A Brief History of Women’s Dresses
Let’s take a moment to look at the history of the dress and its origins , and how it has survived through the ages.
If the dress is today a true marker of liberated femininity , this has not always been the case during the great periods of History.
chic and classy dress
During Antiquity , the robe (commonly called a toga ) was distinguished by its unisex character .
However, in a society deeply marked by male domination, the dress was corseted and rigid , and women struggled to move.
The Enlightenment movement heralded a major change : the time had come for the dress to become more complex and bulky, with a heavy style and larger volumes . The French dress with a whalebone petticoat , or the English dress with a close-fitting bodice , were the flagship dresses of the time.
Then comes the empire style with its high waists and pleats reminiscent of Greek togas.
In the 20th century , the dress took on new adornments with shorter and more open outfits , from the 1920s onwards, revealing women’s silhouettes. Fashion became simpler , and dresses were less voluminous.
Coco Chanel ‘s virtuoso talent dazzles feminine beauty (with her legendary and timeless three-hole little black dress ) and rises to the pinnacle of chic and classy clothing.
The designer said: ” If a woman is badly dressed, we notice her dress, but if she is impeccably dressed, it is her who is noticed. “
Sunbathing : Sleeveless dress with open back
Long or short, fitted or wide, the sleeveless dress with an open back seduces with its low-cut back. Let yourself be won over by this dress, which creates a very feminine and slightly sexy silhouette.
Strapless : Dress with an undefined waist, narrow at the shoulders, straight cut or flared towards the bottom
Straight or regular cut, it will flatter a woman of small or medium height , highlighting your bare shoulders , with a natural and romantic style .
How to combine colors and make it wow!
The ruffled dress gives a flared shape towards the bottom and will delight women looking for a touch of glamour.
Charleston : Dress with a dropped waist as worn in the Charleston years.
Typical of the 1920s , the Charleston is a low-waisted dress that most often reaches the knee and has fringes . A vintage-cut dress par excellence and supreme coquettishness to wear during a formal evening, it is the perfect alliance between sophistication and lightness . Adopted by the star revue leaders of the Roaring Twenties, Joséphine Baker or Mistinguett, this dress can be embellished with long velvet gloves or Charleston headdresses with feathers or sequins .