Silhouette Power
YIZU MAGAZINE
Throughout history, the concept of silhouette changed countless times and the reasons are various, culture, genetic body features, class ranks, aesthetics,s or simply the necessity of changing, which is a common factor of humankind.
Silhouette can apply not just to body shapes but also to design in its various forms and creations. Focusing on the glorious Fashion world there are many interesting references that can be taken as examples.
Starting not too far, let’s begin with the magnificent Renaissance. Women’s fashion was extravagant and multi-layered, the more they wore the wealthier they were. The fashion frame was stiff but buffed out and the X-line was the queen in charge during the period, showing off a large shoulder-chest line through a squared neckline, followed by a narrow waist created by tight corsets, to conclude often with a Spanish Farthingale or crinoline or petticoat, which were long cone-shaped understructure.
Men's fashion was much fancier than what men commonly wear today. The styles were distinct and often flamboyant, the body frame was similar to a square, by increasing the width of the shoulders and wearing puffy knee-breeches.
Men's fashion was much fancier than what men commonly wear today. The styles were distinct and often flamboyant, the body frame was similar to a square, by increasing the width of the shoulders and wearing puffy knee-breeches.
Jumping forward directly to the end of the 19th /early 20th silhouettes got smaller than the previous times but still quite complex and structured. The victorian period was largely dominated by full skirts, which gradually moved to the back of the body silhouette.
However, towards the end of the period, a less restrictive aesthetic style began to emerge.
The Parisian couturiers like the Callot sisters, Madelaine Vionnet, and Paul Poiret were leading toward a columnar silhouette, freeing women from uncomfortable and restrictive undergarments.
Definition of the new style from Vogue Paris: "straighter and straighter ... less bust, fewer hips, and more waist...how slim, how graceful, how elegant”
With the 1st World war, many were the things that completely changed, and fashion was one of them. 1920s began with the disappearance of the female silhouette altogether. The waist was gone, shoulders were broader, dresses were so shorter and the hair too. Coco Chanel was the one, who anticipated this style during the 1910s, the Garconne look!
The Roaring 20s, the Charleston look, The Great Gatsby, are all reference to this specific silhouette that can be defined as H-line, a LINE that freed women, not just physically but also mentally, since women could be more independent to move, to enjoy themselves, to express their desires with fewer limitations.
The new century (20th) and its fast development because the factory system gave a push that we had never seen before, and because of that, every decade had more and more fashion trends and more silhouettes different from each other.
The 30s had their style, the 40s as well… and THE NEW LOOK arrived.
Christian Dior in 1947 launched his first Haute Couture collection; its most prominent features included rounded shoulders, a narrow waist, and an A-line skirt.
A post-war attempt to revive France’s international position in fashion;
A way to bring back that elegance and feminine beauty present before the 2nd World war.
Jumping forward there’s a reason the 1970s continues to be one of the most stylish decades of all time. It was all about dancing and finding fabrics and designs that shone under the disco lighting. Really tight and frivolous garments, ruffles, sequins, fringes to create volume on the dance floor but also daily. Men and women were celebrating this opportunity to show themselves in many different ways, using fashion as a tool, countless silhouettes to show diverse personalities.
The 70s were the revolution, the freedom of experimenting for a new generation.
When it comes to 1980s fashion we realize that the most current trends are
Inspired by it. If you are not familiar with them, here are some features to refresh you memory: Big shoulders, underwear are outwear, oversize garments and accessories, and a masculine line in womenswear!
Basically, we can say the BOXY line.
Madonna, Cher and Tina Turner are some of the Icons of the time.
The 1990s were less constructed, cleaner than the 80s, a SLIM silhouette.
Narrow-shouldered and narrow-hipped, the ’90s were skinny; just think to Kate Moss, the iconic top model of the time.
In conclusion, silhouettes are not just the result of fashion, they are also so much more. They are a way to express the moods, needs of different natures without using words. Silhouettes are a type of not verbal communication that had/has a great impact on History.