Doll dresses are short, loose-fitting dresses with an empire waist and ornate details. They have evolved over the decades, influenced by fashion trends, and have made a comeback in the new millennium with a looser, more casual style. They are popular in maternity wear.
Doll dresses, also spelled “doll dresses,” are short, loose-fitting dresses that usually feature an empire waist and sometimes resemble a gown. The term is said to derive from the 1956 film, BaDoll, to describe the dresses worn by the main female character. These dresses are often made from lightweight, sheer fabrics such as chiffon, nylon, silk, linen, and organic cotton. Such a garment may also feature ornate details including appliqués, bows, ruffles, ruffles, lace, and embroidery. This dress style is a popular choice in maternity wear as it allows ample room for growth in the stomach area and accentuates the legs.
The evolution of the doll dress reflects the changes in fashion over the decades. During the 1960s, most of these dresses featured a high boat neckline and the clean, simple lines of a shift or sheath dress. As the mod styles of the 1960s gave way to the bohemian look of the 1970s, the doll dress became influenced by the ruffled and hippie-inspired peasant tops that were popular at the time.
Badoll dresses made their biggest comeback in the early 1990s, riding the wave of grunge and alternative music-inspired fashions. At this time, the dress was often paired with chunky footwear such as army boots, Dr. Martens, and Mary Janes. Ragged and even ripped dresses became fashionable as part of the general “broken doll” or “kinderwhore” look popularized by musicians like Courtney Love of the band Hole and Christina Amphlett of The DiVinyls. By the mid 90’s these dresses were made with heavier fabrics like velvet, velour, and even terry cloth. Long sleeves were also added to certain styles, as were floral prints like large sunflowers and daisies.
Along with various other fashion items from the 1990s, doll dresses have made a comeback in the new millennium. The modern incarnation of the dress features a looser, more casual style that sometimes comes with pockets and resembles a jumper. Today’s versions are also paired with cowboy boots, ballet flats, and crocheted hats. They can be sleeveless with spaghetti straps, ruffled sleeves or a very deep V-neck cut.
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