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 This
garment of women’s wear has a huge history measured in centuries. In different periods
of time in various countries a skirt was first an item of clothing for men and
only several centuries later it became the attribute of women’s wear. The history
of the skirt is amazing and attractive as any other story of the costume in the
world of fashion.
This
garment was introduced not so long ago, only several centuries ago. The
clothing was not specified as for men and for women for thousand years. Ancient
Roman and Greeks had to do without skirts preferring comfortable loose tunics,
mantels and chitons.
The word «skirt»
comes from the Turkish language «ubba» which stands for «long upper wear with
long wide sleeves». However, this word specified not only the garment of the
wardrobe which was fastened to the waist having no sleeves, and the word
referred to long coats, either. The name and look of this garment undergone sea
changes undergone since then in the fashion industry. In the Dark Ages the word
«upa» was used to define a loincloth for women and the underwear for men. Peter
I issued the decree in 1701 when the word «skirt» was ordered to define just
the female garment, though the skirt was made for men and women in many
countries. Since the ancient times men in hot countries used to wear short
loincloths. Shenti and sindon used by the Egyptians and chitons of the Romans
were the prototypes of modern skirts. Manly Vikings battling with enemies in
severe climatic conditions borrowed the kilt from the Scots and had it
shortened to the waistline.
Anaksirid
trousers were the invention of the ancient Persians and the skirt became as
wide to style as the full circle skirt. This item of wardrobe was for men also
and then it was getting narrower and narrower proportioned as trousers. The
history of skirts for men could be ended here, though men from time to time
return to skirts in every century and in every country.
In the late
15th century the history of the skirt for ladies began in Western
Europe. Just afterthe period of cruel inquisition for women the skirt
resembled rather the Roman chiton pickedup at the neck and tied at the
waistline. It was used a shirt for men while women wore thatas a blouse
under or over the dress.
Some time
later a curious lady had with the idea to cut it into two parts. Since then a
skirt was made in various fascinating style, though always fastened to the
waist. In the 16th century the skirt of huge width were styled which
were worn one over another in layers. The structure was heavy enough that a
woman felt difficult to move. A metal framework from bands was used then, when
the structure was put on the floor, and then a lady just «entered» into it
fastening it to the girdle.
The 17th
century was more liberal and the clothing appeared more comfortable with the
effect of wide thighs so trendy that time created by the mass of light skirts
one over another. In winter time the number of skirts sometimes reached twelve.
All these multi-layer skirts were decorated with pretentious embroidery, laced waves
and fancy flounces decorate.
The dome-shaped
skirt was returned in fashion in the 18th century. Wooden and metal
frameworks were again used and also the whalebone was introduced. In the 19th
century the crinoline, flax covers interlaced with the horsehair were
introduced in the industry which was sooner replaced by the wire. Such light
frameworks for dresses were afforded by all society layers though the weight of
the dress itself could go to one hundred kg. So, a wedding dress with a long
train could weigh to over a hundredweight. A bride was not able to walk by
herself in such an ensemble and she was taken to the church in hands.
In the early
20th century closely-fitted fashionable skirts tightened at the
ankles were trendy in Europe. It was rather
difficult for women to walk wearing such a skirt. Almost all skirt models with
every changes appeared thanks to music and theater. Such a model of a «lame» skirt
was invented by Cecilia
Sorel, the English actress, for her new role at the theater and
just after the first night these skirts were custom by ladies to appear in
streets like her.
Rock-n-roll
added aerial and wide skirts in fashion which let legs and underwear of dancers
open when dancing fast. The impetuous century showed its influence to the
length of the hem of the skirt and they become shorten drastically. And the
real revolution was made by mini skirts offered by Mary Quant,
the creative and adventurous designer. The end of the 60s was typical with the
image of the teen-woman on the stage and in real life. A new woman with a new
look required a new attire.
Several
fashion designers in the end of the first decade of the new millennium
demonstrated new collections with skirts for men, so unusual for the wide
public today due to tendency of men to have a masculine image. Yohji Yamamoto, Yves
Saint-Laurent, Alexander McQueen introduced extravagant skirts in their
collections intentionally. The world of today was overflow with the love to
unisex style. Whether skirts for men will go into the public or stay just a
designer offer – it takes times to see.
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