If you are a big fan of fashion and style, you cannot help but know some terms related to the world of tailoring that come from abroad, in particular from France and England, which are now also part of our sector vocabulary in Italy.
Let's see the most common ones together!
Foreign Sartorial Terms Every Gentleman Should Know
As for Italian tailoring, and in particular Neapolitan tailoring, which has dictated the rules for centuries and has become famous throughout the world, many of the terms come from foreign languages, partly also for a question of immediate recognizability everywhere. Here are the foreign words related to the world of tailoring that as a gentleman you absolutely must know.
Aplomb
Aplomb is that perfect line that gives an unquestionable fit to a garment . It comes from the French language and in Italian means “plumb”. As a word, its origin dates back to an ancient trick used by seamstresses of the past, who inserted small lead weights into the hem of dresses or skirts to prevent creases in the fabric and to make them perfectly.
Bespoke
We have talked about it extensively in other articles, Bespoke is the tailored suit that is ordered and made according to the specific needs of the customer, on his measurements and taking into account his tastes. A bespoke garment is a unique piece of the highest quality, for a true gentleman, which shows the deepest essence of the tailoring skills of a brand.
Blazer
Blazer is perhaps one of the most used and overused terms in the fashion industry. In the world of tailoring, however, the blazer is a jacket made of wool cloth , which can be single or double-breasted. In its original version, it is available in dark blue, but today we find it in different shades and patterns. Once upon a time, the blazer was part of the typical clothing of colleges or English sports associations, whose crest was usually sewn on the pocket.
Button down
Button-down is the English term that identifies the shirt collar , recognized internationally. It is that collar that is buttoned directly onto the shirt thanks to the presence of two buttonholes on the tips of the sails. It comes from the history of American fashion but is of Anglo-Saxon inspiration.
Cashmere
Cashmere , a word of French origin, is a fine natural fiber fabric made from the hair of the Hircus goat. The name comes from the region of Kashmir, in Pakistan where this wool originated. It is a very soft fabric, which warms and gives a cocooning sensation to those who wear it.
Fitting / Fit
Fitting is the phase in which the dress or piece of clothing being tried on is worn by the customer who commissioned it to check its perfect fit or is worn on a mannequin that faithfully reproduces the physical conformation of the customer himself or worn by a model. We talk about Fit instead to describe the wearability of a garment or a dress.
Made to Measure
Made to Measure is a tailor-made garment that starts from a pre-established model , that is, the same for everyone, and is then divided into sizes. The lengths are adjusted based on the customer's needs and the attention to detail varies depending on the complexity of the company. The process of creating a Made to Measure garment requires the customer to wear the garment and from there the magic begins. The tailor's skill adapts the garment to all body shapes, "removing defects" and sewing the garment perfectly on the customer.
Houndstooth
Pied de poule is a wool fabric with irregular checks in two or more colors, which resemble the print of a chicken's paw. The weave is obtained by intertwining four light threads with four dark threads. It is used in the manufacturing of suits, jackets or sportswear for both men and women.
Pincers
The last word comes from the English language and means “recovery” and is a sewn fold useful for shaping the fabric on your body, so that it adheres perfectly, highlighting your curves.
Revers
Revers is the English word that indicates the lapel of the jacket . At the beginning this term, which literally means opposite, was used to indicate the lapels of trousers or jackets but then it definitely entered the world of fashion as an indicator of the lapel of all outerwear. A synonym that you might also hear is lapels.
Seersucker
Seersucker is a striped cotton fabric used to make summer clothing, with that classic wrinkled effect. The term comes from the union of two terms belonging to the Persian and Hindu languages, which literally mean "milk and sugar".
