VENT

A vent is a slit at the bottom of a garment piece (most often at the back of a jacket, skirt or coat) that allows freedom of movement and affects the fit of a piece. On jackets the vent may be single (in the centre) or double (at the sides), and this is not only function but a mark of style: single is the American tradition, double the English. On pencil skirts a vent at the back allows free striding despite the narrow cut. A vent must be neatly finished and lie correctly — a gaping vent spoils the look. In the finished piece it is often tacked with a cross-stitch that should be cut before wearing. A vent is a functional slit detail, in which a neat opening at the bottom of a piece combines freedom of movement with preservation of a clean silhouette, being at once a practical solution and a subtle mark of tailoring tradition.