All About Skirts

Do you know that the skirt as a fashion garment dates as far back as 3000 BC? Think of those images of ancient Egypt - the garment worn by men was the simple white wrap-around skirt. The skirts were made of flax or cotton and were belted at the waist. Wealthy people wore thinner, lightweight skirts, the temperatures in Egypt are really hot. The rest of the population had to make do with rougher, thicker fabrics.

 

 

Don’t forget the Scottish kilt, dating as far back as the 16th century. Men wore tartan style kilts in distinctive patterns and designs that designated their clan. The word 'kilt' comes from the ancient Norse word, kjilt, meaning 'pleated'. To this day, pleated tartan skirts are still in fashion.

 

 

In the Middle Ages, weaving and tailoring became a skill and men started wearing trousers. Skirts became a fashion outfit for women. During the Victorian era, women had to wear clothing that covered their bodies and long dresses were fashionable, worn with rigid corsets and bustles.

As time progressed, rigid fashions relaxed and in the late 1800s women started wearing skirts for walking, riding and cycling. They were less restrictive and offered freedom of movement.

Almost every decade of the 20th century was defined by a skirt with a unique look.

1910s – The hobble skirt

 

 

What a strange idea this is! A classic story claims that the skirt was worn by the first woman to fly in an airplane, in 1908. She tied a rope around her skirt to prevent it from blowing upwards in the wind during the flight. Very innovative and certainly makes sense, but how do you walk in that after the flight lands?

1920s – Flapper style

The Flapper ladies of the 1920s were out to flaunt the rules. Skirts were short, touching the knees - in those days knee-length was short. The gals wore loads of make-up, smoked cigarettes in long slender holders and loved to party. The roaring 20s offered great styles smothered with fringes and sequins in bold colours.

 

1930s – Bland longer skirts

The years of the 1930s were defined by the Great Depression. It began after a stock market crash on a day known as Black Tuesday. Stocks plummeted and economies collapsed. Lady’s fashion took on a sombre note with no frills or flounces. Clothing was bland and functional, and skirts were simple with longer hemlines.

1940s - Sombre look wartime skirts

During the War years, many ladies found themselves working in factories and in the fields, doing men’s jobs. They wore sombre but functional clothing that was comfortable and offered freedom of movement. Military style skirts were popular as were army uniforms worn by many women who did active duty.

 

 

 

1950s - Dior and the New Look

 The 50s revived fashion and fun. Dior launched his New Look which featured the classic Little Black Dress and the A-line cut. Also wowing the world of fashion was the tight clinging pencil skirt from his famous H-line collection. The H-line silhouette was introduced in 1954. Like the letter 'H', it was straight up and down, with an emphasis on the waist, which is denoted by the bar of the 'H'. After the dark years of depression and war, fashionistas embraced these extravagant, sexy and fun styles.

 

 

1960s - Mary Quant and the mini

 

 

The 60s was a true revolution in fashion. Skirt hems became so short they were almost impossible to walk in. Spurred on by fashion designer and fashion icon, Mary Quant, ladies wowed in minis that showed miles of legs and super high heels. She also launched hot-pants that became a must-have for the swinging 60s. Discos were all the rage, as was short hair, patterned tights and pouting lips.

1970s - Hippie style wrap around skirts

After the mini era, ladies returned to the long flowing, gypsy-style skirts that defined the hippie era. Colours were bold and fun, flowers embellished everything and Love replaced War. Shoes were flat leather sandals, often made by hand. These iconic styles are still attractive today and many mature hippies (and younger ones) embrace these fabulous nature-inspired designs.

 

 

Skirt styles for 2022

Since the 1970s, skirts have remained popular in all shapes and styles. Fashion is free and easy – go for whatever rocks your world.

Here are some classics

A-line skirt

This is our favourite cut for our vintage skirt range. The A-line is wider at the hem than at the waist. It is fitted at the waist and flows gently outwards, embracing your curves, but not adding extra volume. It is ultra-flattering and ladylike, perfect for casual or smart wear. The length can be worn short or long as you desire. Here our model wears a lovely Red with White Japanese Cranes A Line Skirt.

 

 

Straight skirt

A must-have for every wardrobe. As implied, the cut is straight up and down and is fairly loose at the knees. This versatile design is ideal for pairing with a blouse and jacket.

Pencil skirt

The ultimate business skirt, ideal for a suit or ensemble. It is tighter than the straight skirt and more fitted. Very tight pencil skirts are known as wiggle-skirts in vintage terms. That is because you can only walk with very small steps while wiggling your hips. Ultra-seductive for gals who are not shy. Some wiggle-skirts have a vent at the back to allow for a little more movement.

Fit-and-flare skirt

Fit-and-flare skirts are another one of our fave designs. The skirt fits at the waist and hips and then flares outwards at the knees or below. Very feminine, fresh and fun. This style is so versatile, it is equally as perfect for a casual boho-look or a glam evening outfit.

Tube skirt

Usually made of stretch fabric that hugs the body. They are ideal for casual or sporty looks. These skirts are often woven in one piece with no seams, making them extra clingy and showy.

Pleated skirt

There are many styles of pleating, but all add fullness and flare to a skirt. We love the front box pleat that starts at the waist and adds volume to the skirt. We also love the full pleated skirt that flows and flares seductively as you move. Here our model wears our very popular Pretty in Pink Box Pleated Cherry Blossom Skirt with Pockets.

 

 

Wrap skirt

Fun, casual and so easy to wear. The wrap is large and flowing, tied at the waist and billowing open to show calves and a hint of thigh. Ideal for the beach or a sexy evening outfit, you cannot go wrong with a wrap skirt design. They flatter all sizes from small to larger plus-sizes.

Mini skirt

If you have great legs and want to show off your bronze tan, wear a super-mini mini. They are perfect for pairing with cropped tops, tank tops, tees and lacy blouses. Minis will always be around and you can get them in almost any fabric from silk to denim, leather or organic linens. Pair with flats, heels or thigh-high boots. The look is yours.

Circular skirt

A fun design that is feminine and flattering. As the name implies, the skirt is cut from a full circle of fabric with a smaller circle in the centre for the waist. Easy to wear and easy to style. We luv the circular skirt – take a look at our stunning Flower Bouquet Teal Sweet Heart Dress that features a full circular skirt.

 

 

Our Fabulous Art Inspired Skirts

This season we are inspired by iconic artists. We have created two masterpieces for your summer wardrobe.

The Van Gogh is a classic painting of a farm house in a field under clear blue skies. You will love the greeny-blue tones, perfect for day and evening wear. Van Gogh is known for his bold, thick brush strokes and stunning oil colour combinations.

Also in our collection is a beautiful Water Lily reproduction from Claude Monet. Do you know that he painted more than 250 water lily images over a period of 30 years?

These sensational skirts are for the lady who loves arts and culture. They are classy, sophisticated and so easy to wear. We have given them both an A-line cut that is slimming and flattering. They also have hidden pockets.

 

 

 

We really appreciate getting your feedback! Let us know which skirt styles you enjoy wearing most and we will see if we can create some stunners for you in our upcoming new releases.