Vocabulary: Clothing

Everyone knows the basic vocabulary of clothes likes the garments, but what we don’t seem to appreciate are another important features of clothes as material or print. This vocabulary will allow us, for instance, to go shopping abroad or on Internet. First of all, we will see the terms used in this semantic field:

   1.    GARMENTS

Abrigo de hombre            Overcoat

Abrigo de mujer               Coat

Abrigo de pieles               Fur coat

Albornoz                          Bathrobe

Americana/Chaqueta        Jacket

Bikini                                Bikini

Bota                                  Boot

Bragas                              Knickers / Panties

Calcetines                         Socks

Calzado ; Zapato              Shoe

Calzoncillos                      Underpants (U.K.) / Shorts (USA)

Camisa                              Shirt

Camiseta                           T-shirt

Camisón de hombre          Nightshirt

Camisón de mujer              Nightdress

Cazadora                           Jerkin

Chaleco                             Waistcoat (U.K.) / Vest (USA)

Chandal                             Track suit

Chaqué                              Morning coat ; Tailcoat

Chaquetón                         Three-quarter coat

Corbata                             Tie

Corbata de pajarita            Bow tie

Delantal                             Apron

Disfraz                               Fancy dress

Falda                                 Skirt

Falda pantalón                  Split skirt

Frac                                  Dress coat

Gabardina                          Raincoat

Gorro                                Cap

Guante                              Glove

Impermeable                     Mac ; Mackintosh

Jersey                                Sweater / Jumper

Leotardo                           Leotard

Medias                              Stockings / Panty hose

Mocasín                            Moccasin

Pamela                              Broad-brimmed hat

Pantalón                            Trousers (U.K.) / Pants (USA)

Pantalón vaquero               Jeans

Pantalones cortos              Short trousers

Pijama                               Pyjamas

Polo ; Niqui                       Polo shirt ; T-shirt

Rebeca                             Cardigan

Sandalia                            Sandal

Seda natural                      Natural silk

Smoking                            Dinner jacket

Sombrero                          Hat

Sostén, sujetador               Brassiere ; Bra

Traje de baño                    Bathing suit

Traje de calle                     Town clothes

Traje de hombre                Suit

Traje de noche ,de etiqueta  Evening ; Formal dress

Uniforme                           Uniform

Vestido de mujer                Dress

Vestuario                           Wardrobe

Zapatillas                            Slippers

   2.    MATERIAL

Terciopelo                  Velvet Seda natural               Natural sink Poliéster                     Polyester Nylón                         Nylon Lana                           Wool Hilo                            Linen De punto                    Knitted Algodón                     Cotton Pana                           Corduroy Charol                        Lacquer Ante                           Suede De fibra química       Synthetic

   3.PRINT

Liso                             Plain

Cuadros                        Check

A rayas                         Striped

Estampado de flores     Flowered

Con puntos o lunares    Spotted

Furthermore, characteristics of clothes cannot be expressed in random order; they must follow a specific structure:

 1. Subjective adjectives:

To express a personal opinion:

• beautiful, ugly, nice, elegant, useful...

 2. Objective adjectives:

They define objective properties of the substantive (in this case, the garment).These follow at the same time the following order, although there can be flexibility:

a) Size:

·         big, small, huge, great, medium...

b) General aspects:

·         sporty, dirty, quiet, expensive...

c) Shape:

·         striped,spotted,plain…

d) Color:

·         red, yellow, blue...

e) Material:

·         plastic, synthetic, knitted, velvet…

h) Origin:

·         Russian, Spanish, European...

Examples:

My mother brought me a beautiful, striped, blue sweater.

I couldn't help not liking the jacket as it was an ugly,dirty, plastic jacket.