What is Dress?
[[File:Akwa Ibom.jpg|thumb|Akwa Ibom]] [[File:Bebe Mini Dress 2008.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Little black mini dress]] [[File:Preprom.jpg|thumb|right|Frocks and ball gowns are types of dresses]] [[File:Tango ballroom standard.png|thumb|180px|Versions of the dress are used in various activities, here [[ballroom dancing]]. Victor Fung and Anna Mikhed dancing a [[Tango (ballroom)|tango]] in 2006.]] A '''dress''' is one of the basic styles of female [[clothing]]. It is a garment of a [[skirt]] (bottom half) with an attached [[bodice]] (top half). The colouring and style of the dress gives the effect of a one-piece garment. A dress is also known as a [[frock]] or a [[gown]]. In [[Europe]] and the Americas, dresses are worn by females of all ages as an alternative to a separate skirt and [[blouse]] or [[trousers]]. There are many types of dresses. A dress is usually worn at formal occasions, such as a [[wedding]] or a [[dance]]. It is also worn in the summer to keep cool. Younger females tend to prefer shorter skirts than older females.<ref>Davis, Michael 2007. ''Art of dress designing''. Delhi: Global Media. {{ISBN|81-904575-7-8}}</ref> ==Type of dress== *[[Cocktail dress]] *[[Evening dress]] *[[Saree]] == History == In the 11th century, women in Europe wore dresses that were like men's tunics and were loose with the hem(the very bottom cloth of a dress) below the knees or lower. Later in the 1550s French women were inspired by Spanish-style bodices and also wore ruffs(a frilly circle worn on the neck). In England, Queen Elizabeth said what kinds of dresses women could wear. During the 17 century, [[Lace]] and slashing(when fabric is layered and cut so it feels like [[velvet]]) became popular decorations. Skirts were full, and the overskirt(the skirt worn over all the others) allowed the display of an underskirt of contrasting fabric. Necklines became lower as well. Skirts were wide and supported by hoop underskirts in the 18th century. One-piece gowns were popular until the middle of the century. During the 1760