Shawl collarOne unbroken band that rolls round the neck. It closes round the neck like a shawl.
BeltA matching strip tied at the waist. It holds the wrap front closed.
Belt loopsA loop at each side seam. The belt runs through them.
Patch pocketA pocket sewn on the outside of the front.
SleeveThe part that covers the arm.
CuffThe band at the end of the sleeve. On many robes it is rolled back.
HoodSewn into the neckline of a hooded robe. It keeps the head warm and helps dry wet hair.
How this list was compiled: Every name checked on 2026-10-01 and kept only where two of these use it of a robe. (1) Wikipedia, Bathrobe, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathrobe : most bathrobes wrap at the front and have belt loops and a matching belt, tied round the waist to hold it closed; the shawl collar, so called as it wraps the neck like a shawl; the kimono collar, a thin strip of one width; the hooded style, with a hood sewn into the neckline that can be worn on the head to keep it warm and to help dry wet hair. (2) A 1975 mail-order clothing catalog, read as page text at https://archive.org/details/deerskin-trading-post-fall-winter-1975 : robes tailored with shawl collar, two lower patch pockets, tie belt. (3) Two department store catalogs of 1971 and 1977, read as page text at https://archive.org/details/1971-sears-fall-winter-catalog and https://archive.org/details/1977-sears-christmas-wishbook : robes with two patch pockets, a self-tie belt and belt loops; long sleeves with roll-cuffs, two pockets, belt loops, self tie-belt. (4) Sew & Go Kids (2000), a sewing book, read as page text at https://archive.org/details/sewgokids0000hubb : for a child's hooded robe, sew the hood to the robe and sew the cuffs to the sleeves. Licence: own work
The drawing: Own drawing from plain geometry; nothing traced. Licence: own work
How it works
A bathrobe, or dressing gown, wraps across the front and ties at the waist. The drawing names its collar, belt, belt loops, pockets, sleeves and cuffs, with a hooded robe beside it.
Read the full guide
How a robe closes
Most bathrobes have no buttons. One front wraps over the other, and a matching belt, tied round the waist, holds them shut. The belt runs through a belt loop at each side so it stays with the robe.
Three necklines
A shawl collar is one unbroken band that closes round the neck like a shawl; it came from the dinner jacket and the smoking jacket. A kimono collar is a flat strip of one width. A hooded robe has a hood sewn into the neckline instead.
Looking for the academic robe worn at graduation? That is a gown, and it has its own page: parts of a graduation gown.
Questions and answers
What are the parts of a robe called?
On a bathrobe: the collar, the belt that ties at the waist, the belt loops that hold it, the pockets, the sleeves and the cuffs. A hooded robe has a hood in place of the collar.
What is the belt of a robe called?
A belt, tie belt or sash. It is a strip of the robe's own fabric, tied round the waist to hold the wrap front closed. It runs through a belt loop at each side.
What is a shawl collar on a robe?
A collar made as one rolled band, with no notch, that closes round the neck like a shawl. It is common on traditional dressing gowns and was borrowed from the dinner jacket.
What is the difference between a bathrobe and a dressing gown?
A bathrobe is a dressing gown made of toweling or another absorbent fabric, so it can go on while the body is wet. A dressing gown is a loose, open-fronted gown closed with a fabric belt, worn over nightwear.