This is a rather interesting item of women's wardrobe. This type of clothing covers the shoulders and ends at the waist. Classic models are sewn without sleeves, but now there are many models with short and long sleeves. In simple terms, a bolero is a short jacket that ends under the chest. These cropped sweaters can now be worn over other fashionable clothing such as blouses, T-shirts, blouses and dresses. Today this is a fairly common part of women's wardrobe.
History of the bolero
The word bolero comes from the Spanish bolero. The history of this thing originated, of course, in Spain, or more precisely, in Andalusia. Short and tight boleros, which were created without sleeves or fasteners, were part of the Spanish men's national costume; bullfighters loved them.
REFERENCE. The bolero got its name from the Spanish folk dance of the same name, popular in the 18th century. The founder of this musical genre is the Spanish dancer Sebastiano Cerezo.The fact is that this music has a non-standard size - 3/4, like a short sleeveless jacket.
A hundred years later, already in France, fashionistas appreciated this wardrobe detail as it deserved. At that time, ladies wore bolero, paying tribute to the Spanish Empress Eugenie. Despite the fact that this short sleeveless vest was initially considered a men's wardrobe item, some examples of clothing from that era indicate that women also wore boleros with pleasure. Supposedly, ladies wore them over their dresses to impress the bullfighter.
Features of the bolero cut and modern options
The bolero is cut quite simply; it does not require a lot of material, which allows you to create them from expensive and interesting fabrics. This is a simple cropped vest that ends under the bust. There are both sleeveless models and the following types of sleeves: long, short, three-quarter, bat, lantern. The model can be either with or without a clasp.
It is difficult to say when and which couturier came up with the idea to revive this original piece of women’s wardrobe. But today the bolero is found quite often in the collections of famous designers and brands. Modern fashionistas enjoy wearing and purchasing various types of this short jacket. Fashionable versions of this model are often made from beautiful expensive fabrics with the addition of bright accessories, fur or lace. Embroidered with stones, beads or rhinestones, they are also very popular.
This stylish piece of clothing is perfect for both everyday and business looks; there are many bright evening options.A romantic date or a walk on a sunny summer day? A comfortable little jacket will not only decorate, but also save you in bad weather in early autumn, late spring or a cool summer evening. Feel free to wear a light top or a flowy blouse underneath, you definitely won’t freeze. Fur and leather options should also not be ignored; they not only look expensive, but also help keep you warm. In general, these are clothes for all occasions!
Such models of short blouses are suitable for any ladies, regardless of build, as well as those who are worried about their figure or for some reason do not want to show their shoulders or chest. A variety of models will allow you to choose the one that suits you. For some, this thing will help to emphasize the figure in the chest area, and for others to visually add volume in the area of narrow and inexpressive shoulders. For girls with small breasts, it is recommended to wear mini-jackets with ruffles, frills and drapery, and voluminous decoration in the chest area. Full arms and belly will help to hide elongated options with sleeves made of light knitwear. For everyday wear, choose classic colors - black, grey, beige and white. Festive types of small jackets can be quite bright, don’t limit yourself to your imagination. Combine them with corsets, long narrow dresses with or without trains, and small plain cocktail dresses.
Don't be afraid to combine the versatile bolero with pencil skirts and jeans, simple knitted dresses, tunics, and shorts. Choose shoes according to your look. The most stylish options are ankle boots, high-heeled boots, sneakers, ballet flats and elegant stilettos. Knitted models will look good with turtlenecks, beautiful summer dresses and knitted sweaters.Don’t forget about jewelry, with which you can safely complement your look. These can be strings of pearls, beads of various colors, small chains with a pendant and massive necklaces.
In the 20th century, wedding types of this clothing were also in demand, because they look quite sophisticated and elegant. The fashion for wedding boleros began after Eugenia Montijo, who married the Emperor of France, Napoleon III, tried it on. And today, many celebrities, such as, for example, Kate Middleton, choose various wedding boleros for their weddings. This detail of a wedding ensemble can be very beautifully decorated, creating a truly unique image of the bride.
What materials are they made from?
Boleros are made from a wide variety of materials; there are practically no restrictions either on the budget or on the flight of fancy. The most interesting are models made from beautiful, expensive fabrics - velvet, brocade, silk, lace. Mini jackets embroidered with beads and rhinestones also look very good. There are fur and knitted types of this clothing, as well as summer ones made from light fabrics. Young people will be happy to wear denim options.
What is a bolero usually confused with?
IMPORTANT. Boleros can often be confused with other types of capes, such as capes, short jackets, and jackets. In particular, capes or small shortened cloaks do not have sleeves and are usually tied at the neck with a ribbon or fastened with a button. It can also be confused with a boa - this is a similar cape that covers the neck and shoulders. The ends of the boa are usually connected at the chest area. This detail of a lady's wardrobe, although similar to a bolero, is still not one.