Dress

For the general concept of dress, see Clothing. For other uses, see Dress (disambiguation).
"Dresses" redirects here. For the song by Betty Blowtorch, see Betty Blowtorch § Discography.

A dress (also known as a frock or a gown) is a garment consisting of a skirt with an attached bodice (or a matching bodice giving the effect of a one-piece garment). In Western culture, dresses are more often worn by women and girls.

The hemlines of dresses vary depending on the whims of fashion and the modesty or personal taste of the wearer.[1]

History

18th century

The general custom in 1867 was to still wear dresses with skirts touching the ground. It had been tried several times to popularize the short length of the skirts but all tentative attempts were of no use. Uncovering the feet of the wearers at that time was not thought to be graceful. [2]

19th century

Dresses increased dramatically to the hoopskirt and crinoline-supported styles of the 1860s; then fullness was draped and drawn to the back. Dresses had a "day" bodice with a high neckline and long sleeves, and an "evening" bodice with a low neckline (decollete) and very short sleeves.

Throughout this period, the length of fashionable dresses varied only slightly, between ankle-length and floor-sweeping.[1]

20th and 21st centuries

A typical pre-prom gathering, with girls in dresses, and boys in tuxedos

Beginning around 1915, hemlines for daytime dresses left the floor for good. For the next fifty years fashionable dresses became short (1920s), then long (1930s), then shorter (the War Years with their restrictions on fabric), then long (the "New Look").

Since the 1970s, no one dress type or length has dominated fashion for long, with short and ankle-length styles often appearing side-by-side in fashion magazines and catalogs. [3]

Usage

In most varieties of formal dress codes in Western cultures, a dress of an appropriate style is mandatory for women. They are also very popular for special occasions such as proms or weddings.[4] For such occasions they remain the de facto standard attire for most women.

Lengths

  1. ^ Cumming, Valerie; Cunnington, C.W.; Cunnington, P.E. (2010). The dictionary of fashion history (Rev., updated and supplemented [ed.]. ed.). Oxford: Berg. p. 130. ISBN 9780857851437. 

Types

Defined by cut/construction

Defined by purpose/function

In world culture

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Davis, Michael (2007). Art of dress designing (1st ed.). Delhi: Global Media. ISBN 81-904575-7-8.
  2. unknown. A history of feminine fashion. Nabu Pres. p. 16. ISBN 9781289626945.
  3. changing hemlines
  4. Pundir, Nirupama (2007). Fashion technology : today and tomorrow. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. ISBN 81-8324-203-0.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dresses.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Minidresses.
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