They’re flowy and comfortable; the world of fashion has seen these beauties appear in all kinds of shapes and sizes - maxis, midis, minis and everything in between. Today, I want to talk about these marvels of fashion and their evolution. Read on if you're interested in talking skirts!
Dating way back to Armenia in 3900 BC skirts were woven of straws. Yes, straws. Funny how we have a larger choice in skirts than those poor Armenians. A standard garment for both men and women in all ancient cultures such as Asia and Egypt, the skirt went on to become a wardrobe essential for women in Western Europe and America.
Let's dive right in and take a look at what led from the simple straw to the array that we have today.
Ancient Egypt
Initially worn by men in Ancient Egypt, Shendyt was similar to a wrap around skirt and was belted at the waist. Persians, Sumerians, Romans and Egyptians made it from locally sourced material, flax (linen). It was ideal for the hot and humid weather in a desert like Egypt. The locals immediately took to the skirt which was light and airy. The more influential the men were, the thinner and lighter were their skirts. Most workers and labourers wore only loincloths. Women mostly wore floor length white dresses at the time but some also sported skirts down to the ankle, fitted to the waist and secured with suspenders. They even added embellishments to their designs to give it an extra oomph.
Maybe next time you wonder if men should be wearing skirts and dresses, the Egyptians might help you out!
Middle Ages
All the advances in tailoring and weaving during this time made it easier for men to wear trousers and tights. Women still stuck to wearing dresses and did not switch to anything different at the time. These were cut to follow the lines of the body up to below the waist with a separate, fuller skirt sewn to the bodice. The skirts were generally high waisted, right from the bust to the ankle and made with heavy materials and darker colours. During the 17th and 18th century, it was all about adding volume to the skirts, with hoops, and with corsets it gave the appearance of women having a “snatched” waist.
19th Century
The 19th century brought the narrow silhouettes again, gathered at the back into a bustle. But at the time there also came a lot of change. Women began to adapt a very active lifestyle with cycling, riding and walking. With this came the need for more comfortable and easy to maintain clothing. In the Edwardian Era, separate jackets and skirts were all the rage. The need for less restrictions came with the introduction of the rainy daisy skirts, which allowed for more freedom of movement and influenced the introduction of shorter hemlines in later decades. From the 1890s the popularity of skirts as a separate garment, was now viewed as a practical garment choice.
20th Century - The Era of Iconic Skirts
Experimentation and innovation galore during this time with an array of skirt lengths and styles taking shape by the end of this era. From hobble skirts to mini skirts, there was something for everyone at the time. The hem length rose to just below the knee in the middle of the decade, allowing flashes of leg to be seen when women were dancing or walking. Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel
decided to free the leg and designed a shorter, wider skirt to provide women with a more practical silhouette for the day-to-day activities of the women of the time.During the Roaring Twenties, hemlines began to rise and flapper style influenced women in the western world. At the time of the Great Depression, hemlines dropped to mid- calf and floor length, giving it a more modest appeal.
With clothing restrictions during World War II, skirts (and outfits in general) became even more sombre in nature. Utilitarian fashion was the go-to look, while cheaper fabrics gained ground and simple A-line or straight skirts were in demand. In 1947, Christian Dior added a few inches again when he introduced his ‘New Look’ collection, featuring nipped waists and full skirts which extended to the mid-calf. Dior also popularised the pencil skirt, that hugged your hips and balanced out the shoulder and the hips, this was iconic then and is still iconic now.
With the rolling in of the 60s came the most controversial and revolutionary skirts of all times, the miniskirt. Designed by British designer Mary Quant, this never-before-seen thigh-high length garment took the fashion industry by storm and gave women the freedom to choose whatever length they desired.
Longer lengths did not disappear entirely, the maxi was kept alive with the hippie movement with colourful prints, designs and fringes.
We do not see any one skirt quiet dominating the fashion industry at the moment, rather we see all of the lengths and styles living together in perfect harmony, each in its own unique sense and way. I believe that skirts are a very, VERY necessary staple to have in our wardrobe. One should always try experimenting with different styles, because who doesn't love something that is flowy and absolutely comfortable!
Yours,
Neeve
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