backless a dress having a low or no back.
ball gown a long, formal dress worn for high functions, characterized by a fitted bodice and full skirt.
bare-midriff a tropical, East Indian dress consisting of two pieces that leave the ribs bare.
bathrobe dress a wraparound dress held together by a sash.
blouson a bloused-top dress.
bouffant a dress having a snug-fitting bodice and a full, bell-shaped pleated or ruffled skirt.
bra-shift a sleeveless, figure-conforming shift.
bubble dress a dress having a fitted bodice and a full, bubblelike skirt, popular in the late 1950s.
bustle any dress having gathers of fabric protruding from the rump, popular in the 19th century.
caftan a full-length, robelike dress having embroidery around the neckline, a Moroccan design.
cardigan a dress reminiscent of a cardigan sweater, buttoned down the front and collarless, popular in the 1960s in various lengths, including minis.
chemise a straight-cut dress hanging straight from the shoulders with no waistline. Also known as a sack dress.
cheongsam a fitted, traditional Chinese dress, usually having a high collar and hanging to calf length, made of silk or satin.
coatdress a wool or wool blend dress with buttons or toggles, worn in professional or business settings.
cocktail dress a short evening dress with a decollete neckline.
cutout a dress having holes or cutouts around the arms or midriff, popular in the 1960s.
dashiki an African-inspired, chemiselike dress having bell-shaped sleeves and decorated with an African panel or border print.
diamante a glittery article of clothing, consisting of beads, sequins, or paillettes.
dinner a formal dress with covered shoulders, worn with a jacket.
dirndl a bell-shaped dress having a gathered waistline and attached to a snugfitting bodice.
Empire dress a dress with a very high waistline, raised right below the bust.
Ethiopian shirtdress a basic shift trimmed with embroidery of Ethiopian design.
evening gown any formal gown or ball gown.
fitted formfitting or clinging to one's body outline.
flamenco a dress having a long top and a flounced skirt, reminiscent of Spanish flamenco dancers.
flapper a dress having a long torso and a short skirt, popular in the 1920s and revived in the 1960s.
granny dress an old fashioned, ankle-length dress having a high, tight neckline and long sleeves trimmed with ruffles.
halter dress a sleeveless dress with either spaghetti straps or material that ties at the back of the neck.
Juliet a medieval-style dress having puffy sleeve tops and a high waistline, inspired by Shakespeare's Juliet.
kabuki a wraparound dress having kimono sleeves and no collar, held together by sash; inspired by Japanese actors in the kabuki theater.
kiltie dress designed after the Scottish kilt, with wrap skirt closed with a safety pin.
kimono a wraparound dress held together by a sash, inspired by the Japanese kimono robe.
maternity any dress designed with a full front for the comfort of pregnant women.
maxi an ankle-length dress, popular 1969 to 1970.
mermaid formfitting, curve-revealing dress that fits tightly around the torso and waist and flares at the calf.
micro a very short minidress, riding to the top of the thigh, popular in the 1960s.
midi any calf-length dress; first introduced in 1967.
minidress a short-skirted dress popular in the 1960s and reintroduced in the mid-1980s.
monk a cowl-necked dress having bell sleeves and a cord belt, designed after a monk's robe.
muumuu a loose-fitting, ankle-length, Hawaiian, floral-print dress.
patio a light, floral-print shift.
peasant European peasant-style dress having a tight bodice, puffed sleeves, drawstring neckline, and a gathered skirt.
peplum a narrow dress having a short overskirt or ruffle extending below the waistline, popular in the 1930s, 1960s, and again in the 1980s.
pinafore a child's sleeveless dress worn with a separate bib-top apron tied in the back, introduced in 1870.
Pocahontas dress see American Indian.
prairie an old-fashioned dress having a stand-up neckline, gathered sleeves at the shoulders and bands at the wrist, accompanied by a gored skirt with ruffled hem.
rhumba a dress having a ruffled skirt split up the front, inspired by Carmen Miranda in the 1940s.
sack a chemise.
safari a dress reminiscent of a safari or bush jacket, having multiple pockets on the chest.
sailor a dress having a sailor-suit collar, popular from 1890 to 1930.
sari a gold-embroidered silk or cotton dress wrapped about the waist with one loose end draped over the shoulder or covering the head, a Hindu design.
sarong a brightly colored dress wrapped about the waist and draped to one side, an Indonesian design.
seloso a long, flowing African dress.
sheath a snug-fitting dress with a narrow skirt slashed in the back to make walking possible.
shift a chemise.
shirtdress a dress hanging straight from the shoulders and buttoned down the front, as a man's shirt.
shirtwaist dress a classic dress with a shirtlike top, buttoned down to the waist, accompanied by a full or straight skirt, popular in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1980s.
slip dress a dress hanging straight from shoulder straps.
spaghetti straps thin strips of material that hold a dress or shirt at the shoulders, leaving the arms bare.
square dancing a dress having puffed sleeves and a full, circular skirt, for square and folk dancing.
step-in a coat-like dress that buttons or zips three- fourths of the way down.
strapless a dress ending at the top of the bosom and held in place by shirring or boning.
sundress a strapless or halter-style dress.
sweater dress a knitted dress.
tent dress a triangular-shaped dress, introduced in the 1960s.
T-shirt dress
T-shirt.
toga an elegant dress that leaves one shoulder uncovered; from the Roman design.
a dress with the fabric and style of a
vintage any classic dress from another era.
wedge a tapering, V-shaped dress having large shoulders and dolman sleeves.
wrap a wraparound dress.
Fabrics and Fabric Designs
abattre quilted or depressed effects in fabric.
abercrombie Scottish tartan with a blue and black ground and a green and white overcheck.
accordion pleat see pleat.
acrylic a synthetic fiber derived from coal, water, petroleum, and limestone.
alpaca cousin of the llama, from which fleece of variegated color is obtained.
angora the hair of the Angora rabbit or Angora goat. antique lace see lace.