Definition

1. Noun:
   • A piece of cloth sewn under an opening: Specifically, a piece of fabric sewn into a garment to reinforce or finish an opening, such as a slit or a pocket opening. It is most commonly found in clothing like skirts, dresses, or shirts.

Usage

• The primary function of a placket is to provide structure and durability to an opening in a garment, preventing it from tearing or stretching out of shape. It is an essential component in tailored clothing.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The dress has a hidden button placket down the back. (The dress features a vertical opening at the back, reinforced with a strip of fabric and buttons.)
  • She carefully ironed the placket of her shirt to make it look crisp. (She pressed the reinforced fabric strip on the front opening of her shirt.)
  • The tailor added a placket to the skirt's pocket to make it more durable. (The tailor sewed a reinforcing piece of fabric around the pocket opening on the skirt.)

Advanced Usage

• "Placket front": A common term in fashion describing a shirt or blouse where the buttoned opening is reinforced with a placket, often appearing as a distinct panel.
  • This classic Oxford shirt features a placket front and button-down collar.

Variants and Related Words

• Placketing (n, rare): The process or material used for making a placket.
• Facing (n): A similar piece of fabric used to finish raw edges, often on necklines or armholes, but not specifically for an opening like a placket.

Synonyms

• Reinforcement strip: A general term for a piece of fabric added for strength.
• Facing (in some contexts, though a facing is typically broader and used for edges rather than slits).

Notes

• A placket is distinct from a simple slit or vent. It always involves an added piece of fabric or a folded and finished section of the main fabric to create a neat, functional opening. It is a specific tailoring term.

Noun

1. a piece of cloth sewn under an opening