Evolution of Dresses

Evolution of Dresses

When the British left India, it is said that they had taken a huge amount of our precious jewelry and antiques with them. And if it's one thing we would like to steal from them, then it's their fashion. We Indians are famous for our various designs in sarees, salwar kameez, lehengas and so on. But fashion has no boundaries as it is an art, and art is subjective. Gowns and frocks had come into existence around the 11th century in europe, when women began wearing tunics similar to the ones that men wore with a hemline which would most likely end below their knees, although they were more popularly known as 'dresses' then. Around the 16th century, these dresses were stitched to tightly fit around the arms and chest. Later the corset was invented for the purpose of making the women's bodies appear in perfect shape so as to fit into these dresses. These dresses were no longer just what the rich wore. Even peasants wore it as it had become the comman man's clothes. But when the rich wore it, they wore it in style with prints and beads that were uniquely designed.

      As of the 21st century, this 'dress' which is now also known as 'gown' when it's ankle length and 'frock' when it is knee length, seems to never go out of style. You can never go wrong with a gown or a frock if styled correctly. There are so many iconic gowns to talk about, from the exquisite Black Givenchy dress of Audrey Hepburn and Princess Diana's wedding dress, the legendary flying dress of Marilyn Monroe to the green Versace dress worn by Jennifer Lopez. The list is too long. In the words of Marilyn Monroe, "Diamonds are a girl's best friend". Well, it can most certainly be concluded that dresses are a close second best friend.