A triangular piece of fabric inserted into a seam or slash to add flare or fullness to a garment, typically at the hem. Godets create graceful movement and swing in skirts and dresses without adding bulk at the waist.
From French 'godet' meaning a small cup or bowl, referring to the curved, cup-like shape the fabric creates when the triangular insert opens out. The term entered fashion vocabulary in the early 20th century.
Godets are the secret behind those gorgeous, swirling dance dresses and flamenco skirts - they create dramatic movement with minimal fabric! Madeleine Vionnet, the master of bias cutting, used godets brilliantly to achieve fluid, sculptural silhouettes that moved like liquid around the body.
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