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In fashion, asheath dress is a fitted, straight cut dress, often nipped at the waistline with no waist seam.[1] When constructing the dress, thebodice andskirt are joined together by combining the skirtdarts into one dart: this aligns the skirt darts with the bodice waist dart.[2] The dress emphasizes the waist as its skirt portion is fitted. While the sheath dress can come in many patterns and lengths, it often is worn with shortsleeves and reaches knee length.[3]
Originating in the ancient world, the sheath dress is commonly seen inEgyptian art. Presented as slender and youthful, artistic renditions of the women in the garment were common prior to theNew Kingdom. Although there was no archeological evidence of a sheath dress among the elite, women anddeities are shown wearing the garment in tomb drawings. The garment was often presented with a seam under the breast and with beads. Ancient depictions of elite women showed the dress paired with the tripartitewig and vultureheaddress. With archaeologists finding nearly twenty dresses of the ancient Egyptian world, there is no record of the dress ever existing in reality. Instead, scholars have hypothesized that the sheath dress as we know it were wrap dresses with straps,skirts, or a V neck dress.[4]
ThePrincess Sheath dress was popular between 1878 and 1880. It was associated with the Princess of Wales, later known asQueen Alexandra. The Princess sheath is constructed with thebodice and skirt cut in one with a gored skirt. The dress was worn without a bustle but with a small pad. To tighten the front of the dress,ribbons were attached in the back's interior.[5]
During the early 1900s, Americans were still looking toParis for the latest trends. American socialites traveled toEurope 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 rubbergirdle as an alternative to the bonedcorset to wear under the dress.[6] In great contrast to the emphasized curves ofVictorian era and earlier dress, the sheath dress offered a sleek look that revealed the legs and lower torso with aslit.[7] The style of the sheath dress reached the United States in 1908. That fall, the musicalBandanna 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.
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, agirdle 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 printbolero. 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]
One of the most notable sheath dresses of all time is theblack Givenchy dress of Audrey Hepburn. In 1961, Hepburn wore aHubert de Givenchy black sheath dress in the filmBreakfast at Tiffany's. By this time, her dress became known as thelittle black dress.[13] On May 19, 1962,Marilyn Monroe sang happy birthday to then presidentJohn F. Kennedy for his 45th birthday. At the event, Monroe wore aJean 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]
In recent years, the sheath dress is worn as acocktail dress. Sheath dresses are popular as wedding dresses, recommended for slim brides who are either tall or petite.[16]
The sheath dress is a basic element ofMAGA women's style. In particular, it is often worn byMelania,Ivanka,Lara, andTiffany Trump,Bettina Anderson,Kimberly Guilfoyle,Kristi Noem, andAlina Habba. Their preferred colors are red, white, blue, and sometimes pink.[17] Sheath dresses are also popular amongFox News presenters, "the closest thing Fox News has to a uniform".[18]
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