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épaules tombantes

English translation: drop(ped) shoulders

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:épaules tombantes
English translation:drop(ped) shoulders
Entered by: Jane F

10:11 Jul 26, 2015
French to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Textiles / Clothing / Fashion / description of a dress
French term or phrase: épaules tombantes
This appears in a dress description ;

"Robe chemisier évasée, courte, en crêpe de soie imprimé, ceinture, boutonnée devant avec col chemise, épaules tombantes, manches longues, poignets et poches."

In the photo of the dress the shoulders look perfectly normal, not off the shoulder or out of the ordinary in any way.

All I can think of is 'sloping shoulders' but that doesn't sound very appealing or positive.
Jane F
France
Local time: 02:35
drop(ped) shoulders
Explanation:
http://www.emmakespatterns.com/drop-shoulder/

This suddenly flashed into my mind - I think I've got it, by Jove!
Selected response from:

polyglot45
Grading comment
Thanks for your help!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +8drop(ped) shoulders
polyglot45
4 +1sloped shoulders
AbrahamS
4low-shouldered
jean-pierre belliard
3drop-sleeved
Philippa Smith


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


41 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
low-shouldered


Explanation:
no explanation: just the shape given to a garment to lower and smoothen the profil or silhouette

Example sentence(s):
  • large frothy skirt and low-shouldered bodice.

    Reference: http://collection.mccord.mcgill.ca/en/collection/artifacts/M...
jean-pierre belliard
France
Local time: 02:35
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  AbrahamS: I think low-shouldered dress refers to the neckline
13 mins
neutral  B D Finch: Abraham is right, "low-shouldered does refer to the neckline.
6 hrs
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43 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
sloped shoulders


Explanation:
It's "sloped" rather than "sloping".
See ref. 1: "In both cases the angle from the neck to the shoulder point is moved either up (square) or down (sloped). Equally important though is that the bottom of the armhole is moved as well to maintain the shape and size."
ref. 2: "Defined by sloped shoulders, an articulated bust, a fitted waist, padded hips, and billowing skirts, the style in question..."


    Reference: http://www.martinfishertailors.com/category/fashion/page/2/
    Reference: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=76p1khskZK4C&pg=PA25&lpg=...
AbrahamS
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:35
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ariane Leverett: I agree that sloping is more a propos than low. "Epaules tombantes" in sports means hunched shoulders or shoulders that are pulled forward by the overworking of the pectoral muscles. It seems to me to be the same idea:) only pretty
6 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +8
drop(ped) shoulders


Explanation:
http://www.emmakespatterns.com/drop-shoulder/

This suddenly flashed into my mind - I think I've got it, by Jove!

polyglot45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Thanks for your help!
Notes to answerer
Asker: This sounds good! Thank you.


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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
drop-sleeved


Explanation:
Or 'drop sleeves'.

I went looking for 'sleeves' rather than 'shoulders', remembering a similar issue from previous clothing translations.
The image of your dress looks like the shoulder/sleeve is seamless, as explained in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv617Q-y3XY
You've also got this top on a bilingual site:
http://www.ln-cc.com/en_en/men/sweatshirts/j.w.-anderson-dro...
where you can switch it to French to get 'épaules tombantes'.

If the dress really is seamless (bit hard to tell with that pattern on the fabric), I don't think 'drop shoulders' is the right term:
'In fashion, a drop shoulder is a seam line that hangs down from the shoulders to form a sleeve. '
http://www.wisegeek.com/in-fashion-what-is-a-drop-shoulder.h...



Philippa Smith
Local time: 02:35
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 59

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Charles Davis: It is hard to see, but from the shape of the sleeves there must be a seam; I don't think these can be drop sleeves.
10 mins
  -> It is very hard - I was looking closely at the top right image, where it looks like an all-on-one shoulder/sleeve, but have now checked the top left image and there could indeed be a seam, in which case it's definitely 'drop shoulders'
neutral  B D Finch: Wisegeek is wrong and is confusing kimono sleeves and drop shoulder sleeves. http://thecuttingclass.com/post/56144582341/shaping-the-shou...
5 hrs
  -> the ins and outs of sewing are gobbledegook to me, but that's a great ref, very clear
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