One thing that has always seemed to make a statement is clothing such as women clothing. Women have always been judged by the clothing they wear. Apparel speaks volumes such as their personality, their social class and even their income. That still remains true and the only change is in the designs worn.
Since the 1600s women were known according to the number of changes she had in her armoire. Commoners were less likely to have more than two changes while nobility were known to have many different changes. This prevented nobility and merchants wives from being seen in public in the same clothing in a short period of time by someone of the same stature.
Many of the women apparel in the 16th and 17th Centuries were made of silk and were very heavy. By the 18th Century muslin was introduced along with ruffles, big hats and large colored plumes. Layers of clothes were worn which included pantaloons and petticoats beneath the overdress. Large hats with giant dyed plumes to match the dress accented the overdress.
Towards the end of the 18th Century it became apparent that women were highly irritated with the low cut necklines, the corsets and the ground dragging skirts that seemed to clean the street as they walked. It became a touchy subject for most women and most of the gentlemen wanted women fashions to remain the revealing and shapely styles as always.
By the time the 19th Century came around, women began to consider shortening the skirts, removing the corsets and incorporating the bustle into their skirts and design higher necklines. Pressure from male designers, however restricted the removal of corsets and bustles and were still used for many of the formal attire. As time went on, dresses began to shorten even more and the bustle was removed in an effort to show the natural shape of women.
As time passed, more masculine apparel began to become popular. Sewing machines began to be a common fixture in homes and women began designing and making their own clothes. These were much more practical than the ones they once had to endure.
In the beginning of the 20th Century women won the fight against the hot, long skirts and began making shorter skirts that revealed their ankles. The lengths of the skirts were experimented with and corsets and bustles were removed. The first decade of the century saw even straighter lines of skirts with a short train.
A new era in the second decade brought pants and shorts to women’s apparel. These were considered the most revealing articles of clothing ever made. They were most popular with those women who could rely on servants to do their daily work for them.
By the time WWII began, women were more focused on practical clothing in drab colors. They saw material being rationed as well as fasteners such as buttons. When the war was over, designers began changing women’s apparel drastically. They introduced miniskirts, halter tops, the bikini and short-shorts. The changes that clothing such as women clothing, saw over this one century would impact history.
It’s a fact that clothing can tell a lot about a person including his or her personality, style, income and social class. Check out our online Women’s clothing overview for lots more info on attire.
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