Jump to content

Midriff

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Drmies (talk | contribs) at 16:14, 17 April 2024 (→Culture and history: too many images, overlinking--the usual signs of pop culture accretion). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

American singer-songwriter Caroline Polachek performing with her midriff exposed in 2023.

In fashion, the midriff is the human abdomen. The midriff is exposed when wearing a crop top or some forms of swimwear or underwear.

Etymology

"Midriff" is a very old term in the English language, coming into use before 1000 AD.[1]

In Old English it was written as "midhrif", with the old word "hrif" literally meaning stomach;[2] in Middle English, it was "mydryf".[1] The word fell into obsolescence after the 18th century.

The word was revived in 1941 by the fashion industry,[2] partly to avoid use of the word "belly" which genteel women considered undesirable in reference to their bodies, as it has connotations of obesity.

In addition, "belly" was a word which was forbidden to be used in films by the Hays Office censors; for instance, in the 1933 film 42nd Street, in the song "Shuffle Off to Buffalo", Ginger Rogers is about to sing the line "with a shotgun at his belly", but stops after the "B" of "belly" and sings "tummy" instead.

Culture and history

Western culture

1930s–1970s

A 1948 photo of Italian women in midriff-baring bikinis

In some cultures, exposure of the midriff is socially discouraged or even banned, and Western culture has historically been hesitant in the use of midriff-baring styles. Bill Blass commented:

It is too difficult. Women will much more readily wear bare-back or plunging-neckline styles.[3]

It was introduced to fashion in 1932 by Madeleine Vionnet when she offered an evening gown with strategically cut openings at the waist.

Women's swimwear of the 1930s and 1940s incorporated increasing degrees of midriff exposure.

Teen magazines of the late 1940s and 1950s featured similar designs of midriff-baring suits and tops. However, midriff fashion was stated as only for beaches and informal events and considered indecent to be worn in other public situations.[4]

However, exposure of the female midriff and navel was widely brought into everyday Western women's fashion in the 1960s' sexual revolution and later with the popularity of halters, tube tops and crop tops in the 1970s.

The cheerleading style fashions developing largely from the styles originating with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in the early 1970s also played a crucial role in the popularity of midriff fashion at middle and high schools.[4][5]

1980s–1990s

Janet Jackson baring her midriff in 1995

During the 1980s, pop star Madonna appeared in bare midriff looks in her performances and music videos, which helped in spreading this fashion widely.[4][6]

The popularity of the bare midriff continued well due to low-rise fashion which started in the early 1990s when the British magazine The Face in its March 1993 issue cover featured Kate Moss in low-rise jeans.[7] At the same time, the wide acceptance of navel display in Western societies, navel piercing[8] and navel tattoos[9] have become more common among young women. This raised the popularity of crop tops that expose the midriff and navel.[10]

During the 1990s, many designers adapted to the trend. One way of showing the midriff that has proved popular with designers is simply fastening a jacket or vest at the neckline and letting it fall freely. When the wearer moves, there is a flash of skin, but nothing startling. Fashion designer Carolina Herrera said, "the midriff doesn't have to be completely bare; a veil of chiffon over the midriff can look intriguing."[11]

2000s–2010s

The bare midriff, with flat, toned abs, became the trend in Hollywood in the 2000s.[12] For instance, actresses such as Kaley Cuoco have worn belly-baring outfits for numerous roles and events.[13] During in the 2000s the bare midriff was shaped by Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and Christina Aguilera in that decade.[14][15][16][17][18] Singer and teen idol Selena Gomez bared her midriff in her performances in the early 2010s.[19][20][21][22][23][24] In the Spring-Summer 2015 Haute Couture show by Chanel in Paris, midriff-baring tops were a main focus.[25][26]

2020s

In the 2020s, clothing that exposes the midriff remains popular.

This trend, featuring crop tops, cut-out dresses, and high-waisted bottoms with shorter tops, continues to attract fashion enthusiasts. Actresses and celebrities like, Kiernan Shipka,[27][28][29] Sabrina Carpenter,[30][31][32][33][34][35][36] Sydney Sweeney[37][38] and Zendaya[39][40][41][42][43][44] all have revolved around their bare midriff around their fashion. Jennifer Lopez still bares her midriff or navel in 2024.[45][46]

Such garments are often used as a way for the wearer to express themselves and feel confident about their bodies. Whether on runways or in everyday fashion, some feel that midriff-baring outfits symbolize self-assurance and body positivity. One of the most popular types of garments is the cutout (Either by cutting out to reveal midriff or surround navel). First started in the 2020s, many of famous figures such as, Julia Garner,[47] Zendaya,[48] Lindsey Vonn,[49] Heidi Klum,[50][51] Jennifer Aniston[52] and Janelle Monáe.[53]

Actress Megan Fox wore see through dresses in 2021 at the MTV Video Music Awards wearing her "naked dress" and 2023 wearing a black dress, more clear of seeing her midriff including her navel at the 2023 SI swimsuit issue New York launch party.[54][55]

This trend reflects the fashion industry's growing recognition of diverse body types and personal styles. As the 2020s progress, clothes that expose the midriff have solidified their status as a popular fashion choice.

In US schools

Beginning in the late 1940s, school dress codes in the United States started to ban bare midriffs.[4]

Indian culture

Indian actress Ameesha Patel posing in a ghagra choli that bares the midriff

Indian women have traditionally worn saris that partially cover the midriff, especially South Indian women.[56][57]

The sari adapts to a woman's body, rather than defining it, allowing for pregnancy and otherwise expanding girth. In a culture where having enough to eat is not a given, rolls of fat around the midriff are a sign of prestige, rather than indulgence.[58] Torsekar, a paediatrician from India who works in Toledo, Ohio, once said, "It may be hard for American women to imagine going to work with an exposed midriff, but for Indian women, the midriff is considered no more suggestive than the forearm."[59]

Other Indian communities that take midriff in their stride include the women from Rajasthan, who leave the midriff exposed while wearing ghagra cholis.[60] However, these women often cover their heads with a dupatta[61] and even cover their faces in front of strangers, which enforces the belief that midriff-baring in India has a symbolic, almost mystical, association with birth and life and that the display is meant to emphasise the centrality of nature in the nurture role.[62]

In spite of it, some Indian philosophers gave opposition to exposing midriff in saris. They considered it to be a symbol of adultery.[63]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Midriff". Dictionary.com.
  2. ^ a b Harper, Douglas R. (2022) [2001]. "Midriff". Online Etymology Dictionary.
  3. ^ Morris, Bernardine (30 November 1993). "Baring Midriffs: A Little, a Lot or Not?". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d Mitchell, Claudia; Reid-Walsh, Jacqueline (2008). Girl Culture: Studying girl culture: a readers' guide Volume 1 of Girl Culture: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 702. ISBN 978-0-313-33909-7.
  5. ^ Delaney, Tim; Madigan, Tim (2009). Sports: Why People Love Them!. University Press of America. p. 148. ISBN 978-0-7618-4489-1.
  6. ^ Baird, Julia (1 April 2012). "What happened to Madonna". The Age. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  7. ^ "Navel Mauvers". New York Magazine. New York Media, LLC. 10 May 1993. p. 26. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  8. ^ Manlow, Veronica (2009). Designing Clothes: Culture and Organization of the Fashion Industry. Transaction Publishers. ISBN 978-1-4128-1055-5.
  9. ^ Prelli, Lawrence J. (2006). Rhetorics of display. University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 1-57003-619-5.
  10. ^ Kremer, Esther Gross (7 May 2000). "Cropped tops = midriff mania = abs-olutely erotic". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012.
  11. ^ Morris, Bernardine (15 December 1992). "Boldly or Demurely, The Midriff Bares Itself". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  12. ^ Talmon, Noelle (7 April 2012). "Celebrity Style Watch: Belly Baring Crop Tops". Star Pulse. Archived from the original on 8 April 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  13. ^ "1 Thing In Kaley Cuoco's Wardrobe Has Remained The Same After All These Years". HuffPost. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Celebrities brought the bare-midriff trend back from the early 2000s for the Oscars red carpet". Business Insider. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Jennifer Lopez's Best Early-2000s Outfits, Ranked". Glamour. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  16. ^ Cerini, Marianna (18 December 2019). "Remember when Christina Aguilera's midriff was everywhere?". CNN. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  17. ^ Gilligan, Eilish. "Britney Is Not Just Her Conservatorship — Let's Celebrate Her For The Pop Music Queen She Is". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  18. ^ "11 Times Britney Spears Was Crop Top Goals — PHOTOS". Bustle. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  19. ^ Schillaci, Sophie (7 November 2013). "Selena Gomez Channels Early Britney With Fan-Friendly Pop Confections: Concert Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Selena Gomez Returns to the Stage for Concert in Texas—Was Justin Bieber in the Audience?". E! Online. 9 March 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  21. ^ "PHOTO: Selena Shows Off Sexy Abs During Concert". HuffPost. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Selena Gomez Shows Lots Of Skin At Concert Kick-Off". HuffPost. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Selena Gomez Shows Off Sexy, Vampy Look in Leaked "Slow Down" Music Video". E! Online. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  24. ^ "Selena Gomez Rocks Leather Pants On 'Good Morning America'". Hollywood Life. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  25. ^ "Midriff 'the new cleavage' at latest Chanel show". CTV News. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  26. ^ Rochell, Hannah (27 January 2015). "Belly Buttons Are Back - And At Chanel Couture (Of All Places!)". In Style UK. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  27. ^ Petak, Tessa (15 July 2022). "Kiernan Shipka's Crop Top Button-Down Isn't Your Dad's Business Casual". Yahoo Life. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023.
  28. ^ Miller, Korin (19 August 2022). "Kiernan Shipka's Abs Are Ripped AF In A Cropped Sweater In These Pics". Aol. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023.
  29. ^ Shiffer, Emily J. (13 April 2022). "Kiernan Shipka's Abs Are So Incredibly Sculpted As She Poses In A Crop Top On IG". Women's Health. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023.
  30. ^ "Crystal Nipple Pasties, Bustier Dresses, & More of Sabrina Carpenter's Buzziest Looks". 6 February 2024.
  31. ^ Olson, Samantha (5 June 2023). "Sabrina Carpenter Shines in Bright Yellow Polka Dot Set During Brazil Trip". Seventeen. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023.
  32. ^ Oh, Hannah (21 June 2023). "Sabrina Carpenter Gets Cheeky on Tour in a Micro-Mini Skirt and See-Through Top". Seventeen. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023.
  33. ^ Rivera, Briannah (20 March 2023). "Sabrina Carpenter Serves Comfy Y2K Vibes in a Graphic Cropped Tee and Denim Shorts". Seventeen. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023.
  34. ^ Carballo, Charlie (2 March 2023). "Billboard Women in Music Awards 2023 Red Carpet Arrivals". WWD. Image by Flores, Gilbert. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023.
  35. ^ Soo Hoo, Fawnia (6 August 2020). "How I Shop: Sabrina Carpenter". Fashionista. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023.
  36. ^ Matozzo, Marissa (12 November 2022). "Sabrina Carpenter Simmers On Screen In A Black Crop Top And Micro Mini For Her 'Nonsense Video'—Her Abs Are Insane!". Yahoo. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023.
  37. ^ Jackson, Clementina (20 February 2023). "Sydney Sweeney's Style File: Every Single One Of The 'Euphoria' Star's Most Fabulous Looks". ELLE. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023.
  38. ^ Teather, Charlie (8 August 2023). "How Sydney Sweeney became fashion's favourite new muse". Glamour UK. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023.
  39. ^ "Zendaya's Best Outfits over the Years, from 2010 to Now". 4 March 2022.
  40. ^ "Zendaya Wears a Stormy Gray Gown with a Heart-Racing Deep V-Neckline". Harper's BAZAAR. 8 March 2024.
  41. ^ "Zendaya Flashes Her Abs in a Gold Turtleneck Crop Top & Matching Skirt for 'Dune: Part Two' Premiere in Paris". 17 February 2024.
  42. ^ "Zendaya Takes Business Casual to the Next Level with a Midriff-Baring Twist". 4 September 2022.
  43. ^ "Zendaya's Dress for 'Dune: Part Two' Has the Most Daring Cut-Outs Ever". 26 February 2024.
  44. ^ "Zendaya Does a Shirtless Power Suit With Megawatt Diamonds On The Red Carpet". W Magazine. 8 April 2024.
  45. ^ https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/j-lo-shows-off-her-killer-abs-and-a-rare-cream-birkin-on-her-gym-break/ar-BB1jxVIB
  46. ^ https://whatsnew2day.com/jennifer-lopez-shows-off-her-washboard-abs-in-a-tiny-gray-crop-top-and-low-rise-sweatpants-as-she-leaves-her-25-million-penthouse-in-new-york-city/
  47. ^ "'Ozark's' Julia Garner reveals toned tum in striking cut-out Emmys dress". 13 September 2022.
  48. ^ "Zendaya's Latest Futuristic Gown Featured an Extreme Bellybutton Cutout That Spanned to Her Hip Bones".
  49. ^ "Lindsey Vonn's Slashed Little Black Dress & Gold-Dipped Heels at 'Jurassic World: Dominion Premiere Deliver Sleek Statements". 7 June 2022.
  50. ^ Losciale, Marisa (11 March 2024). "Heidi Klum Stuns in Barely-There Metallic Gown With Racy Cutouts". Parade. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  51. ^ "Heidi Klum just proved she is the cut-out kween in a daring dress at Cannes". 25 May 2023.
  52. ^ "Jennifer Aniston, 51, shows off rock-hard abs in new shoot". Yahoo Life. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  53. ^ "Janelle Monáe's Oscar Party LBD is Mostly Cutouts". 28 March 2022.
  54. ^ "Megan Fox's Fashion Evolution Demands Your Attention". InStyle. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  55. ^ O’Bleness, Cara (19 May 2023). "Inside the 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue New York Launch Party". Swimsuit | SI.com. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  56. ^ Alkazi, Roshen (1983). Ancient Indian Costume. New Delhi: Art Heritage. OCLC 11507040.
  57. ^ Ghurye, Govind Sadashiv (1951). Indian costume. Bombay: Popular Book Depot. OCLC 560506171.
  58. ^ Menkes, Suzy (29 May 1994). "RUNWAYS; Naked Came the Midriff". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  59. ^ Lane, Tahree (22 March 1998). "Sari". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 21 March 2012 – via Google News.
  60. ^ Social Science a Textbook in History for Class IX as per New Syllabus. FK Publications.
  61. ^ India. Balcatta, Western Australia: R.I.C. Publications. 2010. ISBN 978-1-74126-911-6.
  62. ^ Beck, Brenda (1976). The Symbolic Merger of Body, Space, and Cosmos in Hindu Tamil Nadu. Contributions to Indian Sociology. Vol. 10. pp. 213–243.
  63. ^ Naikar, Basavaraj S. (1984). Sarvajna: the omniscient poet of Karnataka. Dharwad: Sivaranjani Publications. OCLC 17133214.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Midriff.
Look up midriff in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Midriff&oldid=1219411151"