Glossary

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T V W Y

		A-Line Shape — A style having a close-fitting top and a flared bottom. Often found in Brooks’ skirts.
		Agate — A variety of Quartz.
		Ainsley Collar — Contains a 45 to 60 degree angle at the tie space. Used mostly when wearing a necktie.
		Alpaca — Fiber from an animal resembling a llama that contains fine, soft, shiny hairs.
		Ancient madder — Goods characterized by deep, muted tones and a suede-like hand.
		Aniline — An organic base used for many dyestuffs. First distilled from indigo in 1826 by Otto Unverdorben.
		Antique Brass — Brass that has been darkened by the use of chemicals. Vintage looking.
		Antique Wash — Process that gives the fabric a worn, slightly washed-out look.
		Argyle — An intarsia in which at least 2 colors are incorporated into a diamond overlaid by diagonal stripes.
		Ascot — A wide scarf or necktie that can be worn in a variety of ways. Usually accompanies a tuxedo.
		Attaché — A type of flap-front briefcase—flap closes halfway down the front and has an attached top handle.
		Badger Bristles — Short, stiff coarse hairs from the badger. Often used in making high-end shaving brushes.
		Band collar — A collar having just the neckband, but no collar attached to it.
		Band end piece — The part of the watchband that connects to the lugs; the band-width is measured by the end piece.
		Bar stripe — A straight stripe or band that is much longer than it is wide.
		Barathea — A fabric containing a broken rib weave and a pebbly texture. Oftentimes made from silk.
		Barrel Cuffs — Single-lined cuffs with a regular button and buttonhole closing.
		Baseball neckline — A collar similar to that of the uniform worn by a baseball player.
		Basketweave — Variation of a plain weave fabric in which 2 or more yarns are worked in the warp and weft. Used mostly in shirting.
		Batik Print — An Indonesian method of dyeing fabric in which waxed areas resist dye and unwaxed areas are penetrated by it.
		Beechwood — A fabric resembling the color of the beech tree (which has a smooth, gray bark).
		Belgium Linen — A broad classification for fabrics produced in Belgium. They are woven of fine-quality flax grown in Belgium.
		Bemberg Lining — Bemberg is a brand name of rayon fabric. Used for our suit and sportcoat linings. Softest, finest lining available.
		Bengal Stripe — Alternate stripes of equal width; usually white and another color. From Bengal, India.
		Besom Pockets — Pocket with a stitched fold on both the upper and lower sides.
		Billfold — Another name for a type of a man's wallet. Flat, made to hold bills and usually folds.
		Birdseye — Fabric characterized by small indentations produced by the weave that suggest birds’ eyes.
		Blackwatch — A plaid pattern in hunter/royal/black. One of the more popular tartans today.
		Blake Construction — Fancy name for the way upper leather is sewn to the sole of the shoe. Denotes a reinforced, well-constructed shoe.
		Blazer Stripe — A fabric pattern with wide-spaced thin stripes.
		Bluchers — Shoes where the tongue and vamp are cut in one piece and quarters lap over the vamp and lace together.
		Bluff Edge — When the edges of a garment are not topstitched. Also called plain edge.
		Boarskin — Leather of boar (or male pig). Known for its superior quality.
		Boatneck — Refers to a wide, plain neckline that runs horizontally, front and back, across the collarbone.
		Boot-cut — A cut that allows the pant legs to fit over a person’s boots. Originally made for and used by cowboys.
		Boston Bag — A two-handled overnight bag.
		Boucle — A fabric woven from curled or twisted yarn to produce a looped or knotted surface.
		Box Pleat — A two-sided fold in a garment resembling a panel—with the edges facing opposite directions.
		Braces — Suspenders. But without the clips. Braces button. Suspenders clip.
		Braided — Woven or knitted material used for trimming or binding.
		Brass — An alloy consisting of copper and zinc in variable proportions.
		Breton — A fine net used for lace ground. Uses: trimming lingerie, dress accessories & fancy linens.
		Bridle Leather — Type of leather that is used in traditional Saddlery. made from high-quality, native steer hides.
		Broadcloth — Plain, closely woven fabric, lighter than poplin, finely textured. Uses: women’s dresses, suits, coats and PJs.
		Brogue — Low-heeled shoes made of heavy leather, originating in Scotland and Ireland. Known as wingtips in the U.S.
		Brooksease — Our high-performance, natural, double-stretch wool. Exceptional comfort, ease of movement, and wrinkle resistant.
		BrooksFlannel — A Brooks trademark—born from a combination of 80% cotton and 20% wool. Remarkably soft hand.
		BrooksStorm — Specialty-treated, natural fibers. Windproof, water-resistant, lightweight & comfortable.
		Brooksweave — Brooks Brothers’ first-ever wash-and-wear blended cotton dress shirt . Debuted in 1953.
		Brushed Brass — Type of textured brass having a matte finish produced by running a wire brush across the surface.
		Buffalo Check — Design of big squares or blocks, in fairly heavy fabrics. Uses: shirts, outerwear and bags.
		Burnished — To polish metal with a coarse or smooth cloth.
		Butterfly Bowtie — Bowtie with flared ends, designed for a small knot.
		Button-Down Collar — A collar held down at the points by buttons. Introduced to America by Brooks Brothers.
		Cable — A knitted stitch that resembles a twisted cable. Gives the garment a textured appearance. Used in sweaters.
		Calfskin — Leather from a young calf. Smooth-surfaced, fine-grained and durable. Does not scuff easily and cleans well.
		Camel hair — Soft, silky fabric containing camel hair or a similar fiber (Like fine wool). Highest quality—light tan color.
		Candy Stripe — Equal-width stripes—usually of white and another color. Seen on fabrics used for shirts and sportswear.
		Canvas — Strong, closely-woven plain weave fabric. Originally used to make sails.
		Cap Toe — A separate piece of material covering the toe section of a shoe; used on oxford-style shoes.
		Cardigan — Refers to any sweater or jacket that buttons down the front. Can have a round or V-neck.
		Cashmere — Wool from the undercoat of the long-haired Kasmir goat. Fine, close weave.
		Cedar — The wood of a tree from the pine family. Noted for its fragrance and durability.
		Center Vent — A split in the center lower part of a garment (jacket or skirt).
		Chambray — Woven cotton, polyester, or rayon fabric with a colored warp and white filling; used for shirts and other apparel.
		Chamois — A soft suede leather formerly made from the skin of the chamois antelope—now made from sheepskin.
		Charmeuse — A lightweight silk or cotton dress fabric. Known for its softness and the fact that it drapes well.
		Chesterfield — Plain-back, slightly shaped overcoat, in either a single-breasted fly-front or a double-breasted style. Named for the 6th Earl of Chesterfield. Considered by many to be the most formal town coat a gentleman can wear.
		Chiffon — A transparent, sheer fabric in a plain weave. Light in weight—but very strong. Usually has a soft finish.
		Chronograph — A timepiece with both timekeeping and stopwatch functions.
		Chukka Boot — Boot that extends above the ankle and fastens with a lace through two eyelets. Rubber or leather sole.
		Clark Fit — A style of BB Advantage Chinos.^®Simple plain front. Straight leg opening. Back welt pockets.
		Clifford Collar — A shorter button-down with a button on the back of the collar.
		Collar Stays — Thin brass or plastic strips that run down the inside of the collar to the points to give it a flat appearance.
		Combed Cotton — Combing is a process that removes all the short fibers, making a material stronger and finer.
		Coolmax® — A fiber that wicks moisture away from the skin & dries quickly. Lightweight & very breathable.
		Cord Stitching — Refers to the leather lace overcast stitching on the upper part of a man’s moccasin.
		Cordovan — Leather made from the muscle beneath the hide on a horse’s rump. Originally made by the Moors.
		Corduroy — A durable cotton pile fabric with vertical ribs or wales—the less ribs per inch, the wider the wale.
		Corozo — A durable button made from the South American tagua nut.
		Cravat — A type of necktie worn by men. Often tied so the long ends overlap vertically in the front.
		Dobby — Fabric with small figures woven in, such as dots or geometric designs. Found often in tie fabrics.
		Donegal — A knit or tweed containing course, multicolored yarns that produce a mottled, pebbly look.
		Double Faced Wool — Wool fabrics that are finished on both sides to confer a supreme quality to the textile.
		Drop Needle — A type of commercial stitching characterized by parallel lines or other designs at set intervals.
		Elliot Fit — A style of BB Advantage Chinos.^® Pleat front. Relaxed fit. Cuffed hem. French fly. Non-iron.
		ELS — Extra-Long Staple cotton. Originated in the Southwest US. Known for its luster and silkiness.
		English Collar — Contains a wide spread and accommodates a fuller knot. Classic English dressing.
		Epaulets — A strap stitched to, or buttoned on, the shoulder of a garment. Once used to denote military rank.
		Estrato® — A bi-stretch wool from the Trabaldo Togna mill in Italy. Designed to create comfort and breathability.
		Feather Edge — Refers to the edges on a belt that aren’t topstitched.
		Fine Wale — In a woven fabric, this refers to a rib or raised cord, as in corduroy.
		Fit-and-Flare — A silhouette that is close-fitting at the top, and spreads outward, or flares, at the bottom.
		Flecked — Containing a pattern of dots. Also refers to a canine coat lightly covered with another color. Same term—different coats.
		Foulard — A lightweight fabric containing a printed pattern. Often made of silk or cotton.
		Gabardine — A tough, tightly woven fabric with a twill weave. Used to make suits, trousers and other garments.
		Georgette — Highly creped sheer silk fabric. Used for dresses and blouses.
		Georgette — Highly creped sheer silk fabric. Used for dresses and blouses.
		Gingham — A fabric with dyed yarn introduced at given intervals to achieve block or check effects.
		Glen Plaid (Glen Urquhart Plaid): — Scottish tartan in which a group of stripes run vertically and horizontally to form a boxlike pattern.
		Grand Fancy Repp — A richly textured diagonal twill weave resembling a herringbone pattern.
		Grommets — A small ring used to reinforce a hole through which a fastener is passed. Used in everything from sneakers to pullovers.
		Grosgrain — A heavy, ribbed fabric—used mostly in ribbon. Usually made from silk or rayon.
		Guard Stripe — A diagonal fabric pattern of even-width stripes.
		Gussets — A pocket with a piece of material inserted at the side seam to allow extra fullness.
		Hairline Stripe — Narrow stripes made by weaving contrasting, single-colored threads with a background color.
		Half-Canvas — Extends from the top of the shoulder to the top of the pocket & through the lapel, providing shape, structure & resiliency.
		Half-Canvas Hand-Linked — A method of finishing seams that gives garments a smooth, flat appearance.
		Herringbone — A broken-twill weave pattern. Creates a zigzag effect.
		Horn Button — A large button with a smooth, flat back. Made from the horns of an animal. Usually hand carved.
		Houndstooth — Check with jagged edges resembling a dog's tooth.
		Hudson Fit — A style of BB Advantage Chinos.^®Full, plain front. Relaxed leg opening. On-seam pockets.
		Intarsia — A flat knit fabric with patterns knitted in solid colors. Derived from the Italian word for “inlay.”
		Jacquard — A fabric containing an intricate variegated weave or pattern.
		Kiltie Loafers — A loafer containing a tongue of fringed leather draped over the instep.
		Lapel — The turned back fabric that falls in front of a jacket or coat. Found mostly on formal clothing.
		Lawyer's Bag — briefcase with a flap closure, top handle, and inside gusseted pockets.
		Linen — Fabric made of fibers removed from the stem of the flax plant; probably the first textile fabric to be used.
		Londoner Collar — The most corporate of our collars—boasting the widest collar point spread of our range.
		Loro Piana — A fine Italian clothing company specializing in high-end, luxury cashmere and wool products.
		Madras — A cool, lightweight cloth created by overlapping weaves of alternating colors.
		Malacca Wood — Stem of the rattan palm tree, used for making canes and umbrella handles.
		Melange — Different colors of yarn knit together. Often creates a heathered effect.
		Merino — Breed of sheep known for having fine and soft wool. Produces high quality, short fibers.
		Milano Fit — Slimmest-fitting style of BB Chinos with a low rise and plain front. European-cut with center front tab closure.
		Napalan — A type of finish, used mostly on outerwear, that creates a leather-like feel.
		Nickel — A silver-white hard metal capable of a high polish and resistant to corrosion.
		Norfolk Back — A sport jacket with 1 or 2 box pleats down the back and a self belt that laces under or over the pleats at the waistline.
		Notch Lapel — Type of lapel on which the top line slants down in line with the collar seam.
		Nubuck — Cattleskin that has been given a suede finish to look like buckskin.
		Nylon Taffeta — Plain weave fabric that is finished smooth on both sides and has a sheen.
		Oak Leather — Water repellent, dry-milled leather that is vegetable tanned.
		Off-Seam Pockets — Pocket in which the opening does not lie along the seam.
		Oil Cloth — A cloth that has been treated with oil or a synthetic resin to make it waterproof.
		Oil-Tanned — A preserving process for leather in which oil is rubbed into the skin. This process is known as tanning.
		Onyx — A form of quartz—colors range from black to dark-brown to green. Used to make tuxedo studs & cufflinks.
		Open Sleeve — A short-sleeved shirt without a rib trim at the end of the sleeve.
		Peak Lapel — Top line of the lapel slants up from the horizontal line, leaving only a narrow space between the collar and lapel.
		Peal & Co. — A British shoe company whose name, lasts, and patterns were purchased by Brooks in 1965.
		Peplum — A short overskirt or ruffle attached at the waistline of a jacket, blouse, dress or skirt.
		Pin Collar — Collar that contains a pin or bar that goes across the spread and fastens to each point.
		Pinpoint — Tightly woven fabric with a high thread count. Soft, like a silk or broadcloth.
		Piqué — A breathable knit typically constructed using cotton yarns, and used for knits and polos.
		Placket — A piece of fabric that surrounds and reinforces fasteners in a garment. Allows clothing to be put on or removed easily.
		Ply — Refers to the number of yarns that are twisted together. A higher ply count creates a stronger, more uniform looking yarn.
		Polo Shirt — A close-fitting pullover with a button placket and a knit collar.
		Poplin (or tabinet) — Durable cotton made with a plain weave and more pronounced rib than broadcloth.
		Porcelain — A hard, fine-grained, translucent white ceramic ware that is fired at high temperatures.
		Portfolio — A hinged cover or flexible case for carrying loose papers, pictures, or pamphlets.
		Quarter Top Pocket — Also known as slash pockets, the opening edge forms a diagonal from the waistband to the side seam.
		Quartz Movement — The mechanics of a watch which ensure accurate timekeeping and eliminate the need for mechanical winding.
		Raglan Sleeve — A sleeve with a seam extending at an angle from the armhole to the collar.
		Regent Fit — A modern take on the classic BB suit with slimmer lines, a narrower lapel and trimmer trousers.
		Repp — A fabric with prominent, rounded diagonal ribs. A Brooks staple.
		Ripstop — Fabric made by weaving nylon threads throughout a base material in an interlocking pattern. Rip and water resistant.
		Ruana — A woolen covering resembling a cloak. Originally a cape or poncho worn in Peru and Colombia.
		Rugby Stripe — Alternating stripes of 2 or more colors, wide but of equal width.
		Saddle Bag — A business case with a full flap front that contains a buckle (resembling a horse saddle).
		Saddle Shoulders — A knitted garment in which the sleeves are attached with seams extending from the armholes to the collar.
		Sandwashed — A process using sand to wash either a fabric or finished garment. Creates a slightly worn or faded appearance.
		Sateen — A smooth, durable lustrous fabric, usually made of cotton in a satin weave.
		Saxxon — A rare, wrinkle-resistant wool with a distinctive “corkscrew” shape that lends remarkable elasticity
		Sea Island Cotton — Grown in the West Indies; one of the longest cotton fibers in the world.
		Self Belt — A belt made of the same material as the rest of the outfit.
		Self Collar — Refers to a collar that’s made of the same color or fabric as the rest of the shirt.
		Shawl Collar — A turned-over garment collar that combines with the lapel, forming an unbroken curving line.
		Shearling — Skin of a tanned sheep with the wool retained. Used for lining material in outerwear and gloves.
		Shetland — A soft, light, tweed-like fabric made from the fine undercoat of sheep raised on the Shetland Islands of Scotland.
		Shirring — A gathering of fabric made by drawing up the material along 2 or more parallel lines of stitching.
		Single Breasted — A suit jacket that has one row of buttons and a closing with a narrow overlap.
		Soft-Roll Polo Collar — Also called a button-down collar. Invented in England by polo players, thus its name.
		Split Toe — A lace-up shoe for men that has a seam splitting the toe. Used in formal situations.
		Spread Collar — Refers to the division between collar halves. Typically seen as quarter, half or small.
		Straight Point Collars — Go with almost any blazer or suit jacket; work well with smaller knots.
		Supima — A long-fibered type of cotton that provides a smooth feel. Derived from the term “superior prima.”
		Tab Collar — Refined style that pulls the collar flat around the neck for a more pronounced tie knot.
		Taffeta — Plain weave fabric of silk or other fibers that is finished smooth on both sides. Persian for “twisted woven.”
		Tartan — A plaid design of Scottish origin. Contains patterns of varying widths and colors meant to distinguish between clans.
		Tennis Collar — Slightly larger and dressier version of Brooks’ classic forward point collar.
		Tennis Skirt — An elastic-waist, short, slightly flared skirt; very comfortable for easy movement.
		Terry Cloth — A fabric having uncut loops on both sides. Can be solid or patterned.
		Thompson Fit — High-performance, straight-fitting chinos in specially treated, wrinkle-resistant cotton.
		Ticket Pocket — A small pocket on the right-hand side of a jacket or coat—above the regular pocket. A place to put tickets & coins.
		Tipping — A band or strip of fabric or other material at the edge (neck, sleeve, hem, etc.) of a garment.
		Toggle — A crosspiece attached to a rope, cord, or chain—designed to be inserted in the loop of a cord as a closure on a garment.
		Topstitch — Stitching on the exterior or right side of a garment, generally as a design characteristic.
		Track Stripe — A fabric pattern resembling railroad tracks.
		Traditional Fit — A generously cut shirt with a box pleat on the back. Loose fitting. Comfortable.
		Tropical Wool — A smooth wool fabric that is lightweight and airy—perfect for summer clothing.
		Tweed — A patterned, wool weave. Also one of the earliest forms of camouflage among Scottish hunters.
		Twill — A weave that creates a parallel, diagonal ribbed effect.
		Valet Key Fob — A 2-ring key holder. Used when you don't want to give all your keys to the parking attendant.
		Variegated Check — A multi-colored, woven cloth pattern consisting of crossed horizontal and vertical bands.
		Venetian Nubuck — Similar to a penny loafer—without a stay across the top. Brushed leather. Suede-like nap.
		Versatile Plaid — A pattern consisting of colored stripes that cross each other at right angles.
		Whiffenpoofs — Yale’s famous singing group that was once known to wear Brooks’ “Polo” button-down collar shirt.
		Windowpane — Stripes running vertically and horizontally—resembles the framework of a window.
		Wing Collar — A collar style resembling a wing in appearance. Tips of the collar extend out like wings.
		Wingtip — Low-heeled shoes made of heavy leather—also known as brogues. Originated in Scotland and Ireland.
		Worsted Wool — More durable than regular wool. Known to hold its shape. Named after the Worsted village in Norfolk County, ENG.
		Wrap Coat — A full-cut outercoat w/out a button closure, worn wrapped around the body and held in place by a tied or buckled belt.
		Yoke — A fitted or shaped piece at the shoulders of a shirt.