In fashion, the midriff is the human abdomen. The midriff is exposed when wearing a crop top or some forms of swimwear or underwear.
"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.
In some cultures, exposure of the midriff is socially discouraged or even banned, and the 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]
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]
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] [19] [20] Singer and teen idol Selena Gomez bared her midriff in her performances in the early 2010s. [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] In the Spring-Summer 2015 Haute Couture show by Chanel in Paris, midriff-baring tops were a main focus. [27] [28]
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, [29] [30] [31] Sabrina Carpenter, [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] Halle Bailey, [39] [40] [41] Sydney Sweeney [42] [43] and Zendaya [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] all have revolved around their bare midriff around their fashion. Jennifer Lopez still bares her midriff or navel in 2024. [50]
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, 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, [51] Zendaya, [52] Lindsey Vonn, [53] Heidi Klum [54] [55] and Janelle Monáe. [56]
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. [57] [58]
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.
Beginning in the late 1940s, school dress codes in the United States started to ban bare midriffs. [4]
Some American secondary schools have dress codes dating back to the 1970s against attire that leaves the midriff exposed. [59] An example of a test that some schools apply is to have the student raise her arms if her shirt just barely covers her midriff while her arms are down. If during this test, the girl's navel is exposed as she raises her arms, then she will be prohibited from wearing that shirt to school anymore.
As an example, the dress code of the Sherman Independent School District in Texas requires that "there must be no exposure of the midriff area or undergarments. The midriff area must not be seen while bending over, while standing, raising arms, and stretching." [60]
In 2002, East Valley High School in Spokane Valley, Washington specified guidelines about inappropriate clothing in the school's student planner and handbook which includes "clothing that reveals the midriff". [61]
In 2004, the Board of Education of Meriden, Connecticut, brought a dress code that banned shirts, blouses that expose the top of the shoulders, halter tops, spaghetti tops, and any clothing that exposed the waist, midriff or hips. [62]
Indian women have traditionally worn saris that partially cover the midriff, especially South Indian women. [63] [64]
One of the styles of saris is bare midriff. The gap on the midriff between the sari and the choli presented the elegance of a woman's body and suggests a feminine strength.
It is sometimes used in Indian traditional dance as it allows a flexible movement.
Both men and women have bare midriff while performing the classical dance. It has also become a part of Bollywood culture.
A less likely cultural explanation could be that in ancient Indian scriptures, the navel of the god Vishnu is considered to be the center of the universe and the source of life. [65] From his navel, a new world of the future emerges. A woman is considered as creator of life and source of Shakti, hence the bare midriff also symbolizes free flow of cosmic energy.
This has been depicted in many ancient Indian sculptures as a lotus emerging from the navel on which the god Brahma, the Creator, is seated. [66] [67] Due to this, the midriff is set to be left bare in a sari.
Another more practical reason could be the hot tropical climate of India. Rathi Vinay Jha, director general of the Fashion Design Council of India, said: "The bare midriff keeps you cool". [68]
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. [69] 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." [70]
Other Indian communities that take midriff in their stride include the women from Rajasthan, who leave the midriff exposed while wearing ghagra cholis. [71] However, these women often cover their heads with a dupatta [72] 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. [73]
In spite of it, some Indian philosophers gave opposition to exposing midriff in saris. They considered it to be a symbol of adultery. [74]
The only ornament accepted by the Hindu culture that can be worn in the midriff region are the waist chains. They are considered to be a part of bridal jewellery. [75]
Due to modern fashion trends, along with saris, the midriff-revealing ghaghra cholis are also popular. Designer Manish Malhotra's Fashion Week collections regularly highlight low waisted ghaghras accompanied by short cholis.
Such ghagra cholis are more commonly worn by the Bollywood celebrities in films as well as in real life. For example, actress Malaika Arora featured in midriff revealing ghagra choli without dupatta for the hit songs " Chaiyya Chaiyya " in Dil Se.. (1998) [76] and " Munni Badnaam Hui " in Dabangg (2010). [77]
Actress Priyanka Chopra featured in a low rise ghagra choli designed by designer Ritu Kumar on the opening show of the HDIL India Couture Week 2008 held in Mumbai. [78] [79] [80] At the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2011, she featured in a low rise ghagra choli designed by Neeta Lulla. [81]
Recently, actress Ameesha Patel walked the ramp in a low rise green ghagra choli designed by Rocky S at Aamby Valley City India Bridal Week 2011. [82] [83]
The navel is a protruding, flat, or hollowed area on the abdomen at the attachment site of the umbilical cord. All placental mammals have a navel, although it is generally more conspicuous in humans.
A sari is a women's garment from the Indian subcontinent, that consists of an un-stitched stretch of woven fabric arranged over the body as a robe, with one end attached to the waist, while the other end rests over one shoulder as a stole (shawl), sometimes baring a part of the midriff. It may vary from 4.1 to 8.2 metres in length, and 60 to 120 centimetres in breadth, and is form of ethnic wear in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. There are various names and styles of sari manufacture and draping, the most common being the Nivi style. The sari is worn with a fitted bodice also called a choli and a petticoat called ghagra, parkar, or ul-pavadai. It remains fashionable in the Indian subcontinent today.
Clothing in India varies with the different ethnicities, geography, climate, and cultural traditions of the people of each region of India. Historically, clothing has evolved from simple garments like kaupina, langota, achkan, lungi, sari, to rituals and dance performances. In urban areas, western clothing is common and uniformly worn by people of all social levels. India also has a great diversity in terms of weaves, fibers, colors, and the material of clothing. Sometimes, color codes are followed in clothing based on the religion and ritual concerned. The clothing in India also encompasses a wide variety of Indian embroidery, prints, handwork, embellishments, and styles of wearing clothes. A wide mix of Indian traditional clothing and western styles can be seen in India.
A crop top is a top that reveals and exposes the waist, navel, or abdomen.
A choli is a blouse or a bodice-like upper garment that is commonly cut short leaving the midriff bare, it is worn along with a sari in the Indian subcontinent. The choli is also part of the ghagra choli costume in the Indian subcontinent.
Low-rise pants, also known as "low-cut jeans", "lowriders" or "rap pants", are a type of pants that sit low on, or below, the hips, usually at least 8 centimetres (3 inches) lower than the navel. Low-rise pants have been available since the 1960s, in styles for both men and women, with popularity increasing in the West in the early 1970s.
See-through clothing is any garment of clothing made with lace, mesh or sheer fabric that allows the wearer's body or undergarments to be seen through its fabric. See-through fabrics were fashionable in Europe in the eighteenth century. There was a "sheer fashion trend" starting with designer clothing from 2008. See-through or sheer fabric, particularly in skintone colours, is sometimes called illusion, as in 'illusion bodice' due to giving the impression of exposed flesh, or a revealing ensemble.
A cheerleading uniform is a standardized outfit worn by cheerleaders during games and other events. These uniforms typically include the official colors and mascots of the school or team and are designed to make the wearer appear physically attractive.
A bandeau is a garment comprising, in appearance, a strip of cloth. Today, the term frequently refers to a garment that wraps around a woman's breasts. It is usually part of a bikini in sports or swimwear. It is similar to a tube top, but narrower. It is usually strapless, sleeveless, and off the shoulder. Bandeaux are commonly made from elastic material to stop them from slipping down, or are tied or pinned at the back or front. In the first half of the 20th century, a "bandeau" was a narrow band worn by women to bind the hair, or as part of a headdress.
The lehenga, lehnga or langa or लेहंगा is a form of ankle-length skirt from the Indian subcontinent. Different patterns and styles of traditional embroidery are used to decorate lehenga. Gota patti embroidery is often used for festivals and weddings. The lehenga, also known as the ghagra, is a traditional Indian garment that became popular in the 16th century, mainly in North India. The lehenga became a favorite attire for Mughal women of all ages and classes due to its royal appeal and convenience The lehenga is sometimes worn as the lower portion of a gagra choli or langa voni. Ghagra in Hindi, was also used to refer to the half slip or petticoat, a skirt worn as an undergarment below the sari.
A backless dress is a style of women's clothing designed to expose the wearer's back. The back may be either partially exposed with a low cut or fully exposed with the use of strings. A backless dress is most commonly worn on formal occasions or as evening wear or as wedding dresses and can be of any length, from a miniskirt-length to floor-length. Other backless styles include backless swimsuits and tops, such as a halter top.
A langa voni is a traditional dress worn in South India by girls between puberty and marriage. It is also known as the two-piece sari or half sari. Girls younger than this may wear it on special occasions.
Ghagra choli is a type of ethnic clothing for women from the Indian Subcontinent, notably in the Indian states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, as well as in the Pakistani provinces of Punjab and Sindh. In Punjab, the lehenga is traditionally worn with a kurti. It is a combination of the gagra or lehenga and the choli (blouse), however in contemporary and modern usage lehenga choli is the more popular and widely accepted term by fashion designers, trend setters, and boutiques in South Asia, since ghagra is synonymous with the half-slip (petticoat) worn as an undergarment below the sari.
The Kaashtha sari is a Koli style of sari draping very similar to the way the Maharashtrian dhoti is worn. The word Kaashtha refers to the sari being tucked at the back. Since this sari is usually worn by using a single nine yard cloth, it is also referred to as Nauvari, which means Nine Yards. Sakachcha sari is another term commonly used to refer to this style of sari. It is referred to as Akanda Vastra, which means it doesn't need any other attire to support it. In fact, this attire holds utmost importance as women across different walks of life have worn it. It is not just worn at religious and cultural events, but women have fought wars in the past and still work in farmlands wearing this.
Low-rise is a style of clothing designed to sit low on, or below, the hips. The style can also be called lowcut, hipster, or hip-hugger. and can apply to garments worn by males or females. The term can be applied to all garments that cover the wearer's crotch area, including trousers, jeans, shorts, skirts, panties, briefs, bikinis, pantyhose, and tights.
A lehenga-style sari is a modern garment introduced in India that blends elements of the traditional sari and lehenga choli. A lehenga-style sari is normally 4.5 metres to 5.5 metres long. To wear one, unlike a sari, one does not have to form pleats but may simply tuck and drape.
A high-rise or high-waisted garment is one designed to sit high on, or above, the wearer's hips, usually at least 8 centimetres (3 inches) higher than the navel. In western cultures, high-rise jeans were especially common in the 1970s, late 1980s through the late 1990s, derided as mom jeans in the 2000s, and popular again in the mid-to-late 2010s and continues to be popular into the present in competition with low-rise pants.
The Punjabi ghagra is a four-piece outfit known as tewar or 'ti-or' which was traditionally worn by Punjabi women throughout the Punjab region with the outfit comprising a head scarf (Phulkari), kurta or kurti, ghagra and either a suthan or the Punjabi salwar (trousers). In modern times, the ghagra is worn by women in parts of Haryana, rural parts of south West Punjab, parts of Himachal Pradesh and during performances of Giddha in East Punjab.
Cultural views on the midriff and navel vary significantly. In some cultures the navel is seen as sexually and culturally significant, and its exposure has been subject to a variety of cultural norms and taboos, based on concepts of modesty. The views, customs and fashions relating to the midriff and navel change from time to time, and such exposure has become more widely acceptable, as reflected in the designs of clothing.
A belly fetish is a partialism in which an individual is sexually attracted to the midriff or belly.