Venus Envy

Words by Stacy Stewart Smith

In decades past, women seemed to possess a quiet strength that subdued the external power of uniformity favored by their male counterparts. From the 17th through the 20th centuries, mens wear centered around tailoring, equestrian styling, and only introduced pronounced innovation during periods of war or for garments intended to intimate exclusive or elevated positions in society. When you compare womenswear, a more significant presence manifests in the silhouettes of the garments, their end use, and forced conformity of the female figure. The means of achieving this quiet power in eras now passed derives from corsets, panniers, bustles, hoops, brassieres crinolines, and slips, to name a few.

The real objective of fashion for women has always been to garner attention, create barriers, and perhaps to usurp power from men.

Close your eyes and imagine a woman standing in a room full of men wearing a floral gown with a skirt protruding from a tiny waist while keeping men at least three feet away from her in all directions—yet drawing them to her presence as if she were a single rose. Does this sound like a trick of the infamous Scarlett O’Hara? Let’s bring the illustration to the 20th century circa 1947-1957 and remind you that the ultra feminine look is a technique mastered by the French couturiers. It is impossible to speak of couture without thinking of one of its dressmakers Christian Dior who knew quite well how to feature the female form. To achieve these difficult feats, Monsieur Dior often constructed undergarments into the handmade clothing of his clients to lend them the desired shape. Flowers inspired many of Dior’s creations. His fashion house was first called Corolle, which is French for a circlet of flower petals.

Many women who wore shape-defining undergarments freed themselves of the self inflicted torture during the height of the sexual revolution. Subsequently, the late1960s and the early 1970s saw the last of the corset brigade. While they defined their figures primarily by more simple undergarments—most women traded in their girdles for something less confining. Out of this emerges the panty girdle; however, by this time, undergarments lost their real fashion purpose, only slips remained in vogue until the mid 1980s. It’s around this time that Jean Paul Gaultier catapults to fame by placing undergarments on the outside of clothing. Who can forget the costumes that he designed for celebrities like Madonna? Predictably, most women refused to wear their undergarments outside their clothing. The trend that Gaultier began did make wayfor undergarment inspired fashions. Notably, the “slip dress” and the “bustier” were fashionable during the decade.

Swift fashion and cultural changes between decades after the Cold War have birthed a concept that women can wear clothing traditionally designed for men yet retain their style. Judging from recent couture collections, a return to femininity is on the horizon. Fashion has once again presented a way to lend power to women without confining undergarments or making them look like men. Consequently, in the sea of minimal trends marching down runways this season, floral patterns emerge, presenting themselves like fresh cut bouquets on a dining room table.

A woman wearing a beautiful floral garment is like fresh flowers; you find yourself gazing at her.

These flowers, woven or printed—embroidered or screened, once again lend women a type of power that is impossible for men to parallel. Could a kind of “Venus Envy” be the result of this battle for attention on city streets, at the workplace, or in a restaurant? In its resurgence, the correct florals in the right silhouettes do for today’s fashionista what undergarments did for their mothers and grandmothers. Floral patterns give every woman the ability to command a room.

Flowers are naturally feminine, and when a woman covers herself in such prints, she exudes a type of presence that makes heads turn and take note.

When women wear florals, men become their accessories opening car doors, pushing in their chairs at dinner, and offering gentle smiles in passing. Even if the cut of a woman’s suit is masculine, floral versions evoke a formidable ladylike message when constructed from a beautiful pattern.

In the pages of this spread, feast your eyes on flower power. The “new floral look” is created by draping the figure with bold or bright garden prints. Pair the florals with solid colorful open toed sandals, small handbags, and ostentatious accessories. Oh, and don’t forget to pick up a bouquet at the local florist to add a touch of nature.

Perhaps this “New Floral Look” is the way to show up for a meeting when you know that you’ll be an hour late? Bring your little dog, too; besides, you’re the boss.