18.10.23 Various Clothing
The items defined below, for the truly unknowing, include blouses, bodices,
handkerchiefs, kerchiefs, jerkins, kilts, leggings, pants, shirts, skirts,
slips, sweaters, togas, trousers, vestitures, and vestments.
Blouse
------
A blouse is a feminine shirt which can be sleeved or sleeveless, collared or
collarless.
Bodice
------
A bodice is either the top half of a dress, or (when worn separately) a
vest-like garment that extends from the shoulder to the waist. It is usually
laced like a corset, but worn as an outer garment.
Handkerchief / Kerchief
-----------------------
To be used to blow one's nose during boring meetings, or to drop to gain
someone's attention. A small rectangle, usually of a softer material and a
light colour.
Jerkin
------
The jerkin is a hip-length, close-fitting jacket without sleeves (or
with extended shoulders). Jerkins are usually collarless and belted.
Often worn by men over a shirt.
Kilt
----
A pleated, knee-length article of clothing that is usually made from wool, but
not always. Worn by males mostly, though some are feminine (never to be called
a skirt for men: they hate that.)
Leggings
--------
A lot like trousers, but usually tighter and shorter, and no fastenings at the
waist. Do not look good on people with a larger build. Or, they're a leg
covering that reaches from the ankle to the knee, worn by soldiers and the
like.
Pants
-----
See Trousers.
Shirt
-----
Generally worn over your neck/shoulder/chest/stomach or, in short, your upper
half (usually excluding your head and often your neck). They are fancy, plain,
colourful, dull, sleeved and sleeveless.
Skirt
-----
An article of clothing that wraps around the waist and can end anywhere along
the leg. Some are short, some are long, some are split, some are sensible.
Slip
----
A female item of clothing, dress length and with thin straps across the
shoulders which is worn beneath dresses or sometimes, in a shorter version,
under skirts.
Sweater
-------
A garment usually made of wool in a variety of colours. Often sent to you by
your grandparents when you really wanted a short sword, though these varieties
usually have a horrid pattern that can cause nausea after prolonged exposure.
Toga
----
A loose, one-piece garment worn usually by males. A toga wraps around
the body and leaves one shoulder bare.
Trousers
--------
We call them trousers here (though some provincials erroneously call them
pants), but they're exactly the same as you would have expected them to be:
tubes of fabric that cover your legs and fasten at your waist. Come in a
variety of styles.
Vestiture/Vestment
------------------
Usually a robe-like article of clothing that denotes some state of
office, or a religious order. Not to be used to blow ones nose during
long and boring meetings.
