A dress (also known as a frock or a gown) is a one-piece outer garment that is worn on the torso and hangs down over the legs and is primarily worn by women or girls.[1][2] Dresses often consist of a bodice attached to a skirt.
Dress shapes and silhouettes, textiles, and colors vary. Dresses can have sleeves of any length or can be sleeveless, and dresses can have any neckline. Similarly, dresses can have skirts of any length or hemline. These variances may be based on considerations such as fashion trends, modesty, weather, and personal taste.[3] Dresses are generally suitable for both formal wear and casual wear in the West.[4]
Historically, foundation garments and other structural garments—including items such as corsets, partlets, petticoats, panniers, bustles—were used to achieve the desired silhouette.[5][6]
In the 11th century, women in Europe wore loose garments that were similar in shape to the tunics worn by men.[7] Sleeves varied in fit and length, and hemlines fell below the knees, most often reaching the ankle or ground.[7] These dresses were worn over ankle-length chemise garments.[7] As the century progressed, these dresses featured a tighter fit on the arms and upper body.[7] The tighter fit was achieved by making slits to the waist and in the sleeves that were laced closed to fit the figure. [8] Laces were gradually replaced by buttons. [8] By the end of the 11th century, sleeves widened with cuffs sometimes reaching several feet in circumference.[8] This style remained popular into the 13th century, although the sleeves once again became more fitted.[8]
In the 13th and 14th centuries, a similar dress known as a cote-hardie came into fashion.[9][10] This garment was closed down the front of the bodice with buttons that extended to the hip; this resulted in a dress that was more fitted through the hip rather than just to the waist.[9] These dresses also often featured decorative elements such as long strips of cloth around the elbow known as tippets.[9]
In the 15th century, houppeland
Nazam Rana –
stitching is very good, recieved today