topplacket

Topplacket (sometimes written top placket) is an informal term used in sewing and apparel design to describe the uppermost portion of a placket—the opening in a garment that provides access, closure or fit adjustment. The topplacket typically covers or reinforces the area around fastenings such as buttons, snaps, or zippers at the top of a shirt, blouse, dress or jacket.

Construction and function of a topplacket vary by garment and style. It may be formed by a turned-under edge, a facing, an additional strip of fabric, or an interfaced reinforcement to resist stress where closures are handled most often. Design details can include topstitching, bartacks, buttonholes, and decorative elements; these affect durability, ease of use and appearance. In some garments the topplacket is purely functional, while in others it is emphasized as a visible design feature.

Variants of plackets commonly discussed in sewing include button plackets, fly plackets and zipper plackets; the topplacket is simply the upper section of these systems. The term is not standardized technical jargon and is more likely to appear in informal sewing instructions or pattern notes than in formal textile encyclopedias. For broader context, see entries on plackets, fastenings and garment construction.