What Does dress Mean
From the Latin vestitus , a dress is a garment (or set of garments) that is used to cover the body . The concept can be used as a synonym for clothing , clothing , clothing or attire , although it is generally used to name the one-piece suit worn by women.
The dress fulfills two basic functions: it protects from weather conditions (cold, heat, rain, etc.) and it covers the intimate parts of the body that, out of modesty, are not exhibited in public. Dresses, however, have a deeper meaning in today's society since fashion and trends reflect a social role . Clothing can be used as a means of expression and communicates, either consciously or unconsciously, something of the personality of the wearer.
The first dresses were made with skins and animal hides or with leaves and large plants tied to the body. Over time, different types of natural fibers and fabrics (such as cotton or silk ) and synthetic (such as polyester ) began to be used. Currently there are so-called smart garments , capable of changing their color or generating energy.
There are also special dresses that are used only once in life but have a great symbolic charge. The wedding dress or wedding dress is one that women wear during their wedding. The color and style depend on the culture and religion of the bride.
In the western world, the wedding dress is usually white, as it symbolizes purity. The mourning dresses , on the other hand, are black and reflect the sadness and pain that women feel when they suffer the loss of a loved one.
Evolution of women's clothing
It is not very precise to summarize the history of women's clothing in a single text, given the cultural differences of each country; therefore, the focus of this review will take a fundamentally Western perspective.
Throughout history, the human being has given different functions to clothing, from protection to ostentation, and for various social reasons women have always had a leading role in this matter; This does not mean that their situation has been simpler or more convenient than that of the man.
It is important to note that, historically, society has tried to reduce women to an object worthy of admiration and decoration , a servant who had to fulfill her obligations and keep a smile on her face. For centuries, women's clothing has stood out not for its comfort, but for its ornamentation and its forms, which had a merely superficial purpose. But shortly after the period known as "Belle Èpoque", which ended at the beginning of the 20th century, a revolution took place that aimed to give women the freedom to dress for themselves, and not for men.
This aesthetic change was intimately linked to the fight for women's rights and for their recognition as equal beings with men before the Law. The search for their inclusion in the voting and in the workplace led to the need for more comfortable clothing , less complicated to use (some old dresses required the help of several people to put them on) and with a functional character.
First, the skirt was shortened by almost fifty percent, covering the legs to the knees. In addition, thanks to the work of Coco Chanel (a visionary dressmaker of French origin), two-piece suits and pants appeared in the 1930s. Very importantly, the dimensions and designs of the underwear were adapted to this new social reality.
In just a few decades, the dress went from being the eternal feminine attire to a garment typical of parties and meetings. To this day, it is necessary to affirm that there are millions of women who have never worn a dress and who never will, be it for reasons of taste or ideology.