sartorial

Sartorial is an adjective referring to clothing, apparel, or tailoring. It denotes matters relating to the cutting, fitting, and overall style of garments, and may describe a person’s dress sense or the craftsmanship of clothing. In modern usage, sartorial is often encountered in fashion journalism to discuss ready-to-wear, bespoke, or couture garments, as in “sartorial elegance” or “a sartorial choice.”

Etymology: The word derives from the Latin sartor, meaning tailor, via Old French sartour or sartour. It entered English in the late Middle Ages and has retained a focus on tailoring and dress.

Usage: Sartorial can modify nouns to emphasize fit and style, such as “sartorial craftsmanship” or “sartorial code.” While historically associated with men’s tailoring, the term applies to clothing for all genders and styles provided the emphasis is on craft and cut. It is commonly used by fashion writers and designers to evoke refinement or traditional craftsmanship.

Related concepts: tailoring, bespoke, ready-to-wear, couture, dress code. Notable related terms include sartorialism, which refers to a culture of refined dress, and the online moniker The Sartorialist for a fashion photographer and blogger, though that is a proper name.

See also: tailoring, fashion, dress code.