Tesi Johnson, Gleaner Writer

Ah, the pumpkin dress! The pregnant hemline that characterises this style of dress is often the single most striking element in the outfit. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

The sartorial elegance of the skirt-and-blouse amalgamation commonly called the 'dress' speaks for femininity in a way that trousers cannot. No other garment says 'woman' as strongly as the dress does.

As far back as man has records, history lessons on female sensuality are learnt just by observing the shifting length and shape of the dress. Such adjustment often indicates a movement towards or away from a prudish outlook on women's 'lib' - both liberation and libido.

In the early 1900s the empire silhouette prevailed, recovered by pompous sweeping hemlines. Fast-forward to the 21st century, where the miniskirts of the 1960s marry the empire waist of earlier eras to produce the now popular baby-doll dress.

Likewise, many other variations of the frock have emerged from a combination of different trends from different eras.

December 2006 sees a most diverse period of dress design, ranging from the slinky Jersey dress, to the shirred and gathered 'Hollywood-inspired' dress. Get gussied up in a flirty frock this Christmas and 'dress' it up!

Shirt-waister dress in con- trasting but dramatic bluse cinched with the currently trendy wide belt.

If you want to be conservative yet fashionable on a Sunday, then this little white dress complemented by a brooch and a hat will do the trick. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer