Originally born to be worn in royal courts, centuries of fashion history have witnessed the crossover of Evening Gowns from elite to common people. The evolution of the Evening Gown happened organically starting from a loosely stitched simple dress to a more structured frock with fitted bodice and a fuller skirt. Whatever the silhouette, the main purpose of these gowns has always been to flatter the wearer and to showcase them as a symbol of their status in the society. Evening Gown or A Party Wear Gown as we know it today is long flowing garment usually worn to a formal occasion. The nature of the occasion or the event generally decides the length and silhouette of the gown. The color and the fabric of the gown also have significance and are used to decide when and where a gown can be worn. The party wear dresses are generally categorized roughly as cocktail dresses, Ball Gowns and Evening Gowns. Cocktail dresses tend to be shorter and figure hugging. Ball Gowns are fitted at the bodice and have a full skirt & evening gowns can be of any silhouette. In the earlier times, Wool or Silk was the preferred choice of fabric for stitching gowns. Silk was used by the people who could afford it to show off their wealth and success in the society and the rest stuck to the less luxurious options. In the current fashion, fabrics like chiffon, satin, taffeta, velvet, organza etc are used for designing the gowns. The preferred silhouette for evening gowns in the history was high-waisted Empire Dress. The basic features of the dress used to be low necklines, short sleeves and elaborate fabrics and embroidery. Mermaid: Mermaid, as the name suggests, means that the evening gown is shaped like a mermaid. Mermaid is designed so that upper bodice is tight fitting and the skirt is designed with or without gathers to resemble the tail of the mermaid’s tail in silhouette. The skirt may or may not be of the same color or texture.
Transition of Western Gowns into Indian Fashion Industry
When we look at the history of fashion industry, gowns have always played one of the important role. When we look at the transition of the western gowns happened in India, some of the designers like Rohit Bal, Anamika Khanna, Gaurav Gupta, Swapnil Shinde and Nikhil Thampi have modified western gowns with an Indian touch. People have also been vastly exposed to the world fashion industry and they wanted to try something different instead of wearing usual outfits. In India, gowns are been used along with the dupatta with Indian handiwork. Traditional embroideries and the appliqué motifs are being used to embellish to highlight the necklines, sleeves, upper torso and also used at the hemlines. People also prefer gowns in indo-western style by combining fabric and work in an Indian & western style. Some gowns are also made in a simple silhouette and the metallic belts and accessories have been used to highlight the look of the garment. Nowadays gowns are not only used for parties, but are also used for the occasions like marriage, family functions and so on. In the bridal wear, gowns were preferred only in Christian weddings, but now it’s different. People in India want to try the modern gowns with some modifications related to fabric and color combination for their wedding and parties.