Daisy Dukes, tight-fitting denim shorts, were popularized by Catherine Bach’s character in Dukes of Hazzard. The revealing style became mainstream, with young women cutting their own shorts. The trend continues, but some criticize the sexualization of tweens and teens. Jessica Simpson’s portrayal of Daisy Duke in a film adaptation boosted the trend’s popularity.
Daisy Dukes are tight-fitting denim shorts, first popularized by actress Catherine Bach in the late 1970s. Bach played the role of Daisy Duke, the beautiful cousin of main characters Bo and Luke Duke on the television series Dukes of Hazzard. Daisy routinely appeared in a pair of cropped denim jean shorts, along with other tailored shorts and short skirts. These skimpy outfits served primarily to show off Bach’s well-toned legs, which were rumored to be insured for at least one million US dollars.
Wearing shorts, jean shorts and tight skirts to project a provocative combination of farmer’s daughter naivety and sexuality had been popular for decades before Daisy’s first appearance, but TV series like Dukes of Hazzard brought this style. in the mainstream. Young women began creating their own shorts by strategically cutting their jeans along the seat and just below the crotch. These jean shorts allowed girls to show off their legs and emphasize their natural curves without revealing their hips and buttocks too much. The originals, as modeled by Catherine Bach and others, still provided some coverage for the wearer’s most intimate areas.
The Daisy Dukes fashion phenomenon has continued long after the last episode of the Dukes of Hazzard television series aired. Wearing skin-tight shorts with provocative high-rise cutouts continued to be a popular trend among younger women with the physical attributes to pull off such a revealing and sexually charged look. Many of the dancers and extras in urban music videos of the late ’90s and early ’00s wore these shorts and skirts to accentuate their sex appeal. Unlike bikini bottoms or lingerie, Daisy Dukes can be worn on the street or in a dance club without violating most dress codes.
Some critics of Daisy Dukes suggest that the look is too sexualized for tweens and teens to embrace. They are revealing by design, so they can easily be confused with shorts and other provocative clothing associated with prostitution. Traditional versions are generally cut to provide coverage of the wearer’s hips and buttocks, but some styles may reveal the wearer’s lower “cheek” area. Contestants in organized Daisy Duke contests can also choose to make even more revealing edits to their original shorts. Parents of impressionable teens and tweens may want to discuss their concerns before allowing these shorts to be worn in public.
The Daisy Dukes phenomenon got a second boost in popularity when singer-songwriter actress Jessica Simpson portrayed the character in a film adaptation of the television series. Simpson spent several months in the gym doing intensive exercises to achieve the well-toned legs and hips required for the role. Some organizations now host special “Daisy Dukes” car wash fundraisers, involving young women doing their job while wearing jean shorts or traditional shorts.
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