Strapless dress

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

A strapless dress or top is a garment that stays put around the upper body without

brassiere, with the tightness of the bodice preventing the dress from slipping out of position.[1]

History

Actress Libby Holman in an early strapless dress (1930)

1930s to 1980s

According to Richard Martin and Harold Koda, the modern strapless dress first appeared in the 1930s, where it was popularised by designers such as Mainbocher and from the late 1940s, Christian Dior.[1] The July 18, 1938, issue of Life claimed that the "absolutely strapless, sleeveless evening dress" was a 1937–38 invention.[2] However, that was predated in 1930 by the actress Libby Holman, who had been photographed in an apparently strapless dress that year.[3] Holman became associated with the strapless dress and is regularly credited with inventing it,[4][5][6] or at least being one of its first high-profile wearers.[7]

In 1934, Mainbocher produced his first strapless gown, a black satin design which has been described as the first strapless evening dress.[8] Along with Holman and Mainbocher, the heiress Brenda Frazier is also credited with popularising the style when she wore a strapless debutante dress for her debut and famously appeared in it on the November 14, 1938, cover of Life.[9][10][11]

Rita Hayworth in Gilda (1946)

Strapless dresses remained popular after the Second World War, with the style sometimes being described as the "naked look".[12] One of the most famous strapless dresses of this period was the black satin gown worn by Rita Hayworth for a song and dance routine in Gilda.[13] Hayworth's performance demonstrated to viewers that strapless dresses could be secure enough to move around and dance in without risk of indecent exposure.[13] Despite this, more conservative customers might add shoulder straps to their new strapless dresses.[12] The style was also problematic for those who objected to its perceived immodesty. During the 1940s and 1950s, Catholic campaigners in the United States protested against "immodest" clothing, including two-piece and strapless swimsuits and dresses.[14] In 1954, the United States Army tried to ban Army wives and daughters in Germany from wearing shorts, jeans, and strapless dresses, "except at appropriate social functions."[15]

During the 1950s, notable strapless dress designers included Madame Grès, whose flowing Grecian dresses were mounted upon custom-designed interior corsets by Alice Cadolle.[16]

In the 1970s, Halston designed an unstructured strapless dress.[17] The knitted tube top was worn as a casual strapless option,[18] and by the 1980s, strapless dresses were made in stretchy, elastic fabrics which did not require boning or interior structure.[19]

1990s onwards

Japanese bride wearing a strapless dress, 2010

In 2012, the strapless dress was described as the most widely requested style for Western wedding dresses.

civil weddings from the 1990s.[21][22] However, for religious weddings, strapless and shoulder-baring styles are potentially controversial,[21] and despite the popularity of the strapless wedding dress it is considered by some to be a "rejection of the virginal ideal".[23]

The strapless dress is also a very popular style for red carpet fashion.[13]

Social and cultural context

Since their introduction, strapless garments have proved problematic in many contexts. In the early 21st century, many schools and workplaces specifically forbid strapless garments as part of their

Adecco survey published in The Wall Street Journal in 2012 indicated that 72% of Americans thought strapless tops were inappropriate office wear.[24]

Religious stances

Strapless garments may be singled out for particular censure by preachers and clerics. In 2005, a Muslim cleric declared strapless garments "satanic", along with other revealing garments such as

bat mitzvahs, if the shoulders and arms are covered.[28][self-published source?][29]

References

  1. ^ .
  2. ^ "Underthings for the Strapless Vogue". LIFE. 18 July 1938. p. 33. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  3. ^ "The Lure of Libby Holman". Theatre Magazine. May 1930. p. 57. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  4. ^ Scheper, Jeanne. "Libby Holman." Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia. 1 March 2009. Jewish Women's Archive. (Viewed on March 25, 2013).
  5. .
  6. . Libby Holman was a Jewish American who invented the strapless gown and was a celebrated torch singer.
  7. . Then there was the scandalous Libby Holman, whose accomplishments ranged from challenging race and gender stereotypes to popularizing the strapless evening gown.
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  11. ^ "The Glamour Girl Reached her Peak". LIFE. 25 November 1946. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
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  15. ^ "Wives Told to Dress in Good Taste". The Age. 6 August 1954. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
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  24. ^ Kom, Melissa (20 July 2012). "What Not to Wear To Work". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  25. ^ Devine, Miranda (24 April 2005). "Muslim cleric: women incite men's lust with 'satanic dress'". The Sun-Herald. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
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  29. ISBN 9780253005175. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help
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