There are so many terms for women’s clothing, they boggle the mind–dolmen sleeves, pencil skirt, choker, colorblock. The best conjure up colorful images that share with a few words a glorious picture that sticks in your mind as the character walks through the scene.
Unfortunately, they don’t always come to mind as you’re writing. Not to worry. I collected them for myself and will share them with you. Please add any others you use in your writing. There’s no way my list can be exhaustive when we’re discussing women’s outfits.
Flared skirt
Photo credit: Länsmuseet Gävleborg
Pleated
Skirts:
Floral print
A-line
Knee-length
Jeans skirt,
mini
pencil skirt
gored skirt
tulip skirt
wrap skirt
Blouses:
peasant blouse
baby doll
Maxi
Printed flounce Georgette
Tiered skirt
Crinkle skirt
pin tucked
fitted shirt
oxford shirt
camp shirt
split neck tunic
logo t
camisole
tank top
beaded tank
kimono
rib-knit turtleneck
halter top
bodysuit
flutter sleeve tunic
silk blouson top
ruffled silk blouse
oversized silk blouse
silk peasant top
off-the-shoulder top
tuxedo blouse
off-the-shoulder top
v-neck shell
safari vest
appliqué
dolmen sleeves
three-quarter sleeves
cap sleeve
Henley sleeves
double-breasted
balloon-sleeves
shell
pullover
Dresses:
Cocktail dress
Mini dress
Jacquard sheath
Sheath dress
Essential little black dress
Empire waist silk dress
Shirtdress
Sweater dress
Bias-cut dress
Sequined mini
Micro mini
Halter dress
Fabric:
Plaid
Tweed
Color block
Ponte knit
Box pleat
Chiffon
Jersey
Crepe
Linen
Silk
Tweed
Velour
leather
suede
Polka dot
Pintuck
embroidered
Floral
Appearance:
Wrap
empire waist
sharktail hem
fringed
french cuff
bib front
layered look
colorblock
beaded
drop waist
split neck
ribbed
Shirred
Shirred waist
button tab
chain trim
paisley
smocked
French-ribbed
Pants:
Leggings
Skinny jeans
Tight-legged jeans
Wide-leg
Straight-leg
High-waisted pants
Color-washed jeans
Boot cut jeans
Leather pants
Cropped pants
Stretch pants
banded bottom
cuffed legs
Capris
Cuffed pants
Neckline:
Braided scoopneck
Ruched sleeve
flutter sleeve
cowlneck
v-neck
crew neck
Mock turtle neck
Wing collar
Shawl collar
Notch collar
ruffled
draped
t-back
smocked boatneck
Jewelry:
Hoop earrings
Studs
Clip
Crop earrings
Diamond studs
Cameo necklace
Bangle
Pendant necklace
Choker
Pearl necklace
Tennis bracelet
charm bracelet
cuff bracelet
toggle bracelet
link bracelet
Shoes:
sling-back open toed shoes
pumps
flats
Uggs
Ballet flats
Thong sandals
Windslow sandals
Sequin pumps
Platforms sandals
Platform pumps
Ankle boots
Western boots
Peep-toe pumps
Wedge sandals
Mules
Clogs
Oxfords
Loafers
Skimmers
Jelly sandals
Mary Jane’s
Moccasins
Bow flats
Hepburn flats
Dressy sandals
Persia sandals
Evening sandals
t-strap sandals
Garbo sandals
slide sandals
Birkenstocks
Sweaters:
bell-sleeve jacket
open front cardigan
shaker sweater,
cable knit sweater
cardigan
light-weight cardigan
bolero cardigan
Purses:
patchwork tote
patent bag
satchel bag
hobo bag
Copyright ©2022 worddreams.wordpress.com – All rights reserved.
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular prehistoric fiction saga, Man vs. Nature which explores seminal events in man’s evolution one trilogy at a time. She is also the author of the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers and Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. Her non-fiction includes over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, reviews as an Amazon Vine Voice, a columnist for NEA Today, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Savage Land, Winter 2024.
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I want to work in online market
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Best of luck.
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this was so helpful
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🙂
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Thank you! Your descriptions are very handy for me …:)
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When I started this list, I had no idea there were so many variations! Sigh.
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Thank you for thism
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My pleasure
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It is not an easy work to describe the number of varieties of women clothes but you have done this. Amazing collection of superb varieties. there are many varieties of women clothes in this list about which I have known first time. this post mention you as a best fashion designer.
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Thanks, Nonita. Even as a woman, I learned a lot writing this post!
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Nice explanation about multiple ways of women clothing and how we can looks more professional…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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It works in a female POV. When you’re a male, it probably still is sufficient to say skirt and blouse (though I have seen men describe a woman’s pencil skirt).
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I don’t know if there is any other place where we can get such description it has been of help to me.
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Thanks!
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I sell mostly mens clothing on ebay and recently started selling womens clothing. This has been a big help in describing them. There are so many!!!
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Yes–there are such descriptive terms for all of our blouses, skirts, dresses, shoes, and more.
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I really find it challenging to describe some outfits in writing and so this post came in handy. Is there any fashion website you can recommend where i can learn more about fashion in depth to help me in improve my fashion blogging skills? Thanks
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I collect these descriptions often from books I read or articles I come across. I keep a list and constantly add to it. Because most of my characters ( maybe all) are not fashionistas, I have no need to go into such depth I’d require a fashion website. If you find one, be sure to add it as a comment–I’d love to know.
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Thank you! Your descriptions are very handy for me!
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I stand on the shoulders of much better writers. Thanks for visiting, En.
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Now that’s a handy resource for any writer!
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Yes, a little bit of everything.
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I love lists! Yay! This is great.
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I love lists, too. Lots of options!
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Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner and commented:
This is great to have when your brain draws a blank like mine. I can see what I want, but can’t think of the word.
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🙂
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Reblogged this on NiDuan's View 倪端話端倪 and commented:
Well organized writer’s tool ~
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🙂
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This is very inspiring – and helpful for my vocabulary! 🙂 Thanks for putting this together, Jacqui!
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Who knew there were so many names for every piece of clothing. Your male characters likely will say ‘dress’, but not the ladies!
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A meticulously prepared list of all those words that elude the male world. Very useful thank you!
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Believe me, they eluded me too! I did this as much for myself as anything else.
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Excellent article for us men who don’t know half the names for women’s clothing, and get the other half mixed up. 😉
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And us women! I learned a lot researching this.
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this was so helpful, especially for my writing needs. thank you.
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Thanks, Lincoln!
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I need this same list only for men’s hair!! (I suppose writing it might make you want to tear your hair out 🙂
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I started a list like this for men’s clothing and gave up when I maxed out a ‘dockers’, ‘jeans’, ‘wingtips’–argh.
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Hello, do you have descriptive words for this seasons women’s jackets of leather, fabric & faux leather?
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No–but they sound interesting. My characters are fairly style-less so I haven’t updated this list.
Any suggestions?
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Great start. Will you be listing definitions and possibly illustrations or photos?
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Probably not. Too much work! My genre is thrillers, which tangentially mention clothing, but my story centers around geeks and AI’s and attacks on the American Way.
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Lyrical, Jacqui!
Playsuits, crop tops, winkle-pickers (shoes) & bikinis for your delectation. Don’t even start me on haircuts (bob, crimp, beehive, shingle, crop, pixie, shag…..).
Love your curation sensibility.
Sam
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Ooh, a new post–about hairstyles. Those are always so hard to describe in a novel. And you just rattled a whole list off!
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A return visit for – back to the 70s drumroll moment – boob tube. Best wishes for the hairstyle list (which should also include page boy, mohawk & mullet!).
Sam
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I think I’ll never be able to comprehend the complexities of women. There are so many skirts, blouses, dresses, sweaters, etc. and all the combinations. The man’s point of view is much more simple. If clothes are important to her, let her tell him what she is wearing. All the color combinations really don’t make him desire her more or less. The important question is not about how she’s dressed but if.
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Haha. Which is why this list will help. When you’re writing, if your audience is female, a nod toward these will help explain your character’s appearance. Unless you’re always in a male POV.
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Just a thought…but what about maxi dress, maxi skirt, Buffalo plaid? Maybe these could be added to your list. It’s great though! I needed it to help write a script for a fashion show my church is hosting.
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Great additions. Perfect for the down-to-earth heroine.
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I had great hopes when I saw your descriptions of women’s clothing. i bought a light weight sweater that my husband of 41 years has remarked about at least three times. When he describes me as “stunning” at this point in our marriage, I would love to extract that same response with other tops, I cannot find a description of this type of women’s wear. I will descrbe it and see if you or anyone has a name for it,. Then I will be able to shop for it on the internet. The sweater is loose fitting, comes over one shoulder, crosses the chest and is attached to the wide waistband which sits rather low on my hips.. Then the other shoulder piece does the same in the opposit direction. So the front of the sweater forms a v neck by crisscrossing the chest and fits loosely around the ribs. Can you help? I still like it when my husband gives me one of those emphatic compliments.
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It sounds beautiful. I wish there was a way to add an image to comments. Let’s see if anyone has ideas.I’m going to do a bit of research.
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This is so great! I always have such trouble with clothing descriptions and with your advice i can at the very least find some pictures of the clothes and have a more clear vision myself. so thanks.
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I started this collection for that very reason. When I finally had the right words for looks, I felt so much better about my writing. Glad you like it.
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Maybe I missed it, I just kinda scanned over, but what are those shirts that show your stomach? Isn’t it like ‘midriff top’ or something?
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Yes, though there might be a colloquial term. Let’s see if someone comes up with it.
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ALSO; CROPPED MIDRIFF, OR WHEN STRAPLESS, SLEEVELESS, FORM-FITTING (USUALLY ELASTICIZED) IT’S A “HALTER TOP” aka “TUBE TOP”
Ahhh; I do miss the ’70’s…
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Thank you so much for this! I’m not a fashion-obsessed person and I don’t know much about what or how to call what we wear. (As long as I can wear it, I wear it… so why bother asking what it’s called?) But unfortunately, I do need to know what they’re called for the stories I write. Haha!
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Haha. That’s why I created it–I could never remember all those chic names so I made a list. Enjoy!
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Thank you so much!!!! 🙂 I was desperate for a list like this one! Thank you 🙂
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I’m glad you like it. So many names for our different clothing.
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This is an extensive list. I never ever thought this thing can be described so extensively 🙂
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Haha. I didn’t either until I became a writer!
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Fantastic collection. Fantastic. Thank you!
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You are too kind. Now I have to tackle the male version. Any ideas?
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More colorful and full of variety. My main character in my second novel is a man, and making him come to life was a challenge. Of course, the women I created around him helped. 🙂
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I’m doing one for men, but it’s a lot harder. We are so much more colorful!
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This is another great collection. Thank you for taking the time to assemble this for us!
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