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College Tribune | October 28th 2008
FASHION
The history of the mini skirt As the iconic mini-skirt passes forty, Aoife Smyth looks at the chequered history of this little bit of clothing Would you judge a girl by the length of her skirt or in some cases, the lack of her skirt? Is it possible to pre judge ones sexual morals by her hemline? Many people associate the sixties clothing with crotch skimming miniskirts, but despite these beliefs, miniskirts were not worn nationwide until 1967. In 1965, Mary Quant took her ideas from Courreges 1964 collection and replicated them, shortening the length for her boutique Bazaar. These minis caused mayhem, no pun intended, amongst the conservative parents of teenagers as the skirts were seen as emblems of rebellion. Young London girl’s embraced the length of the minis and the look became known as the ‘Chelsea look’. Minis gave women a new confidence over their bodies and their places in society. There were restrictions on miniskirts however, otherwise known as ‘the unwritten rules’. According to an interview with a Parisian boutique owner from the St.Petesburg times in 1967 “We try to discourage anyone much over 22 from buying a mini because we don’t think they look right on older women. The same rule applies to girls who are a trifle on the stout side or whose legs would not be done full justice by a mini”.
Not all women were free to embrace this ‘new found confidence’, not unless they resembled androgynous models like Twiggy. The nineteen seventies were a different story; hemlines were lengthened by the feminist move-
ment with the intention of being taken seriously. They wanted to be considered for their brains and not for looks or sexuality. The fashion industry soon returned to longer hemlines as demand decreased for mini.
Cover-up that shows off which I applied using a lip brush. This lipstick is the key element as it embodies the gothic element while the glittery red eye shadow slightly softens the look. To finish dab a bit of highlighter on cheekbones and you’re catwalk ready.”
Copying the latest makeup from the catwalk does not mean having to break the bank. Laura Keenan, a freelance makeup artist, shows not only easy these looks are to create but also that they’re easy on the pocket. In this issue she explains how to imitate the current gothic trend but with a girly twist.
FIONA REDMOND “Firstly apply your foundation as normal. It’s always best to use a foundation brush because this helps give an even coverage. Don’t forget to seal the makeup with powder. Only use your blusher lightly because the eyes and the lips will be the focus for this look. Dab your brush into the blusher and sweep upwards from the apple of your cheeks. For Christina I used a Mac Pigment in Rose, a shade which can also be bought inexpensively in most chemists. I put a drop of water into the lid and mixed some of the powder with it to intensify the colour. This is swept across the eyelid bellow
the eye socket so it won’t crease. Then using a dry brush I blend more of the dry loose powder in and around the socket. This is then applied under the eye using a thinner brush. After this just apply lashings of your favourite mascara. Christina is wearing Mac Cyber lipstick
In the eighties, the mini branded a woman as one of two stereotypes; a slag or a punkette. An ‘A’ line skirt was a mark that you more interested in revision than raunch. Bannarama and Cyndi Lauper brought the Ra-ra and the puffball skirt back into the fashion mainstream, but they were generally worn with ripped tights or leggings. Flesh had not made a comeback. The nineteen nineties saw the revival of the miniskirt, when women realised they could be sexy and smart with the help of the female icons from Melrose Place. Women began to incorporate mini skirts into business. The Spice Girls played a big part in the reintroduction of the mini skirt, when they showed our generation about the joys of Girl Power. Now days, trends change weekly. From the tulip skirt, back to the fifties pencil skirt to the micro mini and the length of it depends on the individual. Girls in cheek skimming skirts can often fall into stereotypes for promiscuous habits, but at the end of the day it is about how you wear an item and what you wear with it that makes an outfit. A mini skirt does not box a person into the stereotype of a ‘slag’ or ‘easy’, unless they have the C.V to go along with it. Shorten those hemlines ladies and bring back Girl Power.
The History of Black Throughout history the meaning of black clothing has had multiple and often contradictory meanings. It has signified death, power, elegance, urbanity, subversion and sex appeal. Making a strong appearance in all of the fall/winter collections, black is as dominant as ever in today’s fashion. 70% of ALL fashion items sold in Britain are black, despite the reality that the personality type that suits black is a very small percentage of the British population. It is the best-selling colour in retail- it makes people appear thinner. Black has appeared in many guises throughout the centuries. Historically, Chanel is the designer most closely associated with advocating the use of black in fashion, creating many modern classics, such as the ‘Little Black Dress’. Priests wear black to signify submission to God. Some fashion experts say a woman wearing black implies submission to men. “The most popular, the most convenient and the most elegant of all colours. And I say colour on purpose, because black may be sometimes just as striking as a colour. You can wear black at any time. You can wear it at any age. You may wear it for almost any occasion.” Dior.
RUTH O’NEILL
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BAG IT OVER-THE-KNEE BOOTS: Keep the tootsies warm without frump
LARGE HAIR PIECES: Clips and accessories that glam the ordinary ‘do.
TUNICS: Nice to every shape
TOP TIP: Try homemade perfume for a change by soaking any flower blossoms in water overnight and then bottling.
BIN IT TASSLED LOAFERS: We don’t care who wore them at a festival, they should always evoke the response “Oh dear, dear, dear....”
MULLET HAIR CUTS: Especially a trend with certain girls lately. Just stop. It’s the equivalent of a muffin top waist for the head. FINGERLESS GLOVES: Please sir can I have some more sir? Pointless