Skirt
and dress
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This page was last modified 06:17, 10 October 2006.
Skirts
Basic shapes:
Straight skirt, a tailored skirt hanging
straight from the hips and fitted from the
waist to the hips by means of darts or a yoke;
may have a kick-pleat for ease of walking
Full skirt, a skirt with fullness gathered
into the waistband
A-line skirt, a skirt with a slight flare,
roughly in the shape of a capital letter A
Pleated skirt, a skirt with fullness reduced
to fit the waist by means of regular pleats
('plaits') or folds, which can be stitched
flat to hip-level or free-hanging
Circle skirt, a skirt cut in sections to make
one or more circles with a hole for the waist,
so the skirt is very full but hangs smoothly
from the waist without darts, pleats, or gathers
A Divided Skirt looks like a skirt, but is
divided into two legs, much like a loose-fitting
pair of trousers or long shorts
Fads and fashions:
Hobble skirt, a fashion of the early 20th
century, with fullness at the hips narrowing
to the ankles
Poodle skirt, a circle or near-circle skirt
with an appliqued poodle or other decoration
(1950s)
Dirndl, a skirt made of a straight length
of fabric gathered at the waist
Prairie skirt, a flared skirt with one or
more flounces or tiers (1970s and on)
Kilt-skirt, a wrap-around skirt with overlapping
aprons in front and pleated around the back.
Though traditionally designed as women's wear,
it is fashioned to mimic somewhat closely
the general appearance of a (man's) kilt,
including the usage of a plaid pattern more
or less closely resembling those of recognized
tartan patterns of Scotland.
Miniskirt, a thigh-length skirt, and micromini,
an extremely short version (1960s)
Maxiskirt, a midcalf-length skirt (1970s)
Broomstick skirt, a skirt with many crumpled
pleats formed by compressing and twisting
the garment while wet (1980s and on)
Sarong, a square of fabric wrapped around
the body and tied on one hip to make a skirt;
worn as a skirt or as a cover-up over a bathing
suit in tropical climates.
Trouser skirt, a straight skirt with the part
above the hips tailored like men's trousers,
with belt loops, pockets, and fly front
Jean skirt, A trouser skirt made of denim
designed like 5-pocket jeans
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How skirts and dresses are worn today
In Europe and America skirts and dresses can
be worn by females of all ages as an alternative
to pants. A skirt may be worn as part of a
suit. Skirts or dresses are the garments of
choice for many women in formal situations,
such as weddings and geopolitical summits.
In cold climates, girls and women may wear
trousers, hosiery, or long underwear for warmth
and/or modesty, with a skirt or dress on top
to mark their femininity or other reasons
(for instance, since they happen to be "in-fashion"
at the time). In traditional societies, such
as in many countries in Africa, the Middle
East and Central and South America, it is
considered inappropriate for girls and women
to wear trousers rather than a skirt or dress.
A disadvantage of skirts and dresses that contributes to many girls and women preferring trousers and shorts is that they may be either too long and therefore limit freedom of movement such as when climbing ladders, or too short, in which case one, because of modesty will need to take the trouble when sitting down, such as crossing legs, to avoid exposure of the underwear. Dresses however can be cooler and less confining than many trouser styles, and they are still very popular for special occasions such as proms or weddings.
