A-line (clothing)

Style of skirts and dresses

This article is about the skirt/dress/coat style. For the sleeveless shirt, see A-shirt.

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "A-line" clothing – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

1958 trapeze dress. Yves Saint Laurent for Dior.

An A-line skirt is a skirt that is fitted at the hips and gradually widens towards the hem, giving the impression of the shape of a capital letter A. The term is also used to describe dresses and coats with a similar shape.[1]

## History

[edit]

The term was first used by the French couture designer Christian Dior as the label for his collection of spring 1955.[2] The A-Line collection's feature item, then the "most wanted silhouette in Paris", was a "fingertip-length flared jacket worn over a dress with a very full, pleated skirt".[2]

Although an A-shape, this silhouette was not identical to what is now understood to embody the A-line idea.[2] That idea was given its definitive expression and popularized by Dior's successor, Yves Saint Laurent, with his "Trapeze Line" of spring 1958, which featured dresses flaring out dramatically from a fitted shoulder line.[2]

A-line clothes remained popular in the 1960s and 70s, disappeared from fashion almost completely by the early 1980s and were revived by the retro trend of the late 1990s.[2] By that time, "A-line" was used more loosely to describe any dress wider at the hips than at the bust or waist, as well as a number of flared skirt styles.[2] "True" A-line shapes on the pattern of Dior and Saint Laurent saw a revival in the early 2000s.[2]

## Style details

[edit]

The A-line skirt has no visible embellishments for ease, such as pleats or slits, but is fitted to the upper hip by means of seams and/or darts. However, denim A-line skirts often have buttons down the center seam. Its fastening is usually kept discreet, with a side or back zipper. A belt is sometimes used. Pockets may be present, but not usually. It can be cut at any length.

When referring to dresses and coats, the term A-line generally means fitted from the shoulders to the hips and then widening to the hem, but it is also sometimes used to mean widening from the shoulders to the hem, ignoring the waist and hips.

It is often used to describe a popular style of wedding dress, which is fitted above and around the hips but flares gently to the hem, giving a streamlined and quite slim look.[citation needed]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Women's Wear Daily: Glossary
2. ^ a b c d e f g Ward, Susan (2005). "A-Line dress". In Steele, Valerie (ed.). Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion. Thomson Gale. pp. 35–36. ISBN 0-684-31394-4.

* v
* t
* e

Clothing

* History
* Industry
* Technology
* Terminology
* Timeline

Headwear|

* List of hat styles
* List of headgear
* List of fur headgear
* Beret
* Cap
* baseball
* flat
* knit
* Crown
* Hat
* boater
* bowler
* fedora
* homburg
* top
* Helmet
* Hood
* Kerchief
* Mask
* Turban
* Veil

Neckwear|

* Bands
* Choker
* Collar
* Clerical
* Lavallière
* Neckerchief
* Neck gaiter
* Necktie
* ascot
* bolo
* bow
* kipper
* school
* stock
* Scarf
* Tippet

Underwear
and lingerie|

| Top|

* Bra
* List of bra designs
* Camisole
* Undershirt

|

Bottom|

* Diaper
* Training pants
* Leggings
* Panties
* Plastic pants
* Slip
* Thong
* Underpants
* boxer briefs
* boxer shorts
* briefs

Full|

* Bodysuit, adult
* Bodysuit, infant
* Long underwear
* See-through
* Teddy

Tops|

* Blouse
* cache-cœur
* crop top
* halterneck
* tube top
* Cycling
* Kurta
* Mantle
* Shirt
* dress
* Henley
* polo
* sleeveless
* T
* crew neck
* Sweater
* cardigan
* guernsey
* hoodie
* jersey
* polo neck
* shrug
* sweater vest
* twinset
* Waistcoat

Bottoms|

| Trousers|

* Bell-bottoms
* Bondage
* Capri
* Cargo
* Chaps
* Formal
* Go-to-hell
* High water
* Lowrise
* Jeans
* Jodhpurs
* Overalls
* Palazzo
* Parachute
* Pedal pushers
* Phat
* Shorts
* Bermuda
* cycling
* dolphin
* gym
* hotpants
* running
* Slim-fit
* Sweatpants
* Windpants
* Yoga pants

|

Skirts|

* A-line
* Ballerina
* Denim
* Men's
* Miniskirt
* Pencil
* Prairie
* Rah-rah
* Sarong
* Skort
* Tutu
* Wrap

Full-Body
Wear|

| Suits and
uniforms|

* Ceremonial dress
* academic
* court
* diplomatic
* Folk
* Jodhpuri
* Jumpsuit
* Military
* full
* mess
* service
* sailor
* combat
* Miner
* Pantsuit
* Political
* Religious
* cassock
* clerical
* vestment
* School
* Prison
* Workwear
* boilersuit
* cleanroom
* hazmat
* space
* scrubs

|

Dresses
and gowns|

| Formal, semi-
formal, informal|

* Backless
* Bouffant gown
* Coatdress
* Cocktail
* little black
* Evening
* ball gown
* debutante
* Plain
* Prairie
* Princess line
* Strapless
* Wedding
* Wrap

|

Casual|

* House
* Jumper
* Romper suit
* Sheath
* Shirtdress
* Slip
* Sundress

Coats
and
outerwear|

| Overcoats|

* Car
* Chesterfield
* Covert
* Duffel
* Duster
* Greatcoat
* British Warm
* Guards Coat
* Greca
* Over-frock
* Riding
* shadbelly
* Trench
* Ulster
* Cloak
* opera
* Paletot
* Pea
* Polo
* Raincoat
* Mackintosh

|

Suit coats|

* Frock coat
* bekishe
* rekel
* Mess jacket
* Suit jacket
* Blazer
* smoking
* sports
* Teba
* Tailcoat
* dress
* morning

Other|

* Apron
* pinafore
* Blouson
* Cagoule
* Cape
* ferraiolo
* Inverness
* Mantle
* monastic
* royal
* mozzetta
* pellegrina
* Coatee
* Cut-off
* Gilet
* Jacket
* down
* flight
* goggle
* Harrington
* leather
* mackinaw
* Norfolk
* safari
* Jerkin
* Lab coat
* Parka
* Poncho
* Robe
* bathrobe
* dressing gown
* Shawl
* Ski suit
* Sleeved blanket
* Windbreaker

Nightwear|

* Babydoll
* Babygrow
* Blanket sleeper
* Negligee
* Nightgown
* Nightshirt
* Pajamas

Swimwear|

* Bikini
* Burkini
* Boardshorts
* Dry suit
* Monokini
* One-piece
* Rash guard
* Sling
* Square leg suit
* Swim briefs
* Swim diaper
* Trunks
* Wetsuit

Legwear|

* Sock
* Hold-ups
* Garter
* Pantyhose
* Stocking
* Tights

Footwear|

* List of shoe styles
* List of boots
* Boot
* Dress boot
* Flip-flops
* Sandal
* Shoe
* Dress shoe
* Court shoe
* Sneaker
* Slipper

Accessories|

| Adornments|

* Armband
* Belt
* Boutonnière
* Coin purse
* Cufflink
* Cummerbund
* Gaiters
* Glasses
* Sunglasses
* Gloves
* Headband
* Handbag
* Inro
* Jewellery
* Livery
* Muff
* Pocket protector
* Pocket watch
* Sash
* Spats
* Suspenders
* Wallet
* Watch

|

Non-worn items|

* Hand fan
* Umbrella
* Walking stick

Dress codes|

| Western|

* Formal
* morning dress
* white tie
* Semi-formal
* black lounge suit
* black tie
* Informal
* Business casual
* Smart casual
* Casual

|

Related|

* Clothing fetish
* Clothing swap
* Costume
* creature suit
* Halloween costume
* Cross-dressing
* Environmental impact
* Fashion
* haute couture
* made-to-measure
* ready-to-wear
* Fur clothing
* types
* Fursuit
* Global trade of secondhand clothing
* Laundry
* Laws
* List of individual dresses
* Reconstructed clothing
* Right to clothing
* Vintage clothing

Clothing portal
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template