Free flowing with the wind beneath my skirt

We were finally free when Christian Dior introduced the "New Look" in 1947. The hourglass silhouette was produced in the form of an A-line skirt that emphasized the cinched waist and bellowed out, allowing women to walk freely. It is no surprise that now in the spring of 2005, the A-line skirt is back and is appearing everywhere on campus. The skirts vary in color and texture, but the free-flowing full skirt is dominating sidewalks of almost every city. \nI can imagine the reaction of all the women of the world when Dior introduced his creation right after World War II, when all of the men had just come home and hormones were racing like crazy. I would think the feminine charm of the skirt was exactly what the men and women needed after such a decade of brutality. Indeed, what they needed was excitement, and Christian Dior delivered it in a collection of luxurious clothes with soft shoulders, wasp waists and full-flowing skirts intended for what he called "flower women." Read "Christian Dior," an article at www.designmuseum.org. \nExcitement and freedom from restriction is exactly what women need this spring as well. As I watch women everyday in white linen and cotton A-line skirts, enjoying the light breeze that feels so good on hot days, I can't help but say Christian Dior was a genius -- he was so ahead of his time. I don't know one woman who can deny wearing a knee-length A-line skirt on sweltering days and praying for a breeze. It just feels so good between your legs. Sometimes you can even spot us sitting down with our legs wide open, using our skirts as tents, because the breeze feels so good. The A-line skirt is the perfect length for sitting down and enjoying a nice breeze -- it's the female version of the dog in the Sprite commercial. \nAlthough the silhouette can seem homogenous with everyone taking advantage of its simple, functional cut, designers are offering it in bright colors with decorative patterns, paintings and beading. One of my favorite sources for the A-line skirt is www.Anthropologie.com, which features an array of A-line skirts and dresses in a plethora of colors and patterns. Patterns are bohemian in bright colors reminiscent of saris or Asian prints. \n"An embroidered skirt with multicolored flowers lined in salmon pink, mauve, green, optical white or orange-red." said Luca Orlandi of Luca Luca in the "Pantone Fashion Color Report Spring 2005." \nNot only should the skirt say, "I am languishing in the wind," but it should also say, "I am on fire." The look is best worn with gold or silver sandals that wrap around the ankle or flip-flops. You can pair the skirt with many different tops, including a halter top, a long-sleeved shirt or a tank long enough to come down over the skirt. You even can dress it up with a pair of 3-inch heels and a dressy top. I wore my white A-line skirt with black strappy Aerosoles heels, a blue wrap sweater and a matching camisole to the NAACP banquet, and I got nothing but compliments. In the May 2005 issue of Glamour, the A-line style dress was deemed "the dress that looks good on everyone" and shows models from size 2 to size 14 in a black A-line dress from Ann Taylor. Women, admit it -- the way it hides our thighs is like the eighth wonder of the world, a miracle for so many of us. The A-line skirt is limitless -- you can even wear a flowered or embroidered spring coat to cover up on really windy days. Try Banana Republic, Cactus Flower or Talbots for the spring coat. \nSo there you have it: Christian Dior was a genius, and his high fashion intelligence has yet to be challenged. Who would have thought that in the year 2005 the A-line skirt would be a must-have? Who could have imagined that the A-line skirt meant so much, peace, freedom and versatility; the very idea which parallels the pursuit of human happiness. So the next time you jump up on a hot day and put on an A-line garment, thank Christian Dior for being the wind beneath the skirt.