I have a new blog post up this week! The Language of Fashion: B Part 1
https://mrsdepew.com/blog/f/the-language-of-fashion-b-part-1
For your weekly dose of vintage fashion nerdiness, we continue with our new blog series, The Language of Fashion.
Today we begin with B. B is a long one so this is going to take a while...
babiche. A thong, cord, or thread made of rawhide, gut, etc. The name is derived from a word in one of the many languages/ dialects spoken by Indigenous American peoples.
baboosh or babouche. A heelless slipper of Turkish origin.
babushka. Hood tied under the chin.
baby. In the fur trade, the term is used to describe smaller and usually finer and softer skins of a species, not necessarily referring to the age of animals.
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baby bonnet. Dainty, lacy bonnet, usually beribboned, for infants.
baby bunting. A sleeping bag like a large, loose envelope, having an attached hood. Worn by infants, especially outdoors.
baby deer. Rare, short-haired, blue-gray fur of young Alaskan deer.
baby flannel. Either soft cotton or light wool flannel, suitable for infants.
baby lace. Any narrow, dainty lace.
baby Louis heel. Low Louis XV heel.
Baby pads. Trade name for absorbent paper made in imitation of fabric, for use inside infants' diapers.
baby pin. Miniature bar pin.
baby ribbon. Extremely narrow pastel or white ribbon.
baby sash. Ribbon sash tied with bow at back.
baby skirt. Little, short, plaited or flared skirt.
Baby Stuart cap. Baby's close-fitting, shirred cap, with narrow chin band.
back comb. Hair comb worn at back.
backed. Used of fabric having two-ply or double warp or weft; as, cotton-backed fabric.
back-filled. Used to describe fabric with excessive sizing.
background. 1. That part of fabric, picture, or photograph that forms a setting for the design. 2. Used to describe a dress simple enough to set off decorative accessories.
backing. That which forms the back part; especially, the back structure, consisting of extra warp, weft, or both, in a fabric having more than one kind of warp and weft; also, supporting warp in pile fabric; support for a flimsy fabric.
back-stitch. Hand stitch resembling machine-stitch.
back-stitch embroidery. Outline embroidery done with back-stitch.
backstrap. 1. Strap at back of handbag for carrying it. Sometimes used as name of bag. 2. Pull strap on shoe or boot.
badger. Coarse, long-haired, durable fur of the badger.
bag. 1. Sack, pouch, or another container of varying shape and size for carrying articles. 2. (Plural) In England, baggy trousers.
bagatelle. A trifle; something of no importance.
baggage. Trunks and heavy luggage of a traveler.
baggy. Bulging; shapeless; hanging without form; as, baggy sleeves or blouse.
bagheera. Fine, uncut pile velvet.
bag sleeve. Sleeve full at top.
bague. The French word for a ring.
baguette. Rectangular in shape, as in a baguette diamond. The French word means rod or stick.
bag wig. Wig having back hair enclosed in bag.
baize. Coarse, open-weave fabric with a long nap, usually of wool. Dyed in various solid colors. Also spelled baise and bayes.
baju. Short, loose, light jacket.
Bakelite. Trade name for synthetic composition. Used for buttons, buckles, household accessories; ornaments for apparel accessories.
baku or bakou. Fine, lightweight straw.
bal. 1. Heavy, ankle-high shoe. Short for Balmoral. 2. The French word for ball or dance.
balandran or balandrana. A wide medieval wrap.
balayeuse. Ruffle sewn inside bottom of woman's skirt to protect it. Same as dust ruffle. French word meaning sweeper.
balbriggan. Cotton fabric having a fine machine-knit surface, often with fleeced back. Used for underwear, hosiery, sweaters, etc. So-called because similar to unbleached hosiery fabric made at Balbriggan, Ireland.
baldric. Belt, band, or sash worn regalia-fashion for decoration or usefulness; formerly to support sword, bugle, etc. Same as BANDOLEER.
baleine. The French word for whalebone.
balerino. Dust ruffle. See BALAYEUSE.
baline. 1. Coarse fabric of cotton or wool. Used in packing. 2. Fabric of hemp or jute. Used for stiffening in upholstery.
Balkan blouse. Blouse gathered into a hip band.
ball dress. An elaborate evening gown worn for formal occasions.
ballerina/ ballet costume. A full, usually short skirt on a basque bodice.
ballet slipper. Light-weight, heelless dancing slipper.
ballibuntl or ballibuntal or balibuntal. Fine, smooth straw.
ball park blue. Light violet-blue color.
balloon sleeve. Very full sleeve, usually in a close-fitting basque.
balmacaan. Loose, flaring overcoat.
Balmoral. 1. Striped or figured woolen petticoat, worn as part of costume, with dress looped up to show it. Also, fabric used for petticoat. 2. (Not capitalized) Front-laced shoe, called BAL for short. 3. Scotch cap.
balteus. 1. Girdle worn regalia-fashion by ancient Romans. 2. Girdle worn by ecclesiastics. Also spelled baltheus.
bambin hat. Hat having a halo effect.
ban. Cotton fabric like fine muslin, made in East Indies of fiber from banana leaf stalks.
band. 1. Strip of fabric used to hold, ornament, or complete any part of garment or accessory. 2. (Plural) Two front flaps on the collar worn by ministers. Also called Geneva bands. 3. In the 16th and 17th centuries, wide ornamental collar or ruff.
bandanna. Large kerchief worn decoratively as neck- or head-piece. Originally, large brightly colored handkerchief with spots or figures made by tie-dyeing. From the Hindu word bandhnu for this method of dyeing.
bandbox. Medium-small, light-weight box, usually round, for hat or other article of apparel. Originally for holding ornamented bands worn in the 16th and 17th centuries.
bande. French word for band.
bandeau. 1. Narrow brassiere, uplift, or "bra." 2. Strip, usually made of covered buckram or wire, attached to the side or back of hat to adjust the size or fit or to give height. 3. Narrow band or fillet encircling head, as diadem of flowers.
bandeau top. Slip top made as bandeau.
bandelet or bandelette. Any little band or fillet.
bandle linen. Homemade Irish linen.
bandoleer or bandolier. Broad band, belt, or scarf worn over one shoulder and under other. Originally worn by soldiers. From the French word bandouliere, meaning shoulder-belt.
bandore. The 18th-century name for a veiled headdress worn by widows.
bandouliere. French word for bandoleer.
band-string. Ribbon, cord, etc., often finished with tassels or decorated with jewels. Used in pairs to tie 16th and 17th-century ruffs or bands.
bang. Front hair cut short and worn down over forehead or curled on top of the head. Colloquially, bangs.
bangkok. Fine, lightweight straw used for hats.
bangle. 1. One of the ornamental pendants on a bracelet or necklace. 2. Type of bracelet.
banyan or banian. Loose wrap worn in the 18th century.
bar. 1. To stitch across from one side to the other, or cross threads so made. Used to strengthen, as at the ends of a buttonhole; to trim or finish, as at the end of a seam; to take the place of an eye, as in loop form. 2. Joining thread thrown across an open space in needle-point lace.
barathea. Fine, soft fabric, closely woven in small diaper or bird's-eye design, often with silk warp and worsted filling or cotton warp and silk filling. Used for dresses, and lightweight suits.
barb. Cloth, covering the throat and extending from chin to upper chest; usually part of a headdress. Formerly worn by women mourners and others; now worn by some nuns. Often of plaited linen.
barbe. Small, short lace scarf or lappet. Worn around the head or neck.
barbette. A strip of linen worn under the chin and over the head with a flat coif. Worn in the 13th century.
barcelona. A kerchief of twilled silk in black, solid colors, checks, and fancy designs. Worn around the head or neck, or carried in hand. So-called because they were originally made in Barcelona, Spain.
barefoot sandal. A backless, low-cut shoe.
barège. A sheer, gauze-like fabric of wool combined with silk, cotton, etc. Used for veils, and dresses. So called from Barèges, France, where it was originally made.
bar-fly apparel. Any apparel suitable for wearing at a cocktail bar.
barkcloth or bark cloth. A versatile material that was once common in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. Barkcloth comes primarily from trees of the family Moraceae, including Broussonetia papyrifera, Artocarpus altilis, Artocarpus tamaran, and Ficus natalensis. It is made by beating sodden strips of the fibrous inner bark of these trees into sheets, which are then finished into a variety of items. Many texts that mention "paper" clothing are actually referring to barkcloth. Some modern cotton-based fabrics are also named "barkcloth" for their resemblance to these traditional fabrics.
barmskin or barmcloth. English terms for leather aprons. So-called from barm, meaning the lap.
baronduki. A common misspelling of burunduki, for burun duchy, plural of the Russian word burunduk, meaning chipmunk.
Baronette satin. The trade name for high-luster rayon fabric.
baroque. 1. Irregularly shaped; especially used in describing pearls. 2. Fantastic in style, grotesque, exaggerated; said of the over-ornate in architecture, furniture, furnishings, dress.
bar pin. An elongated brooch, usually slender.
barracan. A coarse, strong, thick fabric made of wool, silk, and goat's hair. Used in Eastern countries for mantles and other wraps. Also called barragon.
barré. Having stripes, bars, or ribs running crosswise, from selvage to selvage.
barrel heel. A heel of nearly cylindrical shape.
barret. Medieval cap.
barrette. A bar clip for keeping hair in place or for decoration, worn especially by young girls. In colonial days, hair clasps of various metals, often set with pearls, were worn to keep back hair in place.
barrister's wig. A wig of the full-bottomed type worn by English lawyers and judges.
barrow or barrow-coat. A warm swaddling wrap for infants, drawn in at neck and bottom. barry or barrie. An obsolete term for underskirt or petticoat.
barvel or barvell. A large, coarse, leather apron. Worn by workmen and especially fishermen.
bas. The french word for stocking. A ribbed or open-work stocking called bas à cotes or à jour; woolen stocking, bas de laine; and silk stocking, bas de soie.