Women's
Fashion Skirts is basically a women wear of the Western
culture, but it has become a very popular women fashion garment today
all across the globe. Skirts are usually tube or cone shaped garment
that hang from the waist and covers all or part of the legs. They are
mostly preferred for formal occasions. Though today skirts are also used
as a casual wear by females.
In its simplest form, a skirt can be a free falling garment styled out
of a single piece of material like sarongs or pareos, but most skirts
are fitted to the body at the waist and fuller below. The completeness
in the skirt is introduced by means of pleats, darts, gores, or panels.
The hemline of skirts are variable and can be as high as the upper
thigh or as low as the ground, depending on the fashion trend and the
personal choice of the wearer.
Fabric Used
Modern day skirts are generally made of light to mid-weight and fine
quality fabrics. Some of the fabrics used include:
- Denim
- Silk
- Jersey
- Cotton
- Worsted
- Poplin
However, some skirts are made of thin or clingy fabrics. These
skirts usually worn with slips for modesty as well as for better drape.
Periodical Changes in Skirt's Fashion
- 19th Century: During the 19th century, the cut
of fashion skirts were highly variable in the Western culture.
Waistline for skirts were fairly narrow during the period. Skirts
were narrow garments that dramatically increased to the hoop skirt
and crinoline-supported styles of the 1860s. This was followed by
skirts designed with flare and fullness, which were worn and drawn
to the back by means of bustles.
- 20th and 21st Centuries: During the 20th and
21st centuries there were several changes in design as well as
length of ladies skirts. During 1915, hemlines of skirts became
shorter. The length of fashionable skirts became short in 1920s.
Again in 1930s, longer skirts became fashionable. For sometime then,
long skirts were in fashion imparting a new, stylish look. But in
1960s, there was a drastic reduction in the length of the skirts and
they were the shortest skirts in fashion.
Since 1970s, short and ankle-length skirts became popular in
fashion magazines and catalogs.
Various shapes and designs of skirts that have been in fashion are as
follows:
Skirt by Shapes
- Full skirt: It is a full-length skirt with
fullness extending from the waistband.
- Straight skirt: These skirts have a straight
cut. These tailored skirts hang straight from the hips and are
fitted from the waist to the hips by with darts or a yoke. Straight
skirts are also designed with a kick-pleat for walking comfortably.
- Pleated skirt: In these skirts, the fullness is
reduced by means of regular pleats, also known as plaits or folds so
that they fit the waist in a proper way. The pleats can be can be
stitched flat to hip-level or free-hanging.
- Circle skirt: This type of skirt is cut in
sections so as to make one or more circles with a hole for the
waist. The design imparts fullness to the skirt and also lets the
skirt hang smoothly from the waist without darts, pleats or gathers.
- A-line skirt: These skirts are designed with
minimum flare and in some way they represent the capital letter A of
English alphabet.
- Divided skirt: These fashionable skirts
resemble a skirt, but is divided into two legs. Divided skirts are
very similar to a loose-fitting pair of trousers or long shorts.
Skirts by Fashion
- Hobble skirt: These skirts have fullness at the
hips, which narrows down to the ankles. They were highly fashionable
in the early 20th century.
- Poodle skirt: These skirts have more or less
circle or near-circle shape with applique poodle or other
adornments. Poodle skirts were in fashion in 1950s.
- Dirndl: This type of skirt is usually made of a
straight length of fabric, which is gathered at the waist.
- Kilt-skirt: It is basically a wrap-around skirt
styled with overlapping aprons in front and pleated around the back.
It is a traditional women's wear yet fashionable.
- Prairie skirt: It is a simple skirt with flares
along with one or more flounces or tiers. Prairie skirts are popular
since 1970 and still in fashion.
- Mini skirt: It is a thigh-length skirt. There
is another type of miniskirt, which is extremely short in length.
They are popular since 1960s.
- Maxi skirt: It is a mid-calf-length skirt,
which is in fashion since 1970s.
- Broomstick skirt: This is a fashionable skirt
which is designed with several crumpled pleats. These pleats are
formed by compressing and twisting the clothing while it is wet.
They are in fashion since 1980s till today.
- Trouser skirt: These skirts have a straight cut
in which the part above the hips is designed more like a men's
trouser. The skirt is provided with belt loops, pockets and fly
front.
- Sarong: It is basically a wrap around skirt
made of a square fabric. The skirt is wrapped around the body and
tied on one hip to make a skirt. Sarongs are also worn as a skirt or
as a cover-up over a bathing suit in tropical climates.
Types
There are various types of women's skirts depending on their length,
style, etc. Some of the common types are:
Women's
Fashion Skirts
