When shopping for clothes, most people probably shop in person and can see and feel the items, but what about when you shop for clothes for a very special occasion? It seems that more and more people are looking to buy special occasion clothes online. It seems that the more special the occasion, the more elegant the words become when describing the clothes and how they are made more special. Don’t be intimidated when you see these words, we’ll break them down right here in very layman’s terms so you know what you’re buying…

Let’s talk about the ways a manufacturer makes special occasion wear ‘special’. Here are some of the ways to embellish (i.e. decorate) clothing for special occasions:

Embroidery (Embroidery) -Fabric decoration using yarn and need. These decorations can be made by hand or sewn into the fabric using a machine.

Prune – Decorative fabric along the edges of a garment, such as along the bottom of a skirt. Embellishments can be adding fabric to the garment, or actually cutting out parts of the garment, depending on what the garment design calls for.

Cord – Fabric that is created in a pattern with open spaces (also known as holes) that help define the pattern. There are many different types of lace based on how it is created, from using a needle and thread to cutting threads to weave or weaving the thread into the pattern. Lace can be thick threads or very intricate and delicate in nature.

smoked – Gathering refers to a technique where the fabric is folded (which is a type of pleating or pleating) and then embroidered to hold the fabric together to make a design. It takes 3 times as much fabric to start the gathering process as it will give you in the finished product. Because of this, you should use a lightweight fabric (so it can be easily folded) that is sturdy enough that it won’t pull or tear. For tuxedos, garments are usually made of cotton or silk.

lined – Pinstripe is a pattern of fine parallel stripes on the fabric. Pinstripe is more traditionally used in men’s dress suits, but in this modern era, women’s business wear is also made with a pinstripe pattern. Perhaps one of the most recognizable forms of pinstripes in the United States is the pinstripes of the New York Yankees.

Headband – A long, narrow strip of cloth. A ribbon can be used as a decoration on a garment, such as sewn at the bottom of a skirt, or as a way to tie something up, such as using a ribbon to tie a girl’s ponytail.

ruched ruffle – A strip of fabric, lace, or ribbon that is gathered along one edge. A ruffled trim is often used as an embellishment along the bottom of a dress or skirt, along a neckline or sleeve.

Eyelet – Traditionally made from cotton fabric, a buttonhole is a form of lace that is created by creating holes in the fabric and then ‘finishing’ those holes with a buttonhole stitch. These buttonholes are arranged in a pattern (often floral) and can consist of different sized holes.

imitation diamond – A rhinestone is a diamond ‘look-alike’ that is made from a metallic powder coating on the underside of a piece of glass. Rhinestones can be used in place of diamonds and are typically used in jewelry (such as a tiara or other headpiece), costumes (think Elvis or Liberace outfits), or in clothing for special occasions (such as a wedding dress or a first communion dress).

steep – Fabric that is see-through is so thin that it is see-through (also known as see-through). Special occasion clothing is often overlaid with sheer fabric on the top layer to give a floaty feel to the skirt, often worn on a baptism gown or first communion dress.

marabou trim – A marabou is an African stork that has down. These down are used to decorate different garments such as hats or capes.

Beads (or Beads or Beads) – A bead is a small decorative object with a hole in the middle to allow a string (or possibly flexible wire) to pass through. Beads can be sewn into fabric to enhance the design of a garment for a special occasion.

Crystal – A transparent and colorless glass. Glass beads are often used to embellish (ie decorate) jewelry or other items for special occasions, such as tiaras or first communion headpieces. Small crystals can be used to add a sparkle to special occasion dresses such as wedding dresses or first communion dresses.

Buying clothes for a special occasion doesn’t have to be scary; consider it so special that it needs its own dictionary. And now that you have it, go out and enjoy it during the special moment that it should be!