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Suit Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the suit terms you will hear in the fitting room.
- 2-piece suit
- A matching jacket and trousers.
- 3-piece suit
- A matching jacket, waistcoat and trousers sold as one set.
- Asian fit
- A cut designed for the proportions typical of Asian builds, usually slimmer through the body with sizing that runs differently from Western sizes.
- Bespoke
- A suit cut from scratch to one person's measurements, usually with several fittings.
- Black tie
- A formal dress code calling for a tuxedo, white dress shirt, black bow tie and polished black shoes.
- Boutonniere
- A small flower worn on the lapel, often by the groom at weddings.
- Break
- The small fold in the trouser leg where it meets the shoe.
- Canvassed jacket
- A jacket with an internal stitched canvas layer that helps it hold its shape over time.
- Cocktail attire
- A semi-formal dress code, usually a dark suit with a shirt and tie or bow tie.
- Double-breasted
- A jacket with overlapping fronts and two columns of buttons.
- Four-in-hand
- A simple, versatile tie knot that suits most collars.
- Fused jacket
- A jacket whose inner structure is bonded with adhesive rather than stitched.
- Inseam
- The measurement from the crotch seam to the bottom of the trouser leg.
- Made-to-measure
- A suit made by adjusting a base pattern to your measurements.
- Notch lapel
- The most common lapel, with a small notch where the collar meets the lapel.
- Peak lapel
- A lapel that points upward toward the shoulder, giving a sharper, more formal look.
- Pinstripe
- A pattern of thin vertical lines on the fabric.
- Pocket square
- A small piece of fabric worn in the jacket breast pocket.
- Ready-to-wear
- A suit made in standard sizes and sold ready to take home.
- Regular fit
- A cut with more room through the chest, waist and legs than slim fit.
- Shawl lapel
- A smooth, rounded lapel with no notch, typically used on tuxedos.
- Shoulder seam
- The seam where the sleeve meets the jacket body. It should sit at the edge of your shoulder.
- Single-breasted
- A jacket with one column of buttons and no overlap.
- Slim fit
- A cut that follows the body more closely through the chest, waist and trouser leg.
- Tuxedo
- Formalwear with satin or silk-faced lapels, worn with a bow tie for black-tie events.
- Vent
- A slit at the back of a jacket that helps movement. Can be single, double or none.
- Waistcoat
- A sleeveless, buttoned garment worn under the jacket; also called a vest.
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