Glossary of terms used on this site

Sack Suit - The Sack suit is an American term for a business suit and is defined as being a 3-to-2 blazer without darts and a single vent. Pioneered by classic American brand Brooks Brothers and seen on every young exec. on Mad Men.

Saffiano leather - This is the heavily grained or cross-hatched, waterproof and durable leather used by the Italian luxury goods houses of Prada and Salvatore Ferragamo.

Satin - A closely woven, smooth, light-reflecting silk fabric of fairly heavy weight.

Savile Row - Named after Lady Dorothy Savile, wife of the 3rd Earl of Burlington, Savile Row is a street in Mayfair, London synonymous with bespoke men’s tailoring. The term Savile Row describes any clothing made on or around the street by the multitude of tailoring houses. This is men’s clothing at its finest, in both quality and history.

Scyes - Armholes are also known as 'Scyes'. Most ready-made suits have large scyes, primarily to ensure the jacket will fit most people.

Sea Island Cotton - This is cotton from the Caribbean, the favourable conditions make the cotton’s fibre longer and thus super fine and of very quality.

Seersucker - Seersucker is a cotton fabric woven in such a way that some threads bunch together, giving the fabric a wrinkled appearance in places. Traditionally associated with the Summer months, the word came into English from Hindi, which originates from the Persian words ‘shir o shakar’, meaning ‘milk and sugar’, probably from the resemblance of its smooth and rough stripes to the smooth surface of milk and bumpy texture of sugar. The wrinkled appearance actually causes the fabric to be held away from the skin when worn, facilitating improved heat dissipation and air circulation.

Serge - A heavy, twill cotton with a fairly rough texture.

A cross between a shirt and a jacket.

Shagreen - This is leather commonly made from the skins of sharks and rays. The word derives from the French ‘chagrin’ meaning anxiety, annoyance – a reference to the rasping surface of the leather. It is extremely hard wearing and usually comes in an eau de nil green colour with lighter, almost white circular markings. It is associated with the Art Deco era of the 1930’s, even the wallpaper in the rooms in Claridge’s hotel are in the shagreen colour and pattern.

Shawl Collar - A shawl collar is a type of lapel usually found on dinner jackets and is rounded with no points or strong angles.

Silk - The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons made by the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori. A fibre formed by the hardening of a liquid emitted from spinning-glands.

Snood - A tubular neck protector or scarf. The garment can be worn either pulled down around the neck like a scarf, or pulled up over the hair and lower face, like a hood. The word is first recorded in Old English from around 725.

Sta-Press - Usually refers to a trouser and is a cropped rendering of "stay pressed”. A favourite of the Mod and produced by brands such as Merc and Farah.

Storm collar - A deep collar that when turned up covers your neck fully.