Fashion Glossary: B

Clothing and textile definitions, letter B.

B Definitions: Pg. 1 | Pg. 2 | Pg. 3 | Pg. 4 | Pg. 5 | Pg. 6

Detailed Guides

The following terms have in-depth guides:

It is always a good time to learn more about the fashion industry by reading definitions about clothing & fabrics. 

BMJ: Brushed Micro Jersey. It's really a misnomer, because the fabric maybe a brushed interlock. Do you know the difference between jersey and interlock?

boa  a long fluffy scarf of fur, feathers, or delicate fabric

boater  a stiff hat usually made of braided straw with a brim, hatband, and flat crown

bobbin:  1a) a cylinder or spindle on which yarn or thread is wound (as in a sewing machine)  b) any of various small round devices on which threads are wound for working handmade lace.  c)  a coil of insulated wire or the reel it is wound on.  2)  a cotton cord formerly used by dressmakers for piping.

bobbinet a machine-made net of cotton, silk, or nylon usually with hexagonal mesh.

bobby socks  girls' socks reaching above the ankle

bodice

body shirt  a close-fitting shirt or blouse; a woman's close-fitting top made with a sewn-in or snapped crotch

bodyhose  bodyhose [bddee hoz] or body hose or bodihose singular noun.  Clothing for covering the entire body: 1: A tubular multifunction seamless garment made from hosiery material. 2: Seamless or seamed garments made from hosiery material made to cover any part of the body

body stocking  a sheer close-fitting one-piece garment for the torso that often has sleeves and legs

bodysuit  a close-fitting one-piece garment for the torso

boilersuit  coverall

bolero  a loose waist-length jacket open at the front

bolivia (Elysian)  wool. Sometimes contains alpaca or mohair.  Twill; usually 3 up and 3 down.  A pile weave (cut) with a diagonal pattern.  Pile face which varies in depth.  Soft and has a velvety feel. Usually piece dyed.  Usually has lines or ridges in the warp or in a diagonal direction on one side. Comes in light, medium and heavy weights.

bolo tie  a cord fastened around the neck with an ornamental clasp and worn as a necktie

bombazine  usually has silk or rayon warp and worsted filling.  Imitations are made in cotton. Plain or twill.  Very fine English fabric.  Name comes from Latin "bombycinum" which means a silk in texture.  It is one of the oldest materials known and was originally all-silk.   When dyed black it is used in the mourning cloth trade.

bomber  bomber jacket

bomber jacket a zippered usually leather jacket with front pockets and knitted cuffs and waistband

bonnet  [Chiefly Scottish] a man's or boy's cap; a brimless Scotch cap of seamless woolen fabric [Compare tam-o'-shanter]; a cloth or straw hat tied under the chin and worn by women and children

boondoggle  a braided cord some times worn by Boy Scouts as a neckerchief slide, hatband, or ornament

boot  a fitted covering, as of leather or rubber, for the foot and usually reaching the ankle.  Often times use for work (work boots) such as building.  Boots are also used for hiking (hiking boots) and simply for fashion.  Boots come in many various shapes, sizes and colors.

bootee  a usually ankle-length boot, slipper, or sock, especially an infant's knitted or crocheted sock

bottom a garment worn on the lower body.

bottle green  a dark green.

boubou  a long flowing garment worn in parts of Africa

boucl a fabric of boucl yarn, namely an uneven yarn of three piles one of which forms loops at intervals.  Wool, also in rayon, silk, cotton, linen, blends, hair fibres.   Any weave, knit.  From the French for "buckled" or "ringed".  A drawn out or ringed, looped yarn is used to give it a kinky appearance at intervals.  Made in a variety of weights.  Boucle yarns are usually in both the filling and the warp. fabrics are usually springy to handle on account of the highly twisted yarns used to achieve the boucle effect.  Often ravels easily.detailed boucle definition →

bow a fabric defect when the weft is stretched and forms a curve rather than a right angle to the warp.

bowler  a derby hat

bow tie  a short necktie tied in a bowknot.

box coat  a heavy overcoat formerly worn for driving; a loose coat usually fitted at the shoulders

boxer  [Plural] short pant

boxer shorts  short pants. Underwear.

boxing glove  one of a pair of leather mittens heavily padded on the back and worn in boxing