Skirt
From The Fashion Dictionary
A skirt is a tube or cone-shaped garment usually worn by women. A skirt is usually fitted at the waist and covers all or part of the legs. Skirts are mostly worn by women, but fashion designers such as Jean-Paul Gaultier have incorporated skirts for men into their collections. A kilt is also a type of traditional skirt worn by men.
Skirts can be draped garments or fitted to the waist and fuller at the bottom. Skirts can be made out of many different materials including denim, cotton, jersey, worsted, silk, satin or poplin. Thin and clingy skirts, such as the ones made out of silk or satin, are usually worn with slips to make the skirt fit better as well as to prevent the skirt from being see-through.
The hemline of a skirt can be as high as the upper thigh or as low as the ground, depending on the current fashion.
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History of the Skirt
Skirts have been around since the beginning of time, worn by both men and women. The earliest known culture to have worn miniskirts were the Duan Qun Miao which translated to "short skirt Miao". The women of the tribe wore skirts that barely covered the buttocks.
Skirts in the 19th Century
In the nineteenth century, skirts in Europe varied immensely, more than in any other century. Waistlines started just below the bust and eventually the hemline shortened to the natural waist. The shape of the skirt during this century started rather narrow and eventually increased to the hoop skirt and crinoline-supported styles of the 1860s (the fullness was draped and drawn to the back by means of bustles). [1]
Skirts in the 20th and 21st Century
Starting in 1915, skirt hemlines began to shorten from floor length to ankle length and beyond. In the 1920, skirts reached ankle-length, while the 30s saw a longer skirt. The War Years also saw shorter skirts, and then back again to longer. The 60s introduced in its fashion culture, the shortest skirt yet, which was dubbed the "miniskirt". Since then, all types and lengths of skirts have gone from being fashionable to out of fashion back and worth. Currently, pencil skirts, miniskirts and length-ankle skirts have dominated the fashion pages. [2]
Types of Skirts
- A-line Skirt : a slightly flared skirt as in the shape of the letter A.
- Full Skirt : a skirt with fullness that is gathered into the waistband.
- Straight Skirt : a tailored skirt that is fitted from the waist to the hips.
- Circle Skirt : a skirt that is cut into sections to make one or more circles with a hole for the waist. This makes for a very full skirt without the use of pleats, darts or gathers.
- Hobble Skirt a very long and tight skirt with a narrow hemline around the ankle area.
- Pleated Skirt : a skirt with added fullness by means of pleats.
- Bell-Shaped Skirt : a skirt with a bell-shaped hemline.
- Jean Skirt : a skirt made out of denim fabric.
- Cargo Skirt : a skirt resembling the same type of fabric as cargo pants.
- Miniskirt : a very short skirt, usually mid-thigh.
- Micromini : a shorter version of the miniskirt, usually worn by Cheerleaders.
- Broomstick Skirt : a light-weight skirt with a "wrinkly" fabric.
- Ballerina Skirt : a full skirt that reaches just above the knees, made popular in the 1950s.
- Bubble Skirt : a very full skirt, usually tucked in at the waist and bunched up at the hemline.
- Tulip Skirt : a skirt resembling the shape of a tulip flower.
- Asymmetrical Skirt : a skirt with asymmetrical hemlines.
- Pencil Skirt : a straight, fitted skirt, usually ending anywhere between above-the-knee and lower.
- Poodle Skirt : a full, ballerina-like skirt made popular in the 1950s, with a poodle applique.
- Peasant Skirt : a long, flared skirt that is usually ruffled at the bottom.
- Leather Skirt : a skirt made out of leather.
- Maxiskirt : a long, light-weight, colorful skirt.
- Prairie Skirt : similar to a peasant skirt.
- Sarong : a piece of fabric that is wrapped around the waist to form a skirt. Usually worn at the beach.
- Kilt : a traditional Scottish skirt worn by men.
- Rah-rah Skirt : a short, ruffled skirt traditionally worn by Cheerleaders.
- T-skirt : similar to the pencil skirt, but made out of recycled t-shirts.
- Midi Skirt : a medium length skirt.
- Tiered Skirt : a skirt adorned with tiers at the hemline.
- Fishtail Skirt : a long, fitted skirt with a small train on the back resembling a fishtail.
- Puffball Skirt : similar to the bubble skirt.