1. Alpaca
Soft cloth made from the hair of the Alpaca that lives mainly in South America.
2.Embroidery
Fabric that’s decorated with embroidery creating figures and abstract designs.
3.Hermitage train (small)
Train as on a wedding dress that can reach up to about 50cm/19.685in long.
4.Chapel train (medium)
Train as on a wedding dress that varies between 50cm/19.685in and 200cm/78.7402in approximately.
5.Cathedral train (large)
Train as on a wedding dress, large, from 200cm/78.7402in to desired length, according to taste and possibilities.
6.Cashmere
Goat hair fabric, sometimes mixed with wool.
Very fine wool fabric made from a cashmere goat.
7.Crepé
In French “crêpe”. Knitting wool, silk or cotton, rough surface.
Linen and cotton fabric featuring reliefs on the surface, widely used for table linen.
8.Crepón
Lightweight fabric characterized by a wrinkled, matte surface due to the low density of warp and weft, and the high-tension twist of the weft or the warp and weft together. It is made of silk, rayon, cotton, and yarn and dyed in all colors, often in black for mourning.
9.Chiffon
Very soft, light textured fabric, made of silk or cotton. Rayon can also be used.
10. Chambray
Woven fabric consisting of the warp in a color and the weft in white. Used in dresses, sleepwear, sportswear, children’s wear, and shirting.
11. Ticking
Classic cotton twill, made of two-ply combed yarn, generally mercerized. (Mercerizing is treating cotton yarns and fabrics with a solution of caustic soda to make them shiny).
12. Chintz
Cotton fabric with a bright finish, usually with a large floral print.
13. Tweed
Cloth made from the yarn of Scottish Lamb’s wool. Widely used in suits and winter clothing.
14. Damask
Strong wool and silk fabric with patterns formed in the fabric which stand out from the background.
15. Velour
Fabric with a soft pile like velvet.
16. Halter neckline
More than a neckline, this is a type of cut that exposes the arms, shoulders and back. It fastens at the back of the neck. It is very suitable for women with a good figure and helps conceal a generous bust.
17. Strapless neckline
One of the best known and most used necklines. Ideal for women with a small bust but suits all kinds of women. It leaves shoulders bare and is either straight or sweetheart shape in front, straight across the back. It is elegant, discreet and is widely used in wedding gowns and formal dresses and looks good with a scarf or shawl.
18. Off the shoulder neckline
A type of neckline that falls over the shoulders. Can be used with any type of elastic or strip to keep in place. It’s very flattering and quite striking, ideal for women with a generous bust.
19. Illusion neckline
A round neckline type which owes its name to the mesh (usually transparent) covering the neck area. It’s ideal for slim women with long necks and for women with narrow shoulders. The see-through fabric can be mesh, tulle, organza, lace, etc.
20. Sweetheart neckline
It goes from the shoulders to the bust line, ending in a heart shaped peak and can be plain or with embroidery or lace. Widely used in romantic designs. It’s very suitable for women with short necks.
21. Turtleneck
This neckline can come to the top of the chest or the top of the neck. It can be in lace or yarn. Ideal for women with long necks and looks elegant with hair tied up.
22. Box neckline – round
Simple neckline in a curve from the bust line to the shoulders. Also known as a scooped neckline. The depth depends on personal taste and figure. It’s simple, comfortable, and ideal for all types of women. It is very easy to match with any kind of sleeve and cut.
23. Boat neckline
Neckline that forms a straight line from shoulder to shoulder, along the lines of the clavicle, and leaving the shoulders slightly bare. Comes close to the neck and is usually equal height on the front and back. It’s a good option for harmonizing and balancing the figure, an elegant, simple, discreet neckline.
24. French neckline – square
Rectangular or square neckline, which hugs the bust and is perfect for women with wide hips and a thin waist, as it focuses emphasis on the bust. It is a widely used type of neckline in empire line dresses.
25. V neck
This neckline runs from the shoulders to the top of the bust in a V shape, leaving the shoulders a little bare. It suits wide figures and generous busts as it slims and highlights the shoulders.
26. Princess neckline
Cleavage type which is open at the front, and the back is closed with a small flap.
27. Mandarin collar
Eastern style neckline, round, closed, from Japanese culture. It suits most women.
28. Draped neckline
Soft neckline which falls in a round or V shape or round-neck, which gives it a certain volume. It can minimize features like a generous bust or a slim neck.
29. Lace
Mesh fabric with patterns of bows, flowers, figures, or other images, made with bobbins, sewing needles or hooks, or by machine.
30. Chenille
Woven cord or yarn, often silk, which leaves long strands giving a pile, often used to decorate.
31. Gauze
See-through, fine, soft fabric. Used in dresses, accessories, and ornaments.
32. Gauzer
Semitransparent fabric, woven uniformly on warp and weft, and full-bodied. Like organza, but a little stiffer.
33. Interlock
Knitted fabric, plain and double that looks the same on both sides.
34. Jacquard
Woven on looms, its movement creates elaborate designs. Used in fashion garments and is also a basic in decor in tapestry, brocades, and damasks for table linen.
35. Lamé
Bright fabric, especially of gold or silver.
36. Moiré
Strong fabric that can be cotton, wool or silk and has the appearance of a watermark.
37. Muslin
Very thin fabric from cotton, silk, or wool.
38. Mikado
A thick silk fabric which has a slightly grainy texture.
39. Mohair
Cloth made of the hair of the Angora goat, widely used in the manufacture of jackets and sweaters. Its main feature is that it is very soft and shiny.
40. Wadding
Cotton fabric that mimics the padding which is used for making clothes.
41. Nainsoock
Muslin type fabric, made of cotton fiber, fine and can be striped or smooth. It is of Indian origin.
42. Organdie
White cotton fabric, very thin and transparent with a slightly shiny finish.
43. Ottoman
Corded, woven fabric that is used primarily for dresses.
Silk fabric, cotton, or yarn, forming a small ridge horizontally.
44. Organza
Lightweight fabric of silk or cotton, semitransparent, finer than muslin, but stiffer and used especially for women’s clothing.
45. Oxford
Ideal for shirting fabric, this is a soft and porous taffeta fabric, usually made of combed cotton yarns.
46. Piqué
Cotton fabric with different uses. Used in clothing and other things. It can have a grain or other raised effect.
47. Panne velvet
Grooved, pile fabric that comes in various weights and fabrics. Thick velvet-like fabric, which can be generally smooth or have vertical slits. Although widely used for garments, it is also used for decoration.
48. Percale
Low priced cotton canvas painted white. Soft, finely combed linen fabric with a minimum of 180 threads per inch.
9. Plisé
Cloth that has been treated with caustic soda to shrink part of the cloth, which is smooth in contrast to the rest, creating folds.
50. Poplin
Fabric with a high thread count which has a fine rib on the surface due to a thinner thread in the warp than the weft.
51. Satin
Glossy silk fabric which has more body than taffeta and less than velvet.
52. Rayon
Cloth made from rayon fiber a little like silk, often called artificial silk. Made from natural cellulose fiber.
53. Radium
Smooth, thin silk fabric with some shine. It has more body than a lightweight crepe but is softer than taffeta.
54. Sateen
Silky fabric much like satin.
55. Shantung
Silk fabric, full-bodied, thick texture, and a shine, like other fabrics such as eastern pongee, habotai, the Honan or corah.
56. Serge
Woven fabric that is identified by the diagonal lines on the face of the fabric, ideal for trousers.
57. Seersucker
Light cotton fabric with crinkled stripes and flat strips, obtained by alternating tension and release in the warp yarns.
58. Suit jacket
Tailored jacket with matching skirt or trousers.
59. Taffeta
Thin, dense silk fabric.
60. Tulle
Thin transparent fabric of silk, cotton or linen, which is mesh, usually in octagons.
61. Velvet
Silk fabric with a soft pile, formed with two warp to one weft, or a similar weave.
62. Tufted
Thread loops as applied to a woven fabric, rubber, or other substrate. The machines used for this process have multiple needles. Mainly used for rugs and carpets.
63. Tartan
Wool fabric that has crisscrossed frames of different colors, generally used by the Scots.
64. Tuxedo
The average male costume dress – black jacket and lapels, usually silk, a black waistcoat and black bow tie.
65. Twill
Fabric that forms a diagonal line, visible on the right side of fabric.
66. Twist
It is the name given to fabrics made with twisted yarns that give it a lot of resistance. Because of this it’s often used in quality garments and in making men’s suits.
67. Tricotine
A fabric much like gabardine, double woven twill and yarn, a fabric of great strength and durability.
68. Vicuña
Fabric made from the wool of this animal and some imitations made of fine wool and cotton.
69. Velveteen
Fabric with a corduroy-like surface covered by dense, short hair.
70. Piping
A ribbon, cord or braid sitting on the edges or seams of clothing.
71. Mink
Short, close, fur with different shades of brown, very popular in the making of fur coats.
72. Viscose
Synthetic fabric made of a kind of rayon from cellulose raw material, widely used in fabrics for home or industry.
73. Velour
A type of short hair velvet, very soft and tactile like peach skin.
74. Whipcord
Thick, woolen cloth, very dense fabric with a defined finish, characterized by a strong diagonal line. Usually used to make suits, coats, and trimmings.
75. Waffle cloth
A woolen cloth, whose main characteristic is that its fabric composition forms a honeycomb shape.
These are some of the most common terms in terms of fabrics and shapes, there are many more that you’ll pick up as you learn more about fashion.
Fashion Terms
Arty: Trademark of intense colors.
BIB: Bib necklace with round beads and full color.
Biker jacket: Iconic leather jacket of the style worn by motorcycle riders.
Cozy: Wide, cotton knit sweater.
Clutch: Handbag type purse.
Cruise: It is the coolest way of referring to collections between seasons.
DIY: Do it yourself. People who create their own style.
Geek chic: School girl look. Most popular in London.
Glitter: Bright finishes on fabrics or accessories.
Icon t-shirt: T shirt of the true protagonists of your wardrobe.
It girl: Fashion icon that often has a large media following and fans imitating their outfits.
Kitten heels: Heels of around 5cm. They’re from the 50s.
LWD: Little white dress, a must have this summer.
LBD: Little black dress, a must have in your closet.
Neutral color block: Black + white + gray in the same outfit.
