Clothing terminology comprises the names of individual garments and classes of garments, as well as the specialized vocabularies of the trades that have designed, manufactured, marketed and sold clothing over hundreds of years. Clothing terminology ranges from the arcane (watchet, a pale blue color name from the 16th century), and changes over time in response to fashion which in turn reflects social, artistic, and political trends. Categories At its broadest, clothing terminology may be said to include names for: Classes of basic garments: shirt, coat, skirt, dress, suit, underwear, swimsuit Length, for skirts and dresses: micro-mini, mini, tea length, ballerina length, full length, midi, maxi Contemporary and historical styles of garments: corset, frock coat, t-shirt, doublet Parts of garments: sleeve, collar, lapel Styles of these: juliette sleeve, Peter Pan collar Clothing details: pocket, french cuff, zipper Functional uses: base layer, insulation layer, outer shell Traditional garments: cheongsam, kilt, dirndl, fustanella Fashions and "anti-fashions": preppy, New Look, hip-hop, rational dress Fabrics: denim, wool, chiffon, velvet, satin, silk, cotton Fabric treatments: fabric painting, transfers, ikat, tie-dye, batik Fabric manipulation: pleat, tuck, gather, smocking Colors and dyes: madder red, indigo, isabella Sewing terms: cut, hem, armscye, lining Patternmaking terms: sloper, toile Methods of manufacture: haute couture, bespoke tailoring, ready-to-wear Retailers' terms: Size ranges: Small, Medium, Large, XL (Extra Large), XXL (Double Extra Large), Junior, Misses, Petite, Plus Size, Big-and-Tall Retail seasons: back-to-school, holiday, resort, seasonal Departments: special occasion, sportswear, bridge fashion Degrees of formality: formal wear, bridal, business casual Market: high end, high street, ethical consumer, cut price Persistence Despite the constant introduction of new terms by fashion designers, clothing manufacturers, and marketers, the names for several basic garment classes in English are very stable over time. Gown, shirt/skirt, frock, and coat are all attested back to the early medieval period. Gown (from Medieval Latin gunna) was a basic clothing term for hundreds of years, referring to a garment that hangs from the shoulders. In Medieval and Renaissance England gown referred to a loose outer garment worn by both men and women, sometimes short, more often ankle length, with sleeves. By the 18th century gown had become a standard category term for a women's dress, a meaning it retained until the mid-20th century. Only in the last few decades has gown lost this general meaning in favor of dress. Today the term gown is rare except in specialized cases: academic dress or cap