~Fashion.Silhouette.~: ~ Make A Statement ~

MAKE A STATEMENT!

WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME! To another issue from your one and only FASHION.SILHOUETTE. This week’s issue is a follow up from the previous, that was titled “Once Upon A Tulle” I wanted to carry on the wave as there is so much more about skirts that we just don’t know! Last week I covered the oh so beautiful Tulle; however in this one I want to cover the STATEMENT SKIRT! Well as usual my fellow classmates let’s clear the word statement!

STATEMENT:

· A definite or clear expression of something in speech or writing:
· An expression of an attitude or belief that is made by means of actions or appearance

Right so we can see that it’s a form of expression of how one feels, thinks and knows about themselves, enough to manifest their ideas into a physical reality <<< (oooooh we getting deep ha-ha) So if this is true and it is, ask yourself why do you not have one in your closet? Yea that’s what I thought (smile).

It is customary of me to take you a little deeper into the skirt history, as I usually do, so with that being said LET’S PEDDLE TO THE METAL! >>>>>>>ZOOOOOM>>>>>>>>>

The Infamous S-K-I-R-T Past.Present.Future.

According to an article I read via the website Life in Italy, it states, Skirts can be sassy, flirty, business like, severe, fun or elegant, but all of them definitely emphasize one quality; and that is femininity. There was a time when the European women wore nothing but dresses and skirts, even to the point that the word "skirt" became slang for "woman" in the English language. But skirts were not always as feminine as they are today.

Skirts are one of the oldest styles of garment known to mankind: after the loincloth, it was the skirt that graced the human form. Once a rectangular piece of material, be it animal skin or leaves woven together, was wrapped around the waist, the essential skirt was created.

Importantly, men as well as women wore skirts, and ancient art shows remarkably "manly" men in skirts. But as time passed, it was women who became known for wearing skirts with few exceptions like Scotsmen, who still wear their kilts on traditional occasions. Women wore their skirts long as a mark of their modesty as well as their prestige, because before the Industrial Revolution, fabric was expensive. Until the 19th century the skirts of dresses emphasized the waist while enlarging the hip.

But things began to change in the 19th century, with skirts becoming more streamlined to the body. In the 20th century, the hardships of war required women to wear shorter, more work-friendly clothing. This marked the beginning of the upward journey of the skirt hem, which went up from ankle-length, to calf-length and then the knee length by the 1960s.

But the defining moment for the modern skirt arrived in the 1960s, when inspired by the 1965 short skirts by André Courrèges, Mary Quant, took the hem up by a few notches to give women the new length that was here to stay: the mini.

CBS News Sunday Article also explains in their article chasing The History of The Skirt.

Today, a skirt's design is all about personal style. But not long ago, long was the only way to go.

Another sign of status and beauty: the narrowness of a woman's waist --so important that women would try to accentuate their waistlines by expanding the girth of their hips with hoops and petticoats, perhaps even a padded derriere.

You can still see this style from the 18th and 19th centuries in today's wedding gowns, as Steel explains, "Because that's a very romantic moment. And a lot of people associate that with an old-fashioned style of dress."

Long or short, if you're looking to make a splash you might want to give the Prada collection a whirl.

"It's always an artistic element which has inspired Muccia (Prada) and inspired her to give more than just a simple skirt," says Vogue's editor-at-large Andre Leon.

At Prada's flagship store in New York, more than 100 of the design house's most whimsical, stunning, and more often than not, completely unaffordable skirts can be seen in a display of Prada's best designs of the past 30 years.

"I think what they want us to experience is the great possibility to be an individual. The great possibility to see design and fabric and to see things that are made in factories as mundane as a skirt and to see how extraordinary a skirt can be," Leon says.

"It can take on the elements of a baroque painting or a minimalist painting or a wonderful scene out of nature and that's what makes great design," Leon adds.

· Both articles can be accessed via the links!: http://www.lifeinitaly.com/fashion/skirt-history.asp
· http://www.cbsnews.com/news/chasing-the-history-of-the-skirt/

SO WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED! Well both links you can find above. However we can see that the skirt has come a long way, from ancient Egyptian time’s right down to 2015 with skirts running from $30,000! Now for me personally that’s way too much, however to someone who has the means I say KUDOS to you! History has shown us that this simple ensemble not only has become a fingerprint in fashion and clothing history, but has represented the quintessence, luxury and taste of modern times. Our generation of women now have taken this element called skirt and put their expression and interpretation via prints, textures and lengths. The range goes on and on, and I think it’s safe to say the longer the better (Although if one doesn’t want to go too long, at least keep it at a tasteful length, always showing that you’re a Lady). This is not just for modesty purposes, no no my dears, but as history has shown when it’s done right, the longer length shows class, elegance, royalty and a touch of mystery. As a man who wouldn’t want to work the extra mile to deem himself worthy (marriage of course) to un-wrap such a tasteful little box!

While on my search for the next issue, I stumbled into my sister’s wardrobe and uncovered two skirts of African prints which tickled me PINK and made me wonder did the material used have a meaning to it? As I have always heard that they had. Well my beauties I can definitely confirm the latter and share with you what I uncovered about the timeless history. ENJOY!

COLOURS IN AFRICAN CLOTHING

Skirt by Maisie Todd: www.maisietodd.com

Colours in the fabrics of African people possess important meaning. Meanings vary from people to people and fabric to fabric. For example, the Akan people in West Africa use dark colours such as red, black, and brown for funerals, while the Akon use white for joyous occasions, such as naming ceremonies. In kente cloth made by the Ashanti people of Ghana, gold represents status and serenity. Yellow represents fertility (like the ripeness of an egg yolk or a fruit) and vitality. Green signifies the renewal and growth seen in plants and represents the cycle of birth and decay. Blue represents the presence of God and the omnipotence of the blue sky. Blue also refers to a pure spirit, one which rests in harmony. Red connotes passion, the passion of political determination, struggle, and defence. Ashanti also believe that red holds protective powers. Finally, black denotes seriousness and a union with ancestors. It implies spiritual awareness.

The rest can be read via the link: http://blog.africaimports.com/wordpress/2008/10/african-fabrics-the-history-and-background-part-1/

HOW AMAZING WAS THAT! You guys better be learning something o_O … :D . As I bring this to a close I urge my female readers to invest in a statement skirt, it doesn’t have to have a print per say, it could be a bold colour that you haven’t tried before, a different textile just like the tulle or a simple print. The homework is for you to do, get to know your body and what works for you, but I promise you, you won’t go wrong with a S.S (Statement. Skirt) in your closet. Go on and SET THE TREND by setting YOUR trend, it’s always fun that way. With that being said below is my rendition of the two skirts I found in my sisters wardrobe. Enjoy and Happy Shopping!