Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Laver's LawAnd the Mini Skirt
The 1960s was a politically charged
decade of revolution and
change
Apollo 11 became the first capsule
to land on the moon
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 became law
Vietnam was raging
Beatlemania was sweeping the world
birth control pills h i t t h e m a rk e t
And a new cult of youth, known as “Youthquake,” had radically taken over many areas of life
In the midst of these dramatic political and cultural changes emerged one of the most enduring and controversial icons of
the era: the miniskirt (or mini skirt)
Existing, surprisingly, since ancient times, this small and sexy piece of fabric has embodied some of the most fascinating paradoxes of our times as it suggests both
empowerment and vulnerability
independence and a desire to please
an attempt to cover and to reveal
maturity and
playfulness
and liberand exploi
ation
tation
Simultaneously condemned and loved, the m in i sk irt exploded into the political landscape and had women (and men) suddenly paying attention to what had been hidden years before…
a woman’s legs
James Laver (1899–1975)
Laver's Law was an attempt to compress the complex cycle of fashion change and the
general attitude towards any certain style or period into a simple timeline. It first
appeared in Taste and Fashion (1937)
10 years before its time
Indecent
Laver's Law
indecorous
improper
vulgar
5 years before its time
Shameless
Laver's Law
unblushing
unashamed
inmoral
1 year before its time
Daring
Laver's Law
audacious
venturous
avant-garde
“Current Fashion”
Smart
Laver's Law
clever
sharp
chic
1 year after its time
Dowdy
Laver's Law
styleless
unstylish
unfashionable
10 years after its time
Hideous
Laver's Law
outrageous
horrid
ugly
20 years after its time
Ridiculous
Laver's Law
pathetic
laughable
silly
30 years after its time
Amusing
Laver's Law
diverting
interesting
cheer
50 years after its time
Quaint
Laver's Law
unusual
strange
old-time
70 years after its time
Charming
Laver's Law
pleasing
sorcerous
wizardly
100 years after its time
Romantic
Laver's Law
loving
amorous
wild-eyed
150 years after its time
Beautiful
Laver's Law
exquisite
pretty
gorgeous
While the miniskirt has been met with disapproval and even violence, the tiny skirt shows no signs of disappearing. On the contrary, the miniskirt is still heavily featured on Western catwalks and in fashion magazines—and it is often shorter than ever.
The phone company Samsung even introduced a new cell phone in 2008 called the “Miniskirt Season 2” which, while looking nothing like a miniskirt,….
...is targeted toward women who like to
“Talk, Play, Love”
The miniskirt—variously known as the “micro-mini,” “pelmet,” or “bondage” skirt—continues to occupy a fascinating and paradoxical space in the fashion world as it teasingly attempts to cover and reveal at the same time
In all of its contradictions and reinventions, the miniskirt still provokes, challenges, and demands attention from both men and women alike.
Please vote below
