Throughout the centuries there is one thing that has separate classes of people; clothing such as women clothing. Simply by the way women dress tells a story of their personality, style, income and social class. The only thing that has changed is the design of the clothes themselves.
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.
During the 1700s muslin fabric was introduced along with plumes, large ruffles and heavy hats. Pantaloons and petticoats were worn in layers under the overdress and every well dressed woman was accessorized by hats with large dyed plumes outstretching from them. Many times the plumes were dyed to match the color of 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.
Shortly before the end of the century women began dressing with fewer ruffles and lace and began dressing in more straight line clothing. By this time, sewing machines were a common household appliance and women began making their own, more practical clothing that allowed them to better perform daily activities.
The first decade of the 20th Century brought shorter skirts that revealed ladies ankles. Before the beginning of WWI, designers played with the lengths of skirts and began removing the corsets and bustles that had restricted women for centuries. They became more straight line 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.
Once WWII began, the focus turned towards more practical and drab fashions. The rationing of material and fasteners such as buttons required women to use more belts and sashes. The later decades of the 20th Century brought a vast array of fashions from miniskirts, halter tops, bikini bathing suits and short-shorts. Much of the clothing such as women clothing, has changed drastically over the centuries in an effort to liberate women from the once constricting and restricting fashions of our ancestors.
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.
During the 1700s muslin fabric was introduced along with plumes, large ruffles and heavy hats. Pantaloons and petticoats were worn in layers under the overdress and every well dressed woman was accessorized by hats with large dyed plumes outstretching from them. Many times the plumes were dyed to match the color of 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.
Shortly before the end of the century women began dressing with fewer ruffles and lace and began dressing in more straight line clothing. By this time, sewing machines were a common household appliance and women began making their own, more practical clothing that allowed them to better perform daily activities.
The first decade of the 20th Century brought shorter skirts that revealed ladies ankles. Before the beginning of WWI, designers played with the lengths of skirts and began removing the corsets and bustles that had restricted women for centuries. They became more straight line 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.
Once WWII began, the focus turned towards more practical and drab fashions. The rationing of material and fasteners such as buttons required women to use more belts and sashes. The later decades of the 20th Century brought a vast array of fashions from miniskirts, halter tops, bikini bathing suits and short-shorts. Much of the clothing such as women clothing, has changed drastically over the centuries in an effort to liberate women from the once constricting and restricting fashions of our ancestors.
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It's a fact that clothing can tell a lot about an individual including his or her personality, style, income and social class. Check out our Women's clothing overview for more info on attire.
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