During the 1920s, the length of women's skirts shortened by an average of 15 inches.
The so-called "hemline theory" is said to have gotten its start in the 1920s when Wharton School of Business economist George Taylor noticed in good economic times many women raised their skirts to show off their silk stockings. When times were bad, women lowered their skirts to hide that they weren't wearing any.
During 1920, the lengths of the skirt went to the ankle with a slight bow around the hips and tapering slightly to the hemline. In 1922, skirts went off from the ankle and reached mid-shin.
Skirts rose to the knees during the first two years of the 1920s, fell to the ankles again in 1923, rose up to the knees again in 1925, and were again long by the end of the decade. Seen below are a number of ankle-length skirts that were popular between 1923 and 1925.
Although they are 'short' by standards of the early 20th Century, hemlines are still below the knee--a radical change caused by the entry of women into the work force during World War I.
For the next fifty years fashionable skirts became short (1920s), then long (1930s), then shorter (in the War Years with their restrictions on fabric), then long (the "New Look"), then shortest of all from 1967 to 1970, when skirts became as short as possible while avoiding exposure of underwear, which was considered ...
Skirts were long and smooth, often reaching down to mid-calf at highest during the day and floor-length in the evening. Popular fabrics of the time include rayon, silk crepe, satin, wool, and cotton all in various colors and patterns.
Inspired by the fashions she saw on the streets, Quant raised the hemline of her skirts in 1964 to several inches above the knee, and the iconic miniskirt was born. She named the skirt after her favorite car, the Mini.
As the decade progressed, girls started to wear longer dresses and skirts, following women's fashion. In the mid- to late-seventies, a popular look for young girls were overalls (with flared pant legs, of course). These came in bright colors or patterns and were often worn with frilly blouses underneath (Fig.
The catwalks for spring/summer have unleashed a mini revival this year. And British stylist Liz Jones says you can still wear a mini skirt even in your 60s.
Flappers were a "new breed" of young women in the 1920s who wore short skirts, bobbed (cut short) their hair, listened to jazz, and flaunted their disdain for what was then considered acceptable behavior.
It's put a smile on my – much older – face. But mini skirts don't have to live in the past. You CAN wear them at any age.
The culture of wearing short skirts began when Gyaru culture was trending in the 90's influenced by legendary Japanese pop star Namie Amuro with her super short skirt, thin eyebrows, and bleached hair. School girls adopted it to their school uniforms and started to make their skirts shorter.
From the mid-16th century until the late 19th or early 20th century, young boys in the Western world were unbreeched and wore gowns or dresses until an age that varied between two and eight.
The general guideline is that skirts should be no higher than the top, or slightly above the top, of your knees.
1950s skirts came in long or mid shin lengths. As the decade moved form the 1940s to the 1960s the hemline of skirts also moved up. Midi length skirts were the most popular for lounging at home or in formal wear settings.
The first thing you'll want to understand is what different skirt lengths there are. Mini or micro skirt length typically sits mid-thigh, midi skirt length hits over or below the knee, and maxi skirt length will go to your ankles or to the floor.
What is the Length of a Mini Skirt? Mini skirts have a hemline that sits mid-thigh, well above the knee. They range between about 10 inches and 20 inches long. Mini skirts are generally ideal for women with slim legs and can make legs appear longer.
1950s Lingerie and Shapewear – Girdles
In the 1950s, girdles were still a required undergarment for most dress and pant shapes. These were often lighter and easier to move in compared to a corset, so they were often preferred by most women.
The skirt originated with the Romani people, who believed women should cover their lower bodies for modesty. Then, in the Swinging Sixties, it was embraced by women in the hippy movement, who no longer wanted to conform to fashion norms.
It was often the structures beneath Victorian clothing that gave women's fashion its form. Corsets (also known as stays) moulded the waist, while cage crinolines supported voluminous skirts, and bustles projected a dress out from behind.
By the early 1870s, the smaller crinolette and the bustle had largely replaced the crinoline. Crinolines were worn by women of every social standing and class across the Western world, from royalty to factory workers.
Boxy shoulders, nipped in waists and A-line skirts to, or just below the knees were the go. Dress lengths rose due to the shortage of fabrics caused by rationing and the war. Women were encouraged to Mend and Make Do.
While the miniskirt reached its height mid-decade, by the late 1960s, a new style and culture was emerging. Skirts dipped back to mid-calf and by 1969, the full-length maxi-skirt had emerged (Fig. 12). This came with the move towards the “hippie” aesthetic.