tailoring
Bespoke garment craft
Tailoring is the craft of making fitted clothing, especially suits and formal garments.
A tailor cuts and sews fabric to fit an individual body.
By extension, tailoring means customizing anything to fit specific needs or preferences: The program offers tailoring to individual learning styles.
As an adjective, it describes the fit and construction of garments: The tailoring on that jacket is impeccable.
Pointed implement for sewing
- threadFiber for stitching
- scissorsPivoted twin-blade cutter
- thimblePitted cap for stitching
- stitchingJoining with needle, thread
cutting · sewing · measuring · basting · pressing · pinning · tacking · backstitch
Matched formal garments
- trousersBifurcated lower-body garment
- jacketSleeved upper-body covering
- coatOuter garment or layer
- waistcoatSleeveless torso garment
blazer · shirt · dress · skirt · gown · overcoat · vest · pants
Woven or knit material
- textileMaterial from woven fibers
- woolSheared animal fiber
- silkFine woven insect fiber
- linenFlax-derived textile
cotton · tweed · gabardine · worsted · flannel · cashmere · velvet · brocade
Sewing a fabric edge
- shorteningReducing length or duration
- lengtheningIncreasing in extent
- taperingProgressive decrease in width
- reshapingAltering structure or form
darts · pleats · cuffs · waistband · sleeves · collar · adjustments · nipping
Altering to individual preference
- adaptingModifying to suit conditions
- adjustingAltering to correct
- modifyingChanging partially
- shapingGiving something its form
fine-tuning · crafting · personalizing · calibrating · targeting · honing · refining · fitting
Filled-in outline shape
- proportionsRelative amounts or dimensions
- drapeHang in folds
- easeLack of strain
- contourBounding line of shape
shaping · body · posture · stance · movement · comfort · hang · balance
Habitual group practice
- measurementsQuantified sizes or amounts
- made-to-measureCustom-crafted to specifications
- fittingsAttached functional components
- consultationMeeting seeking expert guidance
muslin · toile · commissions · handmade · one-of-a-kind · personalized · client · specifications
needle
Pointed implement for sewing
stitching · cutting · sewing · measuring · basting · pressing · pinning · tacking · backstitch · whipstitch
suit
Matched formal garments
waistcoat · blazer · shirt · dress · skirt · gown · overcoat · vest · pants · slacks
fabric
Woven or knit material
linen · cotton · tweed · gabardine · worsted · flannel · cashmere · velvet · brocade · satin
hemming
Sewing a fabric edge
- shorteningReducing length or duration
- lengtheningIncreasing in extent
- taperingProgressive decrease in width
reshaping · darts · pleats · cuffs · waistband · sleeves · collar · adjustments · nipping · slimming
customizing
Altering to individual preference
shaping · fine-tuning · crafting · personalizing · calibrating · targeting · honing · refining · fitting · molding
silhouette
Filled-in outline shape
- proportionsRelative amounts or dimensions
- drapeHang in folds
- easeLack of strain
contour · shaping · body · posture · stance · movement · comfort · hang · balance · suppression
custom
Habitual group practice
- measurementsQuantified sizes or amounts
- made-to-measureCustom-crafted to specifications
- fittingsAttached functional components
consultation · muslin · toile · commissions · handmade · one-of-a-kind · personalized · client · specifications · clientele
draping
Arranging cloth loosely
grain · bias · muslin · toile · sloper · block · template · tracing · marking · ease
- fashion termsstyle, fashion week, runway, catwalk, runway shows
- artisan craftshandmade goods, fine jewelry, artisan crafts, handcrafted furniture, watchmaking
- old industriesblacksmithing, ironworks, sawmills, gristmills, tanneries
- clothing alterationsaltering, mending, hemming, patching, darning
- medieval craftsblacksmith, blacksmithing, goldsmith, silversmith, goldwork
- textile workweaving, spinning, dyeing, sewing, knitting
tailoringoff-the-rack
Pre-made, not tailored
ready-to-wear · mass production · standardization · ready-made · one-size-fits-all
tailoringill-fitting
Not the right size
sloppiness · shoddiness · baggy · shapeless · loose-fitting
tailoringunraveling
Process of coming undone
tearing · shredding · dismantling · ripping
- custom tailoringGarments made to individual measurements
- fine tailoring
- bespoke tailoringIndividualized garment construction
- Italian tailoringMediterranean menswear craft