History of dressing up
Around the 14th century, dresses worn at court parties were often made of complexly woven silk and edged with valuable furs, emphasizing the social status of the wearer. By around the 15th century, wool in many different weaves was the most common material for dresses, and women at court often just added a train to their kirtle for more formal situations. Abundant fabrics and fibers were usually the province of aristocrats, and clothing was used as a sign of social grade and status. From the latter half of the 18th century, formal parties and dances were no more just for royalty and nobility (Evening Gown, 2021). Therefore, as official court wear, dresses have been worn for centuries, but it was not until the middle of the 1820s that the category of evening dress was created independently (Jane E. Hegland, n.d.).
Evening dress types throughout cultures
Evening dresses are not so different in every country. An evening dress is a dress that is formal to be worn after 8 p.m. It is the highest grade and most distinctive dress that can fully show the personality of the dress style. The traditional style of evening dress accentuates a woman’s waist, with many parts of the body exposed, especially the hips, shoulders, arms, and chest, with the weight of the skirt exaggerated underneath. The low neckline design gives the impression of classic, orthodox clothing– focusing on the use of mosaics, embroidery, fine pleats on the collar, luxurious lace, bows and roses–to emphasize the noble elegance of appthe decorative design. The fabrics of traditional evening dresses are selected from luxurious and noble materials, such as silk fabrics and glitter satin, to accommodate the extravagant and warm atmosphere of the evening, according to the purpose of each person’s communication (Nancy Miaful, 2021).
How to choose a dress that suits you today
There are four main types of body types: the first is hourglass. The second is pear (or triangle). The third is athletic. The fourth is apple (or round). The hourglass type of person has a curvy figure with hips and bust in proportion. People with this body type are considered to have a good balance between upper body length and leg length. People with an hourglass shape have a pronounced waist, so emphasizing the waist is a good idea. A pear-shaped person has a thin upper body and large hips and thighs, so it is best to choose a dress with more volume in the upper body to make it look more balanced and proportioned. The body shape of an athletic type person is that of a slightly narrower silhouette at the waist than at the shoulders. Also, people with athletic body types tend to have less defined waists and wider shoulders. The important thing with this body type is to have a balance between the upper and lower body. In other words, try to give the effect of an hourglass shape. An apple-shaped person’s body type has weight on the abdomen, a short and indistinct waist, and slim legs. People who have an apple body type tend to have a flatter bottom. Dresses that suit hourglass people are V-neckline dresses, open neckline dresses, dresses with a cinched waistline, and dresses with fitted tops. In addition to this, wrap dresses with belts at the waist also look great on people with hourglass figures. Dresses that suit pear-shaped people are strapless top dresses, fitted open-neck dresses, V-neckline dresses, and A-line or full skirt dresses. Dresses that suit athletic types are decorative dresses, ruffled dresses, and other dresses with details to increase volume. If the bust is large, choose dresses with thick straps, halter top dresses, dresses with ruffles or drapes, U-neck dresses, and V-neck dresses to emphasize your curves and make the bust look its best. A good dress for an apple-shaped person is one that focuses attention on the upper half of the body. These include belted style dresses, drop-waist dresses, swing dresses, dresses with embellished tops, and empire waist dresses. Wrap dresses, A-line dresses, and full-skirted dresses also look good on apple-shaped people because they hide the abdomen (The Five Most Flattering Dresses for YOUR Body Shapes n.d.).
References
Jane E. Hegland n.d., Evening Dress, LOVE to KNOW, viewed 26 September 2021,
https://fashion-history.lovetoknow.com/clothing-types-styles/evening-dress
Evening gown n.d., Wikipedia, viewed 26 September 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evening_gown
Nancy Miaful 2021, The basics of evening dress culture, Miaful, viewed 27 September 2021, https://www.miaful.com/the-basics-of-evening-dress-culture/
The Five Most Flattering Dresses for YOUR Body Shapes n.d., Love your dress, viewed 28 September 2021, https://www.loveyourdress.ca/dress-blog/the-most-flattering-dresses-for-your-body-shape/
