History of the Shift Dress

The history of the shift dress can be traced back to the 1920’s from the trend of the popular flapper dresses. Dresses of that time period had a simple, defined shape, a loose fit and very little waist definition. This is a contrast to earlier dresses and restrictive styles such as the corset. In the 1920’s flappers wore them with more embellishments such as layers of fringing and beading. Forty years later in the 1960’s, the dresses were given bright, floral prints.

Twenty years after this fabric experimentation began with a jersey fabric and a layering style with a shirt used as an undergarment (this then became termed as a jumper). In the 1990’s the shift dress returned again and became a staple in the working female wardrobe as a business wear piece. From 2000 onwards to the present day the shift dress has become mainstream and is seen as a classic piece updated through trends and seen on the catwalk for many consecutive seasons (both Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter).

The earliest classic knee length shift dresses were introduced in 1957 by designers Cristobal Balenciaga and Hubert de Givenchy in their Parisian collections. Three years later in 1960, fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer designed a print shift dress; further promoting the style. Apparently, Lily (who owned a juice bar) created the dress to hide juice stains on her clothes. She then sold her signature 1960’s shift dress and named it the ‘Lily’. A year later Lily had closed down her juice bar and was selling her dresses full time. Trendsetting of the shift dress involved many influential people including Audrey Hepburn, Twiggy, Jackie Kennedy and more recently, Michelle Obama.

The effect of the shift dress in culture and history was significant. The shift dress was seen as a youthful, modern dress which redefined the female shape; which then resulted in the shift dress becoming a symbol of the sexual revolution. The shift dress was both stylish, yet practical for everyday-wear. Named the shift dress as a result of the ‘shift’ in culture.

The shift dress is a usually short dress, with a straight silhouette. The dress is typically sleeveless, the neckline high but contrasts with a short hemline.