – Comes from two-hump camels; weak fiber with a wool-like texture. It is used often in overcoats, sport jackets and the like.
camisole – A short, sleeveless garment for women.
camp pockets – Pockets sewn to the outside of the garment, usually squared off and characterized by seaming.
cap sleeve – A small, short sleeve that sits on the shoulder, either forming a stiff cap or falling on to the arm to provide minimal coverage.
capri pants – Fairly straight-cut pants, tapered to mid-calf.
cardigan jacket – A usually collarless sweater or jacket that opens the full length of the front.
cargo – Characterized by sporting a large pocket, usually with a flap and a pleat.
carpenter pants/shorts – Five-pocket pants characterized by a "hammer holder," a stretch of material connecting the outside seam to the back pocket.
cashmere – From the inner coat hair of an Asian Kashmir goat. Extremely fine and noted for its outstanding softness. It is a fragile fabric, easily susceptible to abrasion and shrinkage.
cathedral train – Also known as a monarch train; a cascading train extending six to eight feet behind the gown, for the most formal of weddings.
cationic detergent – A positively charged dry-cleaning detergent. Cationic detergent carries water by means of an emulsion. It provides excellent water-soluble soil removal. This detergent is used in injection systems.
chapel train – The most popular of all train lengths. It flows from three to four feet behind the gown.
charmeuse – A shiny silk or silk-like fabric.
check – A variety of patterns, including gingham, tattersall, houndstooth, plaid and checkerboard.
chemise/skimmer – A straight unbelted dress with varying sleeves and length.
chevrette – Leather made from goatskin. Used for gloves.
chiffon – A lightweight, plain-weave, sheer fabric made with very fine, tightly twisted yarns. It is very strong, despite its filmy look.
chino – Medium weight, closely woven, twill weave with a slight sheen.
chintz – Light to medium weight plain weave, closely woven, fine cotton-like fabric with a glazed (polished) finish. Most often used for draperies, upholstery and dresses.
closed-loop dry-cleaning machine – A dry-to-dry machine which re-circulates solvent-laden vapor through primary and secondary control systems (e.g., refrigerated condenser and carbon adsorption) with no exhaust to the atmosphere. Also known as a fourth generation machine.
closed-loop solvent delivery system – A dry-cleaning solvent delivery system, wherein the fluid is pumped through a hose equipped with "leak proof connections", that couples with a filling port on the dry-cleaning machine.
column skirt/straight skirt – Also referred to as a pencil skirt, this skirt is a straight line with no flare or fullness at the hem or waistline.
concealed snap/Velcro/button placket – A slit in a garment where closures are hidden.
convertible collar – A rolled collar that can be worn open or closed. Sewn directly to the neckline.
cotton – A soft, usually white, fibrous substance composed of the hairs surrounding the seeds of various erect, freely branching plants.
corset top/boned bodice – A form-fitting, usually strapless bodice with boning and either laces or snap closures, styled in the fashion of the ladies' undergarment of the same name.
cowl neck – A neckline featuring a piece of material attached to a garment at the neck, which may be used as a hood or draped loosely in a swag from shoulder to shoulder at the front neckline or back.
cravat – Nowadays, cravat loosely describes any style of neckwear. The term used to describe the forerunner of the modern-day necktie introduced to the French regency in the 1800s by visiting Croatian cavalrymen who tied decorative fabrics about their necks.
crepe – A fabric characterized by a crinkled, puckered surface or soft mossy finish. Comes in different weights and degrees of sheerness.
crew neck – A round neck with ribbed banding that fits close to the base of the neck.
crinkle cotton – Cotton that is treated to give it a rich, plissé texture in the warp that requires no ironing.
crinoline – Petticoat stiffened with horsehair to enable the bell-like skirt of the early nineteenth century, which was eventually replaced with the bustle.
crochet – A technique for making a garment or shoe with lace-like effect, involving a hook and yarn.
cropped top/jacket – Hem is cut just above the waist.
cutwork – Designs cut out of a fabric and embroidered with purl stitch.
D
decamethylcyclopentasiloxane – Aka D5. See GreenEarth.
DF-2000™ – A petroleum dry-cleaning solvent manufactured by Exxon Chemical. DF-2000™ is a synthetic hydro-treated aliphatic hydrocarbon blend (reported to be predominantly C11 – C12 aliphatic hydrocarbons) that has a flashpoint of 147°F and a specific gravity of 0.77 at 60°F. A similar product known as Eco-Solv is manufactured by Chevron. Some dry cleaners promote this as "organic" cleaning because of the presence of carbon. See organic cleaning.
diamond neck – A diamond-shaped cutout that fastens at the front or back neckline.
digestive agent – A pre-cleaning or spotting agent that is a mixture of enzymes used to digest food and albuminous-type stains.
distillation – A recycling process by which cleaning fluid is separated from non-volatile and other impurities by boiling. The used fluid is heated and vaporized, then condensed into a dry side/water mixture, which after separation yields a pure fluid, which in turn is reused. The minimal contaminants that are left behind as a residue or sludge are taken away as hazardous waste and recycled.
dolman sleeve – Cut as an extension of the bodice, the dolman sleeve is designed without a socket for the shoulder, creating a deep, wide armhole that reaches from the waist to a narrowed wrist. Also called a batwing sleeve.
double-breasted – Having one half of the front overlapping the other, and usually a double row of buttons and a single row of buttonholes.
double-tee top – A layered look with one T-shirt over another.
dupioni silk – An irregular silk thread reeled from two or more entangled cocoons, producing a coarse yarn generally used in fabrics such as shantung or pongee.
drape – The hang or fall of fabric when made into a garment.
draped bodice – An extra piece of material is draped over the bustline.
dropped waist/low waist – A waistline that is sewn below the body's natural waistline.
dropped shoulders – Characterized by the shoulder/sleeve seam falling off the shoulder.
dry cleaning – The nonaqueous process used to remove soil, greases, paints and other unwanted substances from articles with organic solvents.
Dryel® – A do-it-yourself product. Clothing is placed in a bag containing the product and the bag is placed in a dryer. Vapors, activated by the heat of the dryer, penetrate the clothing and "lift" the odors from the clothing. Heat from the dryer may serve to set (oxidize) stains that professional dry cleaning might have been able to remove.
duster – A long, open summer coat, with or without a button closure.
E
empire bodice – A bodice that ends just below the bust, sometimes low-cut and gathered.
empire seam – A seam that is sewn directly below the bustline.
empire waist – This waistline begins just below the bust.
envelope hem – A hemline open at the bottom with angular, overlapping flounces. Also applies to a shoe's top-line detail, i.e., envelope vamp.
epaulet, epaulette – Any shoulder ornament, usually a button strap; often seen with braiding or other trim.
eyelet – A fabric punched with decorative holes embroidered with purl stitching.
F
fine-gauge knit – A smooth sweater knit garment that has little or no texture.
finishing – Pressing and steaming of garments to remove wrinkles and restore each garment to its original size, shape and appearance. Pressing equipment is heated with superheated steam.
fishtail train – Fitted around the hips and flared out from the knee to the hemline.
fitted point sleeve – A long, narrow sleeve that tapers to a point, which rests against the back of the hand.
flare pants – Pants that flare at the hem. Also called bell-bottoms.
flat-front pants – Straight pants, often seamless and pocketless.
fleece – Wool or synthetic fabric with an extremely soft, napped finish.
floating underwire – The floating underwire has a sleek appearance and easy fit while providing more support for average to full-busted women.
flood pants – Pants cut at, or just above, the ankle.
florentine neck – A wide, square-cut neckline extending to the shoulders.
form-fitting/slim-fit – Straight from waist to ankle except for a slight curve around the hip.
fourragère – A braided cord worn usually around the left shoulder, especially when awarded as a military decoration.
french terry – A woven fabric, usually cotton, with loop pile on one or both sides.
frog closure – Chinese closing of decorative cording or braid. A soft ball of cording or a button is used to complete the closure.
G
gabardine – A sturdy, durable, lightweight twill fabric of cotton, wool or rayon.
garment care – A term first coined by Wayne Edelman of Meurice Garment Care to denote a specialized system for high quality cleaning, finishing, inspection and packaging that was separate and apart from traditional dry cleaning.
gathering – A technique that creates fullness by tightening threads in a row of stitching.
gaucho – Wide-legged pants or divided skirt reaching mid-calf.
gauntlets – Dress gloves extending above the wrist.
georgette – Characterized by its crispness, body and outstanding durability, georgette is a sheer fabric of silk or synthetic material with a dull, slightly crinkled surface.
gimping – A saw-toothed edge for leather resembling pinking in fabric.
godet – A triangular piece of fabric sewn into a skirt or sleeve for extra fullness.
greige goods – An unfinished fabric, just removed from a knitting machine or a loom. Also called grey goods.
graying – Discoloration of garments caused by soil particles flocculating or being absorbed back onto the garment surface. The chief cause of graying is dirty solvent. This is sometimes referred to as redeposition.
GreenEarth – GreenEarth is a silicone-based dry-cleaning solvent (the chemical name is decamethylcyclopentasiloxane) and offered as an alternative to chlorinated and petroleum-based dry-cleaning solvent. It has a flash point of 170°F and a specific gravity of 0.95.
grid-head press – A type of steam press that has a perforated head, porous to steam and air. The grid-head press is used on woolen and woolen-type garments.
grommet – An eyelet that is reinforced with metal or plastic; used as a durable closure or decoration.
guipure lace – Tape lace in large, dramatic patterns executed on coarse mesh.
H
halter top – A sleeveless bodice with a high choke or wrap neck that may be backless.
handkerchief style – The hem of a blouse or skirt that is gently jagged to form flowing points.
hip pockets – Pockets that are sewn on the front of the garment at hip height.
hollywood waistband – Characterized by a full, elasticized back and a side zipper/button closure.
hook & eye closure – A two-part fastening device (as on a garment or a door) consisting of a metal hook that catches over a bar or into a loop.
hot-head press – A type of steam press with a smooth, non-porous stainless steel head. The head is heated by steam to surface temperatures as high as 300°F. The hot-head press is used to finish silks and silk-like fabrics.
I
illusion bodice – A bodice made of sheer material giving the illusion of no bodice.
illusion sleeve – A sleeve made of sheer material giving the illusion of no sleeve.
inseam – The inside seam of a pant leg.
insoluble soil – The most commonly found materials in fabrics and the bulk of the soil removed in the dry-cleaning process. Examples include earth, concrete dust, sand, carbon, ashes, lint, hair and cosmetics, etc. This soil will not dissolve either in dry-cleaning fluid or water. Insoluble soil is removed in the dry-cleaning machine by lubrication and emulsification.
intarsia – A colored design knitted on both sides of a fabric.
inverted pleat – Reversed box pleat with folds meeting at the top of the pleat.
intermission-length/Hi-Lo – An intermission-length gown features a hem falling between the knees and ankle; the Hi-Lo variation is a gown of intermission length on the front and floor length or longer in the back.
J
jabot – The cascading fabric at each side of a swagged valance.
jacquard – A raised design or pattern woven into a fabric as opposed to being printed on the fabric.
jewel neck – A high round neckline resting simply at the base of the neck.
K
kangaroo pocket – A pocket formed by sewing a piece of cloth over the garment, leaving two open ends.
kauri-butanol value (KBV) – The solvent-soluble soil removing capability of a liquid. A solvent with a high KBV value is usually more efficient in removing oil and grease stains, but a lower KBV value may be safer on some dyes, adhesives and trim fabrics.
keyhole neck – A tear-shaped or round cutout that fastens at the front or back neckline.
kimono – A long robe with wide sleeves, traditionally worn with a broad sash.
L
leather – The dressed or tanned hide of an animal. Any of various articles or parts made of leather. It is protective and comfortable, and it breathes.
leg-of-mutton sleeve – (Also known as a gigot sleeve) A loose, full sleeve, rounded from the shoulder to just below the elbow, then shaped to the arm, often ending in a point at the wrist.
lettuce edge – A thin ruffle at neckline, cuff or hem.
linen – Fabric that is cooler, stronger and more absorbent than cotton; woven from threads made from the flax plant.
llama – Comes from the llama of South America and is weaker than either alpaca or camel hair. Often used in blankets and sweaters.
M
madras – Shirting fabric woven in structured patterns; usually in fine cotton.
maillot – A woman's one-piece bathing suit.
mandarin collar – A short, stand-up collar, adopted from the close-fitting Asian collar.
marking – Process of identifying garments by attaching tags to each garment or stamping an identification code onto an inner surface of the garment. It is the first operation performed in a dry-cleaning plant.
matelasse – Appearance of a quilted weave figured pattern with raised, bubbly surface.
matte jersey – Fine-knitted fabric with a flat finish.
mermaid – This skirt hugs the body until it reaches the knees or just below and then ends in a dramatic flare.
merrow stitching – The type and name of machine to stitch overlock edges of emblems.
microfiber – A silky synthetic material, usually woven polyester.
microfleece – A polyester fleece, very soft and dense, but not bulky or fluffy.
moisture-wicking – Synthetic materials that have been developed specifically to channel perspiration away from the body. Used in active wear and athletic shoe linings.
mohair – Comes from the angora goat. It offers good abrasion resistance and is the most resilient of the natural textile fibers. It has little crimp and offers smooth hand and high luster.
moleskin – A cotton or synthetic twill fabric that has a warm, brushed hand.
Mongolian wool – Long, curly woolen fibers used as a fluffy collar or trim on garments.
N
natural waist – A seam or waistband that secures or falls at the natural curve of the body, which is the indentation between the hips and the ribcage.
ninon – A sheer, fairly crisp fabric, heavier than chiffon. Much like voile, but with more body. The warp yarns are often grouped in pairs. Conducive to wetcleaning, particularly in the synthetics. Mostly used for curtains, and sometimes for evening or bridal wear.
noile – Short fibers that create a slubbed effect on the surface of a fabric.
non-volatile residue (NVR) – The bulk of the residue left in the still after the solvent has been distilled out. NVR is made up primarily of oily, fatty, gummy and insoluble soils removed from clothing.
notch neck – A round neckline having a small triangular cutout in the front center.
notched collar – A two-piece collar that can only be worn open.
nubuck – Suede that is sanded down to a skin-like smoothness and softness.
nylon/lycra spandex – With the combined strength of nylon and the supple elasticity of spandex, this fabric is ideal for foundation garments and shape-giving lingerie. In recent years it has been used in business and casual wear with mixed results. It is very susceptible to abrasion, and broken filaments often appear as tiny white flecks on garments. This damage is impossible to repair.
O
off-the-shoulder neck – A neckline that lies gently hovering across the top of the bustline with the shoulders uncovered or visible through the sheer yoke of net or organza attached to a high collar.
ombre – Shadings of a single color from light to dark; or the gradual blending of several colors as in a rainbow.
open stitch – Woven or knit fabrics that are loosely stitched, achieving a semi-transparency.
optical brighteners – Aka fluorescent whitening agents, optical bleaches or optical dyes. Chemicals used to "make white whiter." Optical brighteners are used in the manufacture of white garments, and the loss of optical brighteners (due to instability, processing, etc.) can cause the garment to appear gray. It is usually impossible for a drycleaner to restore an optical brightener under these conditions.
organic cleaning – A misnomer sometimes used by cleaners who use petroleum-based solvents to evoke a feeling of environmentally friendly operations. The name has its genesis in the fact that carbon is organic, and therefore a hydrocarbon solvent is an organic process.
organza – Fine, sheer, lightweight, crisp fabric with a stiff feel. It crushes or musses fairly easily, but is easily pressed. Dressy type of fabric; sometimes has a silvery sheen.
ottoman – Plain, heavy woven fabric having flat, crosswise ribs.
over-dyed denim – Interesting color-on-color effect obtained by adding color dye during the washing process; the more dye added, the more intense the color.
overskirt – A skirt worn over another skirt.
oxidizing bleach – A bleach that uses an oxidation process to decolorize stains or soiled areas. Examples are sodium perborate, hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite.
P
paillette – A small shiny object (as a spangle) applied in clusters as a decorative trimming (as on women's clothing).
palatine – A fur cape or stole covering the neck and shoulders.
paisley – Fabric in rich, swirling print either woven in or screened. Based on fine Scottish wool fabrics designed in yarn-dyed colors.
pareo – A versatile rectangle of printed fabric worn as a shawl, swimsuit cover-up, skirt, dress or scarf. Based on garments worn by natives of Pacific Islands.
pea coat/pea jacket – Heavy, warm hip-length woolen jacket with double-breasted front and a wide notched collar; originally worn by sailors in the color known as navy blue.
peachskin/peached – Fabric that is processed to achieve a surface that has the soft suede-like feeling of a fresh peach.
peasant top – Romantic style often characterized with a low neckline, ruffles or free-flowing material.
pedal pushers – Straight-cut pants, often cuffed, that fall just below the knee.
peek-a-boo – Any part of the garment that has been cut out to reveal skin.
peplum – Short flounce attached to a snugly fitting waistline.
perchloroethylene – A completely halogenated (chlorinated) ethene. This chlorinated hydrocarbon has excellent cleaning and degreasing properties, and is the predominant solvent used in the dry-cleaning industry. Also known as Tetrachloroethylene, Tetrachloroethene, Perc or PCE.
petticoat – An underskirt usually a little shorter than outer clothing and often made with a ruffled, pleated or lace edge.
picot – A row of small loops woven along the edge of fabric in ribbon or lace for a decorative effect.
pieced – A look created by sewing several pieces of material together to form the garment, much like a quilt.
pigment-dyed – Yarns colored with material that is of animal, vegetable or mineral origin before they are spun into fabric.
pinafore – Originally used to protect a dress from dirt, it was adopted as a fashion piece and worn as a sleeveless dress or over a blouse.
pintuck – Narrow, sewn-down pleats, usually on the front of a garment.
piqué – (Pronounced "pee-kay") Durable, knit or woven fabric with raised lengthwise cords or squares that are part of the weave.
placket – Slit at neckline in a dress, blouse or skirt, usually reinforced with a fold of fabric.
plissé, plisse – Fabric with a puckered surface. French word meaning gathered, folded, pleated. Also, a textile finish of permanently puckered designs formed by treating with a sodium hydroxide solution.
point collar – A collar with ties used to attach women's sleeves to their gowns.
pointelle – An open-hole stitch usually in the shape of a "V", flower or diamond.
polo dress – A long or knee-length sheath designed as an extension of the classic, cotton knit polo shirt.
polyester – A wrinkle-resistant fabric made from synthetic resin.
poncho – Straight piece of fabric, usually waterproof, with an opening in the center for the head. Originally a Latin American garment in colorful woven fabrics that is used as outerwear.
pongee – Thin soft fabric of Chinese origin woven from raw silk; also, there's an imitation of this fabric in cotton or a synthetic fiber (as of polyester or rayon).
pont knit – A tight-knit weave that's soft with just enough stretch for comfort.
poplin – A finely ribbed fabric, usually made of cotton.
princess seams – Seams that can be found in the front or the back of a garment that create a figure-flattering, form-fitting shape.
pucker knit – A plissé fabric with a crinkled or puckered effect; usually some spandex is required to create this textured, stretchy surface.
puckered bodice – Usually associated with tube tops, it provides a scrunchy look.
puff sleeve – A full sleeve of varying lengths, created by generous gathering around the armhole.
purl stitch – Knitting stitch employed to create a ribbed effect.
push-up jeans – Spandex in the jeans helps to lift and shape your rear.
R
raffia – A fine palm leaf used for decorative effects. Can be woven into shoes or hats.
raglan sleeve – A sleeve that extends in one piece to the neckline of the garment.
rayon – Silky, lustrous material manmade from natural fibers, with excellent drape and dyeability. The sizing used in manufacture is very susceptible to water, so that water soluble stains will often leave a ring that cannot be removed.
romper – A one-piece garment with the lower part shaped like bloomers.
ruching – A pleated, fluted or gathered strip of fabric used for trimming.
ruffle – Strip of cloth, lace or ribbon at the edge of a garment that creates a rippled effect.
S
saddle stitch – Small running stitches visible on the outside of handbags and accessories.
safari style – Safari-style garments adapted from bush jackets worn by hunters on African safaris, including such features as bellows pockets, belting and epaulettes.
sarong skirt – Long cloth that is wrapped around the entire body.
sateen – Lustrous cotton or rayon; this fabric has a smooth hand with a soft sheen.
satin – A smooth fabric woven with a glossy face and a dull back.
scalloping – Edges cut, knit or crocheted in a tight wave pattern.
scoop/round neck – A low, U-shaped or round neckline.
seersucker – Term derived from the Persian "shiroshakar," a kind of cloth, literally "milk and sugar". The woven crinkle is produced by alternating slack and tight yarns in the warp.
sequins – Small, shiny discs sewn onto fabrics as decoration.
shantung – A heavy fabric with a rough, slubbed surface, usually made of silk or some other soft material (often rayon or cotton).
shawl collar – A one-piece collar that is turned down to form an elegant, continuous line around the back of the neck to the front of a garment.
sheaths – Usually have straight or close-fitting skirts, accompanied by a form-fitting bodice. The skirt is often ankle length and sometimes has a slit in either the front, side or back to make walking easier.
shelf bra – A bra that is built right into the garment.
shift – A straight-lined basic dress of the 1960s, hanging away from the body.
shirred waist – A decorative gathering (as of cloth) made by drawing up the material along two or more parallel lines of stitching.
shirring – Gathering of material, usually used for visual figure enhancement.
shirt dress – A dress cut similar to a man's shirt with buttons down the front.
shrug – A woman's small, waist-length or shorter jacket.
silk – An extremely soft, natural fabric made from the secretions of silkworms.
skant – Pants that have a sweater-like attachment around the waist.
skort – Shorts that have a skirt-like front covering.
slub – An uneven section in a yarn, which gives fabrics a rough texture.
Solvair™ – A dry-cleaning system using glycol ether to clean and carbon dioxide to dry the garments. Often promoted as CO2 cleaning, the use of CO2 in the system is limited to the recovery cycle.
spaghetti strap – A thin, tubular strap that attaches to the bodice, named for its likeness to a strand of spaghetti.
spandex – An elastic fabric made from a polymer containing polyurethane. Often used as a small percentage blend with other fibers, spandex is prone to snapping when abraded, leaving a telltale white speck on the garment.
split neck – A round neckline that looks like it has been cut in the center to form a small "V".
spotting or pre-spotting – The selective application of chemicals, steam, detergent and/or water to loosen or remove specific stains from soiled garments. Spotting is sometimes done prior to dry cleaning (pre-spotting or pre-cleaning) but may also be necessary following dry cleaning to remove stubborn stains. Also known as pre-cleaning.
spotting board – A work surface for pre-cleaning and spotting work. The spotting board is normally supplied with steam, compressed air and water.
spotting agent – A chemical used to clean or bleach stained or heavily soiled areas on clothing. Spotting agents are generally divided into three classifications: dry-side agents (used to address non-water soluble stains or soiled areas), wet-side agents for water soluble stains or soils, and bleaches, which oxidize or reduce stains or soiled areas.
square neck – An open-yoke neckline shaped in the form of a half square.
straight legs – Pant legs are cut an equal width from waist to ankle.
stretch cotton – A cotton fabric usually with spandex or Lycra spandex for greater comfort, a better fit and superior wrinkle resistance.
suede – Leather that is buffed on the inside to raise a slight nap, giving it a textured appearance.
suzie – A device that blows steam and air through a garment to reduce wrinkling and facilitate pressing and finishing. Also known as Form Finisher.
swale – Uneven deposit of non-volatile material on a garment. Also known as Streaks.
sweep train – The shortest train, barely sweeping the floor.
sweetheart neck – A graceful, open yoke, shaped like the top half of a heart.
T
tank top – A short, sleeveless top with wide armholes.
tankini – A two-piece bathing suit with the upper portion resembling a tank top.
tapered legs – Pant legs become progressively narrower toward the ankle.
tea length – A gown hemmed to end at the shin.
tear-away shorts – Features versatile side snaps that allow you to remove a top layer fast.
tie-cinched waist – The waist is pulled tight around the body with a tie.
toile – Any of many plain or simple twill weave fabrics; especially linen.
toque – A woman's small hat without a brim made in any of various soft close-fitting shapes.
trapeze top – Tank top style with flared bottom.
trumpet sleeve – Long sleeve that flares at the end like a trumpet.
tulle skirt/bouffant gown – A sheer, puffed-out skirt often made of stiffened silk, rayon or nylon net.
tumbled leather – Soft leather with a slightly pebbled grain.
tunic – A simple slip-on top that usually falls below the hips or longer.
turtleneck – A high, close-fitting, turnover collar used especially for sweaters and knit tops.
tweed – A coarse wool or synthetic fabric used chiefly for casual suits and coats.
twill – A basic weave characterized by diagonal wales on the face.
twinset – A cardigan sweater over a matching sleeveless or short-sleeve sweater.
U
unitard – A close-fitting, one-piece garment for the torso, legs and feet, and often for the arms.
V
V-neck/V-back – An open yoke coming to a "V" shape midway down the bodice.
variegated – Having streaks, marks or patches of different colors; distinguished or characterized by a variety of different colors.
Velcro – Trademark for a closing consisting of a tape woven with minute nylon hooks that mesh with loops on an opposite tape. First used by astronauts.
velour – Soft velvety thick pile fabric made of various fibers and yarns. Used primarily for coats, warm-up suits, knit shirts and dresses.
velvet – Fabric made of various fibers in different weights woven with an extra yarn in the warp. This fabric is cut and brushed to form a soft, luxurious pile.
velveteen – Cut-pile fabric made with an extra filling yarn, used primarily for dresses, suits and sportswear.
vicuna – Finest, softest and weakest of the natural specialty fibers. Offers fine scales, which result in smooth hand and high luster. It is also the rarest and most costly because the vicuna is not a domesticated animal and must be hunted.
voile – A lightweight, open-weave fabric made from wool, silk, cotton or rayon; soft, used especially for women's summer clothing.
W
wedding-band collar – A collar featuring a yoke that is either open or of sheer net with an ornate band fitting snugly on the neck, creating a choker effect.
welt – Pocket that has a folded strip of material sewn into the front portion of the pocket. The welt extends upward from the seam.
wetcleaning – A professional cleaning technique that uses specially formulated detergents, sizings, conditioners and water. Specialized machines are used that can be programmed to control such variables as mechanical action, water levels, drying temperature, moisture levels in the dryer and water and detergent volume.
wickability – The ability of a fiber or a fabric to disperse moisture and allow it to pass through to the surface of the fabric.
wide legs – Pants or jeans that are cut extra full through the legs.
wing collar – A collar with projections that cover shoulder seams of bodices and doublets.
wrap top/surplice top – A bodice created by the cross-wrapping of fabric; may be in front or back, and associated with a high or low neckline.
Y
yarn-dyed – Yarn that has been dyed prior to the weaving or knitting of the garment. Yarn-dyed garments hold their color after repeated cleaning.
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