Beauty In Skirts

Throughout the decades, the skirt has undergone countless transformations. Hemlines(n.底缘，底边) have gone up and down, but four basic styles have proven that they have what it takes to withstand(v.抵挡, 经受住) the test of time.

When women want to feel dressed up or sometimes just for fun, the full skirt hits the bill. It was Christian Dior who put the full skirt on the fashion map with his first collection in 1947. After the lean(adj.歉收的) years of World War II, Dior's new look was a revelation with some of his designs using up to fifty yards of fabric!

With the rock-and-roll era of the 1950s came the full poodle(n.狮子狗)-skirt named for the appliqués sown on by teenage bobbysoxers(n.十三岁至十九岁的少女). This whimsical(adj.反复无常的, 古怪的) look became an instant classic. Kevin Jones, collections manager at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, explains, "The poodle skirt is absolutely synonymous(adj.同义的) with the 1950s. You really cannot get away from it you mention the name the poodle skirt and girls today hark back immediately to, to the bobby(n.警察) socks."

Another important silhouette is the pencil skirt. It's ultra feminine and brings a touch of mystery to the woman wearing it. Betty Garble showed off this streamlined style in the 1930s. Marilyn Monroe chose the same silhouette(n.侧面影象, 轮廓) to show up her curves in the '50s and the look has endured for decades to come.

If there's one little word that fits with skirt, it would have to be mini(n.迷你型), introduced in 1966 by Mary Quant, this shocking silhouette created quite a stir.

Kevin Jones: It's just like a brand new skirt nothing like it had ever been seen before, uh, it's not quite the miniskirt(n.迷你裙, 超短裙) we have today, it was about two inches above the knee, but when Women's Wear Daily stated that Jacqueline Kennedy looked wonderful in her miniskirts suddenly it was the fashion to wear.

Andrea Linett: We always see a fickleness(n.浮躁, 变化无常) in the hemlines from season to season. But it seems that the miniskirt will always come back round.

Our next style might be the most timeless of all, the A-line skirt has just enough flair(n.才能, 本领) to flatter any figure. Fashion icons like Audrey Hepburn made the A-line a stylish staple and today the look continues to be as popular as ever.

Andréa: If I were to have to pick one style of skirt that every woman should own it would probably be the A-line skirt. It's very comfortable and it's very flattering to the hips.

Full, pencil, mini and A-line even with these four favorites there's still a dizzying variety of choices out there, and women love to wear them.

(Useful Tips)Remember for petites（adj.小的, 细的）, avoid excessive detail and look for simple designs that his just below the knees.

If you're top-heavy, stay away from plunging necklines; search for dresses that are slightly loose and draw the attention away from your bust(n.胸部).

For a fit waist, avoid a baggy fit; wrap dresses work best.

If you've got more of a boyish figure stay away from straight dresses, look for biased(adj.有偏的) cuts and formfitting silhouettes, and for a pear shape avoid clinging designs-a full skirt or an A-line dress are ideal.