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The Probert Encyclopaedia of Costume

PAC

The pac is a kind of moccasin, with the edges of the sole turned up and sewed to the upper.
Research Pac

PADDER

A padder is a soft ankle-boot or bootee made of any of various fabrics and worn by babies who are not yet walking.
Research Padder

PAGLIACCIO

Picture of Pagliaccio

A pagliaccio or pierrot was a shirt based upon the shirt worn by a late 16th century Italian clown. The pagliaccio was a loose, white shirt with a deep ruffle at the neck and large buttons, the sleeves were very flared and full.
Research Pagliaccio

PAGODA SLEEVE

A pagoda sleeve is a sleeve fitted on the upper arm, with tiered frills - usually three - on the lower part of the arm reaching to the wrist. Pagoda sleeves were popular during the 18th century.
Research Pagoda Sleeve

PAINTERS BRUSH MOUSTACHE

Picture of Painters Brush Moustache

The painters brush moustache is a neatly cut, narrow style of moustache extending the width of the top lip.
Research Painters Brush Moustache

PALAZZO

Palazzo is a fashion term for a woman's wide-legged trouser flaring from the hip.
Research Palazzo

PALETOT

Picture of Paletot

A paletot was a woman's full skirted coat, trimmed with velvet bands, frequently with shoulder capes and worn over crinolines during the late 1880's.
Research Paletot

PALLIM

Picture of Pallim

A pallim was a woollen cloak doubling as a blanket at night, worn by the ancient Greeks.
Research Pallim

PALUDAMENTUM

Picture of Paludamentum

A paludamentum was the uniform worn by Roman generals and their staff. It was less cumbersome than a toga, and more ample and graceful than the sagum or cloak worn by the common soldiers. It was coloured purple, scarlet or white, open in front, reaching down to the knees, and fastened on the shoulder by a brooch.
Research Paludamentum

PAMPOOTIE

A pampootie is an Aran fur and skin lace-up moccasin.
Research Pampootie

PANAMA HAT

Picture of Panama hat

A Panama hat (properly a Jipijapa hat) is a type of hat made in imitation of a style of hat worn in South and Central America where the hats are called Jipijapa hats in honour of the town in Ecuador where they were first made. Panama hats were made from straw or the fan-shaped underdeveloped leaves of the stemless screwpine plant (Carludovica palmata) or in Central America where they were first made, from the plaited leaves of the Jipijapa palm. The term Panama hat was first used in Britain around 1833 and in 1858 Simmonds Dictionary of Trade refers to the Panama-hat as being made in Central America.
Research Panama hat

PANTALETTES

Pantalettes were knee or calf-length knickers worn by younger girls during the mid-19th century, and designed to extend below the hemline of the skirt or dress.
Research Pantalettes

PANTOFLE

Picture of Pantofle

A pantofle was a mediaeval overshoe worn to protect the shoe.
Research Pantofle

PANUNG

A panung is a traditional Thai garment consisting of a long piece of cloth passed between the legs, hanging loose between the knee and ankle, and held at the waist with a belt.
Research Panung

PAPACHE

A papache is a type of Russian hat, made from undyed sheepskin.
Research Papache

PARACHUTE SHIRT

Picture of Parachute Shirt

The parachute shirt was a shirt designed by Vivienne Westwood in 1976 and inspired by a military parachutists harness adopted into a form of bondage sexploitation.
Research Parachute Shirt

PARAMATTA

Paramatta (parramatta) is a fabric of wool and cotton originally produced in Paramatta, a town in New South Wales, Australia. The cloth is coarse and woven with a weft of wool and a warp of cotton, sometimes silk, formerly used for making dresses.
Research Paramatta

PARATROOPER BOOT

A paratrooper boot is a substantial, lace-up, high ankle boot made from leather.
Research Paratrooper Boot

PAREO

A pareo is a Polynesian skirt or loincloth printed with bold flower patterns. They became popular in the west as beachwear during the 1960s.
Research Pareo

PARERO

A parero is a Polynesian garment like a skirt consisting of a rectangular piece of fabric, often decorated with a print or pattern, worn wrapped around the body and tied in a knot.
Research Parero

PARKA

A parka is a long, fur-trimmed hooded, skin jacket with a drawstring waist and hem worn by the Inuit people of the Arctic circle. The design was copied for a canvas and synthetic material jacket popular with mountaineers and the American military.
Research Parka

PASHMINA

A pashmina is a stole, often made from cashmere, worn over coats and jackets by women. The pashmina became popular in Britain in the late 1990's.
Research Pashmina

PATCH POCKET

A patch pocket is a pocket which is pressed and sewn on to the outside of a garment, such as the typical back pockets found in a pair of jeans.
Research Patch Pocket

PATTEN

Patten is another name for a clog.
Research Patten

PEA JACKET

Picture of Pea Jacket

A pea jacket is a heavy jacket, usually dark navy blue in colour, flared from the collar, worn by American sailors.
Research Pea Jacket

PEA-JACKET

A pea-jacket is a short, double-breasted overcoat made of coarse woollen cloth, particularly worn by sailors.
Research Pea-Jacket

PEASANT DRESS

Picture of Peasant Dress

A peasant dress is a soft, full silhouette dress with an off-the-shoulder neckline and a waist belted with a simple, lace-up belt.
Research Peasant Dress

PEASCOD BELLIED DOUBLET

Picture of Peascod Bellied Doublet

A peascod bellied doublet was a form of man's doublet popular during the 1580's which was padded so as to give the impression of an enhanced stomach or paunch. The peascod bellied doublet had a wooden busk at the front and strips of whalebone in the seams to maintain its shape.
Research Peascod Bellied Doublet

PEDAL PUSHERS

Pedal pushers are loose, calf-length trousers, often made with cuffs. They became popular during the 1950s.
Research Pedal Pushers

PEDICURE

Pedicure is the remedial or cosmetic treatment and care of the feet and toenails. It involves shaping the nails, removing cuticles and generally beautifying the hands. A pedicure may also be remedial, and involve removing corns and blisters.
Research Pedicure

PEIGNOIR

Picture of Peignoir

A peignoir (also known as a combing jacket or powdering mantle) was a women's coat worn for informal occasions in the morning and while grooming.
Research Peignoir

PELERINE

Picture of Pelerine

A pelerine was a 19th century woman's short cloak based on an old pilgrim's cloak, with long ends at the front and a short back, usually reaching the waist. It was usually made of wool or similar materials although silk pelerines were made.
Research Pelerine

PELISSE

Picture of Pelisse

A pelisse is a type of floor-length coat, cut like a dress, but open down the front, for children, men or women, originally worn around 1817 pelisses for adults were originally made of fur, or lined with fur. Pelisses for babies were originally made of dark silk, and by 1830 also made in lightweight cotton for summer wear.
Research Pelisse

PENCIL LINE MOUSTACHE

Picture of Pencil Line Moustache

A pencil line moustache is a very thin moustache, either comprised of a thin line of hairs or sometimes drawn onto the upper lip with a cosmetic pencil.
Research Pencil Line Moustache

PENCIL SKIRT

Picture of Pencil Skirt

A pencil skirt is a tight, tapered skirt similar to a hobble skirt but shorter to allow the wearer to walk more easily, frequently with a vent in the back.
Research Pencil Skirt

PENNY LOAFER

A penny loafer is a type of American casual shoe with slots into which money can be placed.
Research Penny Loafer

PENTHOUSE

A penthouse was a sloping hat with a broad brim reminiscent of a sloping roof.
Research Penthouse

PEPLOS

Picture of Peplos

A peplos was an ancient Greek tunic worn by both men and women, arranged in folds fastened in a drape over the shoulder by brooches worn at each shoulder.
Research Peplos

PEPLUM

Picture of Peplum

A peplum is a women's jacket with a short, full circular cut skirt hanging from the waist seam.
Research Peplum

PERUKE

Picture of Peruke

Peruke was a 16th century term for hair on the head, the term false peruke being applied to a wig. Later, the term peruke was applied to a wig in general, and from peruke developed the term periwig which in turn developed into wig.
Research Peruke

PETAL SKIRT

Picture of Petal Skirt

A petal skirt is a woman's skirt cut in shaped layers resembling the petals of a flower.
Research Petal Skirt

PETASUS

Picture of Petasus

A petasus or petasos was a broad-brimmed hat worn by the ancient Greeks, such as one with wings on either side as traditionally worn by Mercury.
Research Petasus

PETENLAIR

Picture of Petenlair

A petenlair is a type of women's fitted, long-sleeved, short jacket originally from France where it was developed during the mid-18th century. The petenlair has a sacque back and is worn with a petticoat and a skirt of a matching fabric.
Research Petenlair

PETTICOAT

A petticoat is a woman's undergarment consisting of a skirt which is intended to be seen - distinguishing it from a slip or half slip which is not intended to be seen.
Research Petticoat

PHRYGIAN CAP

Picture of Phrygian Cap

The Phrygian cap is a soft, conical cap which was originally worn by the Phrygian peoples of ancient Greece and was adopted as the symbol of liberty during the French Revolution.
Research Phrygian Cap

PHRYGIAN CAP

Picture of Phrygian Cap

A Phyrigian cap was a tall, conical cap with a turn-up worn by men in the Middle East around 530 BC.
Research Phrygian Cap

PICCADILLS

In fashion, piccadills re the scalloped or tabbed edge of a garment.
Research Piccadills

PICCADILLY

Piccadilly is a type of lace so called on account of its little spear-points, and much in fashion during the reign of Elizabeth I. Later, in the reign of James I the high ruff was called a piccadilly.
Research Piccadilly

PICOT EDGE

In costume, a picot edge is a very small regular curved shape cut into a hem or edge, usually finished with an overstitch.
Research Picot Edge

PICTURE HAT

Picture of Picture Hat

A picture hat is a women's round hat with a wide-brim that flops down, shallow crown, and is richly decorated.
Research Picture Hat

PIE PLATE

Picture of Pie Plate

A pie plate was a 19th century American sailor's hat. The pie plate had a very flat top, and was made from blue wool for winter wear and white cotton for summer wear.
Research Pie Plate

PILLBOX

Picture of Pillbox

A pillbox is a type of small round hat, with a flat crown and no brim worn by women on the back of the head.
Research Pillbox

PILLOW BAG

Picture of Pillow Bag

A pillow bag is a woman's large, squashy bag resembling a pillow, usually without handles.
Research Pillow Bag

PIN TUCK

In costume, a pin tuck is a tiny line of pleats stitched down for decoration only.
Research Pin Tuck

PINA CLOTH

Pina cloth is a fabric made in the Philippines from the fibres of the pineapple leaf. It has a very delicate and soft texture, is transparent and generally has a slight tinge of pale yellow.
Research Pina Cloth

PINAFORE

Picture of Pinafore

A pinafore is an apron with a bib which was traditionally pinned to the front of a dress to protect it.
Research Pinafore

PINAFORE DRESS

A pinafore dress is a sleeveless, collarless dress which fastens at the back and is worn over a shirt or blouse.
Research Pinafore Dress

PINNER

Picture of Pinner

A pinner was a woman's headdress worn during the early part of the 18th century. It was a sort of cap with lappets, long flaps that hung down the sides of the cheeks.
Research Pinner

PINSON

A pinson was a type of thin shoe or slipper worn until the early 17th century.
Research Pinson

PIPING

In costume, piping is a cord sandwiched in a binding and then set into a seam. Piping has the effect of making the seam less flexible.
Research Piping

PIRATE BOOT

A pirate boot is a leather boot with straps and buckles over the laces. They were popular as youth street wear during the 1970s and 1970s.
Research Pirate Boot

PITH HELMET

Picture of Pith Helmet

A pith helmet, also known as a safari helmet, is a type of military helmet formerly worn by the soldiers of the British army stationed in India during the 19th century. The hat was made of pith cork from the sponge wood tree and was covered in white cotton and lined in green. The cork the hat was made of acted as insulation against the sun and was also very water proof.
Research Pith Helmet

PLANCHETTE

Picture of Planchette

Planchette is a French term for a padded corset.
Research Planchette

PLIMSOLL

A plimsoll is a shoe with a canvas upper vulcanised to a rubber sole. They were invented for wear on board ship.
Research Plimsoll

PLUS FOURS

Plus fours are loose breeches reaching to the knee plus four inches, drawn into a band at the bottom. Plus fours are usually made of checked material and were often worn for playing golf.
Research Plus Fours

POKE BONNET

Picture of Poke Bonnet

A poke bonnet was a hoop-shaped bonnet with a small crown at the back of the head and a wide brim at the front. It was tied under the chin so that the brim shielded the side of the face. They remained popular with women during the 19th century until about 1860.
Research Poke Bonnet

POLO SHIRT

A polo shirt is a knitted cotton fabric, pull-on, short-sleeved shirt with a ribbed collar and cuffs. Polo shirts usually have a short button placket fastened with small buttons.
Research Polo Shirt

POLONAISE

Picture of Polonaise

A polonaise was a kind of women's dress or overdress, with the skirt open at the front and looped up at the back with cords into decorative festoons to reveal an underskirt made from the same fabric, first worn around 1800.
Research Polonaise

POLONAISE JACKET

A polonaise was a type of lady's skirted jacket, similar to a cavalry-man's tunic, popular in Britain around the early 1870's.
Research Polonaise Jacket

PONCHO

Picture of Poncho

A poncho (jaronga) is a sort of cloak originally worn by the native Indians of South America. It resembles a narrow blanket, either rectangular or square, with a slit in the middle, through which the head passes, so that it hangs down loosely in front and behind, leaving the arms free.
Research Poncho

PONGEE

Pongee is a plain-woven fabric originally of silk, today usually a cotton mix, characterised by irregular cross-wise ribs and a dark ecru colour.
Research Pongee

PONY TAIL

The pony tail is a lady's hairstyle originally worn by Belgic chiefs in 50 BC, it was revitalised by American country and western singers during the 1940s. The pony tail is a style in which the hair is pulled to the back of the head, tied, and then allowed to fall between the shoulders, thereby resembling the tail of a pony. The pony tail was adopted by British female Teds in the 1950s.
Research Pony Tail

PORKPIE HAT

A porkpie hat is a type of hat with a shallow, round flat crown and a narrow brim that can be turned up or down, decorated with a band.
Research Porkpie Hat

PORTMANTEAU

A portmanteau is a type of suitcase with a rigid handle.
Research Portmanteau

PORTRAIT COLLAR

Picture of Portrait Collar

A portrait collar is a wideneckline supporting a fold-over collar that overlaps at the front of the garment.
Research Portrait Collar

POULAINE

Picture of Poulaine

A poulaine (also known as a poulan shoe) is a long pointed-toe shoe with a spur behind and turned up toes, fastened to the knee formerly worn during the 14th century. They were banned by Charles V of France in 1365, but the fashio again revived later.
Research Poulaine

PRAIRIE SKIRT

A prairie skirt is a Western style of women's skirt with a tiered body hanging from a fitted yoke which has a button-through front.
Research Prairie Skirt

PRINCESS DRESS

The term princess dress was applied in the early 20th century to long waisted dresses with a flounce worn by girls.
Research Princess Dress

PRINCESS LINE COAT

Picture of Princess Line Coat

A princess line coat is a woman's coat, close fitting to the waist and then flared out towards the hem.
Research Princess Line Coat

PRINCESS SLIP

A princess slip is a full underskirt with a series of seams following the line of the darts through the garment from the shoulder to hem, thus creating panels.
Research Princess Slip

PRUNNELO

Prunnelo is a woollen stuff of which common ecclesiastic gowns used to be made; it was als oemployed for the uppers of women's boots and shoes.
Research Prunnelo

PUDDING CAP

A pudding cap is a padded protective cap worn by toddlers as a type of crash helmet in case they should fall while learning to walk.
Research Pudding Cap

PUFF BALL SKIRT

Picture of Puff Ball Skirt

A puff ball skirt is a women's skirt comprising a rectangle of fabric folded in half, gathered up and held at the waistband with the fold in the fabric forming the hem. The puff ball skirt is similar to the dirndl.
Research Puff Ball Skirt

PUFFA JACKET

Picture of Puffa Jacket

A puffa jacket (also known as a down jacket or duvet jacket) is a wadded, quilted jacket made from polyamide or a similar man-made material resembling a duvet and designed for warmth. Puffa jackets evolved in the 1980's and were an immediate fashion hit with teenagers.
Research Puffa Jacket

PUMP

The pump is a practical, usually simple shoe similar to a slipper first developed in the 16th century as a man's shoe, and in the 18th century adopted also by women.
Research Pump

PYRAMIDAL MOUSTACHE

Picture of Pyramidal Moustache

The pyramidal moustache is a style of moustache extending the width of the top lip, with extended wings widening in the centre.
Research Pyramidal Moustache

 
 
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