The Long (And Short) Of It: The Madcap History Of The Skirt

From its simple beginnings as a unisex body wrap to its bold march forward as an iconic symbol of femininity to a haute couture fashion statement, the skirt has had a perilous journey—one day subject to accolades, the next ridicule, and even coming under fire before the Supreme Court. Cultural icon, garment of personal expression, verb or slur, the significance of the skirt is grander than merely serving as an article of clothing.

Through the years, skirts have been both liberating and restricting, inspiring and exasperating. Skirts transcend mere fashion, serving as barometers of the cultural zeitgeist. The Long and Short of It humorously details the evolution of the skirt and the women (and men) who wore them. Loosely divided by different skirts (the bustle, the hobble, the pencil skirt, the peasant skirt, miniskirt, etc.), the book covers ancient times, pre-twentieth century, World War I, the flapper era, Hollywood years, World War II, rock n' roll, free love, women's lib, the Power Decade, and others.

It features the relationship between women's salaries and their hemlines, the history of the skirt through America's first ladies, religious references to the sacred nature of skirts, nineteenth-century fashion tips, laws protecting women and their skirts, censorship of women's legs, court cases involving skirts including a 2004 case of a woman lawyer barred from a courtroom for wearing trousers. The book is snappy and fun, with two-color illustrations, amusing quotes, and sidebars. A perfect blend of history, fashion, and culture from Becker & Mayer.