Sheath dress

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Sheath dress

In fashion, a sheath dress is a fitted, straight cut dress, often nipped at the waistline with no waist seam.

sleeves and reaches knee length.[3]

Ancient Egypt

Egyptian - Female Tomb Figure - Walters 2215

Originating in the ancient world, the sheath dress is commonly seen in

skirts, or a V neck dress.[4]

19th century

The Princess Sheath dress was popular between 1878 and 1880. It was associated with the Princess of Wales, later known as

ribbons were attached in the back's interior.[5]

1900s

Ladies' Home Journal (1948) (14578977850)

During the early 1900s, Americans were still looking to Paris for the latest trends. American socialites traveled to Europe to view collections and receive custom outfits. Paul Poiret is credited as the first designer of the modern sheath dress. In doing so, he also created a rubber girdle as an alternative to the boned corset to wear under the dress.[6] In great contrast to the emphasized curves of Victorian era and earlier dress, the sheath dress offered a sleek look that revealed the legs and lower torso with a slit.[7] The style of the sheath dress reached the United States in 1908. That fall, the musical Bandanna Land included the song "Sheath Gown in Darktown", whose chorus mentions a "sheath gown":[8]

Oh there's trouble down in Old Darktown,
Since Bella came with that sheath gown,
Imported walk and smile, and all that foreign style,
And all the girls are badly hurt as they watch her flirt that see-more skirt.
The sheath gown it's got Darktown, and will hold it for a while.

1950s

By the 1950s, the sheath dress became the modern look for American women. In 1950, Christian Dior introduced the "Vertical Line". The line catered to a woman's body and her curves in comparison to previous years. From the line, Vogue called the sheath dress the "most important single day fashion".[9] In 1956, a girdle sales manager remarked “The sheath paid for my house in Westport.”[10] Pattern companies sold sheath cuts up to size 22 ½ and 41 inch bust size. The dress was referred to as “the slim look for five o’clock on”. For a casual look, the sheath dress was matched with a short sleeve print bolero. As a business attire, a box jacket when over the bolero as well as the dress.[11] As the cut of the dress became easier to construct, textures were added to the dress such as beads.[12]

1960s

One of the most notable sheath dresses of all time is the black Givenchy dress of Audrey Hepburn. In 1961, Hepburn wore a Hubert de Givenchy black sheath dress in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's. By this time, her dress became known as the little black dress.[13] On May 19, 1962, Marilyn Monroe sang happy birthday to then president John F. Kennedy for his 45th birthday. At the event, Monroe wore a Jean Louis sheath dress that is described as "skin and beads". The dress was made nude toned, backless, and clad with crystals.[14] Monroe was sewn into the dress for a tight fit. In 2016, the Jean Louis design sold for $4.8 million.[15]

21st century

In recent years, the sheath dress is worn as a cocktail dress. The pattern can also be seen worn on brides as sheath dresses are popular as wedding dresses; the style is recommended for slim brides who are either tall or petite.[16]

Gallery

  • Sheath dresses
  • 1959 Sheath Dress by James Galanos
    1959 Sheath Dress by James Galanos
  • Portrait of an Egyptian dancer
    Portrait of an Egyptian dancer
  • Campbell Brown of CNN in a sheath dress
    Campbell Brown of CNN in a sheath dress

See also

Notes

This article presents a primarily Eurocentric view of this fashion. Excluding the dress in Ancient Egyptian art, missing from this article is the sheath dress in Eastern, Latin, and African cultures.

References

  1. ^ Freer, Alison (2015). How to Get Dressed: A Costume Designer's Secrets for Making Your Clothes Look, Fit, and Feel Amazing. New York: Ten Speed Press.
  2. ^ "How to Draft a Sheath Dress". Clothing Patterns 101.
  3. ^ Haughey, Helen. "Sew a Classic Sheath Dress" (PDF). Threads Magazine.
  4. ^ Condra, Jill (2008). The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Clothing Through World History: Prehistory to 1500CE. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. p. 36.
  5. ^ Nunn, Joan (200). Fashion in Costume, 1200-2000. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 153.
  6. ^ De Montebello, Philippe (1983). Notable Acquisitions, 1982-1983. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 43.
  7. ^ Blaszczyk, Regina Lee (2008). Producing Fashion: Commerce, Culture, and Consumers. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 132, 133.
  8. JSTOR j.ctt3fhc6x.7
    .
  9. ^ Hill, Daniel Delis (2007). As Seen in Vogue: A Century of American Fashion in Advertising. Texas Tech University Press.
  10. ISBN 9780465080472
    .
  11. ^ Przybyszewski, Linda. The Lost Art of Dress: The Women Who Once Made America Stylish.
  12. JSTOR 3795109
    .
  13. ^ Miller, Jacqui, ed. (2014). Fan Phenomena: Audrey Hepburn. United Kingdom: Intellect Books. p. 49.
  14. ^ Miller, Jennifer Jean (Feb 14, 2014). Marilyn Monroe & Joe DiMaggio - Love In Japan, Korea & Beyond. New Jersey: J.J. Avenue Productions.
  15. ^ Kreps, Daniel. "Marilyn Monroe's 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' Dress Sells for $4.8 Million". Rolling Stone.
  16. ^ Cerier, Alison Brown; Le, Yen, eds. (2003). Wedding Plans, Wedding Crafts: Organize, Personalize, Accesorize. Minnesota: Creative Publishing. p. 27.


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