- Prairie skirt
A prairie skirt is an American style of
skirt , an article of women's and girls'clothing .Prairie skirts are slightly flared to very full, with one or more
flounce s (deep ruffles) ortier s, and are often worn over a ruffledeyelet orlace -trimmedpetticoat . They were introduced to fashion byRalph Lauren in his fall 1978 Western-themed collection.George-Warren, Holly, and Michelle Freedman: "How the West Was Worn", p. 184-187.]Prairie skirts are so-called after their resemblance to the home-sewn skirts worn by pioneer women in the mid-nineteenth century, which in turn are a simplified version of the flared, ruffled skirts characteristic of high-fashion dresses of the 1820s.
In keeping with their design inspiration, traditional prairie skirts are usually made of "country" fabrics such as
denim and flowered calico. Prairie skirts are a staple of women'swestern wear , and very full prairie skirts are worn for square dancing.Mid-calf length, button-front denim prairie skirts with a single flounce, worn with a petticoat that was slightly longer than the skirt, became a mainstream
fashion in the 1970s and early '80s following Lauren's introduction.Short, many-tiered prairie skirts of
voile , chiffon or other lightweight fabrics were a fashion trend in 2005.Notes
References
*George-Warren, Holly, and Michelle Freedman: "How the West Was Worn", Harry N. Abrams (2001), ISBN 0-8109-0615-5.
ee also
*
Western wear
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