Do You Know Your Tops from Tees to Coats?

Mar 14, 2010 - All of the Tops from Tees to Coats You Should Know

Do You Know Your Tops from Tees to Coats?

As a stylist or designer, or simply just someone trying to find the RIGHT FIT, it is essential to know the different styles and cuts of clothing out there. Everyone is engineered with a certain body type. What works for one person, may not work for another. Knowing the different cuts and styles will help you understand how to dress your body. Keep in mind, each of these cuts and styles can be found in a variety of colors, lengths, patterns, etc. - these extra details can alter how you look (e.g., you could have two shirts with the same cut, but if one is black and the other is horizontal stripes, you will have different results). Here is a breakdown of some of the cuts and styles that can be found today in tops and jackets.

Balmacaan: a raincoat or topcoat with raglan sleeves, a loose fit and short turnover collar.
Band Collar: a collar that stands up straight, encircles the neck and buttons in the front.
Bandeau Top: a strapless top formed from a band of fabric, fitting around the bust area. This cut is usually found in bathing suits.
Band Jacket: Jacket inspired by marching band jackets - can come in various lengths, colors and styles.
Barrel Cuff: a band of fabric that is stitched onto the sleeve end, it closes with one or more buttons.
Barn Jacket: A utilitarian overcoat made in durable, water resistant oiled cotton. Made with a corduroy collar, large pockets and a wool or flannel lining. Mainly worn for hunting, but has seen its way into a casual sport coat for everyday use.
Button-down Collar: a collar that is secured to the shirt by small buttons on both points. (Started in England in the 1800s, used by polo players to keep their collars down.)
Bias Cut: garment made where fabric is cut diagonally across the grain. This causes the material to drape fluidly and elegantly across the body.
Bi-Swing Jacket: a sports jacket with pleats on its back, giving way for movement.
Blazer: generally a long-sleeved sports jacket with lapels, can be single breasted or double breasted.
Boatneck: A neckline cut from shoulder to shoulder - presents a straight horizontal necklace that usually covers the chest to just below the neck. (Aka: bateau neck - was originally designed for solders. The wide slit made it easy for them to slip it over their heads, especially when wet.)
Bolero jacket: is a short jacket with an open front, it is curved below the bustline and above the natural waistline.
Bomber Jacket: first used by US Air Force Pilots, a jacket with a zippered front, elastic cuffs and waistband.
Cap Sleeve: a shorter sleeve than normal that forms a stiff cap around the sides of your shoulders - great to wear under blazers and jackets since sleeves are short enough not to create bulk.
Camisole: an undergarment with a a bodice and thin stripes.
Car Coat: a 3/4 length sport coat, started in the 1950s and worn by suburban station-wagon owners. It is now an option for comfortable driving.
Cardigan: Long Sleeve collarless sweater that buttons down the front. Comes in various lengths.
Camp Shirt: a button down shirt consisting of a notched collar, boxy cut, straight hem and short sleeves - often made in cotton.
Chemise (aka: shift, smock):- a one piece undergarment with spagetti straps and no waist, made usually of silk or satin.
Corset: a bodice reinforced by bone, wood, metal or plastic stays. It is worn as a foundation to shape the figure, slimming the waist and accentuating the bust and hips.
Cowboy Shirt: a shirt style, usually with a V-shapped upper yoke in front and back. It has snap closures, 1-2 breast-pockets and contrasting trimming or fabric accents.
Cowl Neck: excess fabric on the circumference or at the neckline that drapes loosely.
Crew Neck: a round neckline that sits at the base of the neck, with a ribbed banding.
Cropped Top/Jacket: a top or jacket with a hem cut above the waistline.
Décolletage: a very low cut neckline, often used in women's evening wear.
Dolman Sleeve: a sleeve without a socket for the shoulder, this creates a deep armhole that extends from the waist to the wrist. a.k.a. batwing sleeve.
Double-Breasted: a jacket where one-half of the front lays over the other, and usually has a double row of buttons and a single row of buttonholes.
Double-Tee Top: one t-shirt over another, giving a layering effect.
Draped Bodice: a bustline with excess of fabric, giving a draped effect.
Dress Shirt: (a.k.a. button-front or button down shirt) - a shirt with a collar, full-length opening at the front from the collar to the hem, and sleeves with cuffs.
Duffle Coat: a knee-length wool coat with a hood, square shoulder yoke, large patch packets, tope frogging and wooden toggle closures.
Empire Waist: a waistline that begins just below the bust, the high waist creates a flowing loose bodice that sweeps below.
Fair Aisle: a sweater with a colorful geometric design, often knit in soft heathered yearns.
Flutter Sleeve: a short sleeve that falls loosely over the upper arm.
Guayabera: lightweight button-down shirt, with boxy-fit, short sleeves, convertible collar, one or two sets of patch pockets, and even hem and sets of pintucks running from the shoulders to the shirt bottom in front and back.
Hacking Jacket: tailored, single-breasted jacket. Usually found in tweed. It flares from the waist and has side vents, angled flap pockets and a three button closure.
Halter top: a sleeveless and backless garment where a band/strip of fabric wraps from underarm up and around back of neck - also found in dresses.
Henley: a collarless casual pullover shirt, with 10cm to 15 cm long plackets beneath its round necklace - usual has 2-5 buttons. Can be deciphered as a collarless polo shirt. Can either have long or short sleeves, and made in almost any fabrics, however, cotton, cotton-polyester blends and thermals are the most popular.
Hoodie (aka. bunnyhug): an upper body jacket with a hood. Hood usually has drawstrings that can be pulled to tighten the hood. Usually has pockets on front and a zipper from neckline to hemline, or can be a pullover sweater with a hoodie.
Jacket: a type of sleeved garment for the upper body. Usually at hip or waist length and often lighter than coats.
Jewel Neck: a high and round neckline - best as background for the display of jewels.
Johnny Collar: small, flat collar used on shirts and shirtdresses.
Jumper: a sleeveless dress worn over a sweater, blouse, tank, etc.
Jumpsuit: one piece garment that combines a shirt and trousers together. Usually closes up at the front.
Keyhole Neck: a round or tear shaped cutout that meets at the front or back neckline, usually held together by a clasp.
Leotard: a one-piece, tightly fitting garment that covers the torso, and leaves the legs free, from thigh to toe free. Sleeves vary from tank, sleeveless, long sleeve, etc.)
Mackintosh: a raincoat.
Mandarin Collar: a short, unfolded stand-up collar that typically starts at the neckline and rises vertically 2-5 centimeters. Edges of collar can be straight or rounded. Originated from Western Interpretation of dresses worn by mandarins in imperial China.
Midriff: a shirt that falls right below the bustline, showing rib cage and stomach.
Mock Turtleneck: knit pullover, with a neckline that is short and has a fitted knit band that does not fold over.
Motorcycle Jacket: waist length leather coat with heavy front zipper, and heavy zippered pockets.
Negligée: a women's lightweight night gown - usually made of satin or sheer fabric, trimmed with lace and ruffles.
Notched Collar: a two-piece collar, with a triangular notch where lapel meets the collar.
Off-the-shoulder Neck: a neckline that shows uncovered shoulders, above the top of bustline.
One Sleeve: a type of garment with fabric covering only one shoulder, leaving the other shoulder exposed.
Overalls: a typically baggy pant with a bib top that is held up by suspenders.
Parka: a winter jacket with a fur or faux fur lined hood.
Peasant Top: a romantic style top that often has a low neckline, ruffles, and is made from free flowing materials.
Pea Coat: an outer coat, characterized by broad lapels, double breasted fronts and vertical or slash pockets.
Polo: a pullover shirt that can either be short-sleeved or long sleeved with a collar and usually 3-5 buttons from the neckline to above the bustline.
Poncho: a square or rectangular garment resembling a blanket, folded, with a center hole for the head to slide through.
Puffer Jacket: a stuffed thick jacket meant to be worn in very cold weather.
Pullover: a sweater that can be pulled on over the head.
Racer-back: garment where straps meet in a "V" shape on the back, exposing shoulder blades. (bras, tanks, bathing suits)
Scoop Neck/Round Neck: a neckline cut in a U-shape or round shape, usually going down below normal limits.
Shawl Collar: a rounded, one-piece collar that is turned down to form a continuous line from the back of the neck to the front.
Shrug: a simple item of clothing, loosely worn over shoulders, upper body and arms, sometimes over the head. It is mostly a rectangular or square piece of cloth, that is often folded to make a triangle.
Smock: loose overgarment worn to protect ones clothing from activities such as painting, etc.
Split Neck: a round neckline with a cut in the middle forming a narrow "V".
Square Neck: a neckline in the form of a half-square that frames around the collarbone and down to the bustline.
Strapless: a top made without straps and with a structured bust so it stays up.
Sweetheart: two curves over the bustline that drop and meet at a point in the middle of the bust area, displaying a heart-shaped neckline.
Tankini: a style of swimsuit that provides comfort and coverage or a tank top, paired with a traditional bikini bottom.
Tank Top: a sleeveless shirt with a deep I-shaped neckline and deep armholes.
Trapeze Top: a tank top with a flared bottom.
Trench Coat: a coat best used for moderate and rainy weather. Some come with zip in linings made of wool or other materials that can help with colder weather. Lengths vary from mid-thigh, below the knee, to floor length. Can be worn belted or as is.
Tube Top: a strapless knit or smocked top that wraps around the body like a tube.
Tunic: a long top (strapless, tank, tee, etc) made in various lengths - usually starts from your shoulders and can go down above your knees, below your knees, or even at your ankles.
Turtleneck: a sweater with a band around the neckline that covers neck and protects it from cold weather.
Tuxedo Jacket: A semi formal or formal evening jacket. Usually has a single or double breasted shawl collar and satin or grosgrain lapels. Can come with a long tail, cropped, waistlength, etc. Has found its way into casual wear as well (paired with a t-shirt and jeans, etc.).
Unitards: a one-piece, tightly fitting garment that can be found in various sleeve lengths(tank, shortsleeve, longsleeve etc), but covers legs (can also cover hands and feet).
Vest: a sleeveless garment with an opening at the front. (comes with various front closures, and in various lengths).
V-neck/V-back: a neckline that forms a V-Shape. (varies from shallow V to deep V in front and back)
Wrap-around: a garment created by cross-wrapping fabrics to form the body. The wrap can be in front or back, with either a high or low neckline.
Windbreaker Jacket: (aka: light jacket) - a thin outer coat; usually with a fitting waistband and cuffs that is designed to resist wind chill and light rain. Usually made of fabrics like nylon.

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