Midriff

Clothing showing midriff

Midriff is a particular term to denominate the section of the human body between the thorax/chest and the pelvis/hips. It is used (1) as a genteel avoidance of synonymous belly (with its primary external physical feature, the navel); (2) as a synonym for waist; and (3) as a name for the area around (yet mainly below) the diaphragm (particularly including the stomach region).

The midriff is exposed when wearing a crop top or bikini. The cholis worn by Indian women also exposes a thin section of midriff, usually 3 to 4 inches, though the garment is not known for having sexual connotations and is a mark of traditional modesty.

The Eastern art of belly dancing places the female midriff on center stage. With proper dance instruction and physical conditioning, the midriff is capable of a wide range of physical movements. Belly dancers such as the tribal Rachel Brice and pop singer Shakira are well known examples of this muscular midriff control.

Etymology

"Midriff" is an old term in the English language, coming into use before 1000 AD. In Old English it was written as "midhrif", with the old word "hrif" literally meaning stomach; in Middle English it was "mydryf". The word fell into obsolescence after the 18th century, until it was revived in 1941 by the fashion industry, partly to avoid use of the word "belly" which many women considered undesirable in reference to their bodies, as it has connotations of obesity.

Culture and history

Western Culture

A teenage couple in 1975 when the midriff fashion started.

Early times

In some cultures, exposure of the midriff is socially discouraged or even banned, and the Western culture has historically been resistant to midriff-baring styles. 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 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. At the same time,the wide acceptance of navel display in Western societies, navel piercing & navel tattoos have become more common among young women. This raised the popularity of crop tops that expose the midriff & navel. For a period during the 1980s, bare midriffs were in style for men, with several manufacturers producing t-shirts that ended above the navel, mainly for athletic purposes. It was also a style associated with the punk subculture. Some would even make their own t-shirts into a midriff by cutting the bottom with scissors. Through the late 80s, it became a style to have larger size shirts and sweatshirts made into midriffs as well as cutting the sleeves to match with the style. In general, men in Western cultures now expose the midriff only when shirtless.

Rihanna in a midriff look, on her tour The LOUD Tour on 4th June 2011

Recent times

Currently in Hollywood,the bare midriff is becoming the trend.This midriff look flaunts one of the most desired symbols of beauty and health today:flat, toned abs.Many celebrities have started to flaunt their midriffs at the red carpet, on stage, and in photo shoots.Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester flashed her abs in a body-hugging, long-sleeved shirt and skirt, while Nicole Richie showed a little ribcage in a floor-length, deconstructed dress cleverly missing its middle, as shown on Celebuzz.Rihanna's super fit routine includes elliptical training, which is easier on joints than running and just as effective at fat burning. The star alternates her cardio time with weight training for muscle tone, as well as lunges and jumping rope.Another curvaceous, toned singer is Jennifer Lopez. Daily Mail reported that she recently credited the Dukan Diet with part of her self-care routine, . The diet alternates between high protein, high fiber, and unlimited vegetables to achieve one's ideal weight.

Indian Culture

Actress and model Shradha Arya in an Indian Sari that bares the midriff.

On the other hand, baring the midriff has always been a fashion in Indian women attire. Indian women have traditionally worn saris that bares the midriff,especially South Indian women. One of the reasons can be that in ancient Indian tradition,the navel of the God Vishnu the Protector is considered to be the center of the universe and the source of life. From his navel a new world of the future emerges. This has been depicted in many ancient Indian sculptures as a lotus emerging from the navel on which God Brahma the Creator is seated. Due to this the midriff is set to be left bare in a sari.In modern fashion trends too,the sari is considered to be the classiest midriff revealer. By the Indian Physiognomy of a women's body,when the waist of a lady is fat, it indicates her loose character. A waist that is narrow, well formed, not too small nor very large or fleshy,smooth and hairless, is the sign of good luck. If the waist is bent, big, flabby, hairy, rough and crooked, then the lady will be wicked, shrewd and unfortunate. Short, soft belly with veins visible is a sign that woman is sweet and passionate.Hair on the waist indicates an unfortunate woman with a loose character.

Amisha Patel posing in a Ghagra Choli that bares the midriff.

Other Indian communities that take midriff in their stride include the women from Rajasthan who leave the midriff exposed while wearing Ghagra Cholis. However, these women often cover their heads with a Dupatta 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. In spite of it,some Indian philosophers gave opposition to exposing midriff in saris. They considered it to be a symbol of adultery. 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.

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 Khan featured in midriff revealing ghagra choli without dupatta for the hit songs "Chaiyya Chaiyya" in Dil Se (1998) and "Munni Badnam" in Dabangg (2010). 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. At the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2011, she featured in a low rise ghagra choli designed by Neeta Lulla.Recently,Actress Amisha Patel walked the ramp in a low rise green Ghagra Choli designed by Rocky S at Aamby Valley City India Bridal Week 2011.

China

In Beijing, where the hot weather can be harsh, men commonly roll up their shirts, exposing their midriff and navel. This is done purely to relieve themselves of the heat, as it is frowned upon for them to completely remove their shirts. However, women in Beijing usually do not do this.

As a marketing demographic

According to the PBS Frontline documentary, "The Merchants of Cool", "midriff" is a marketing classification for an American teenage female who is characterized as prematurely adult and consumed by appearances.

In schools

Many American secondary schools have dress codes dating back to the 1970s against attire that leaves the midriff exposed. An example of a test that some schools apply is to have the student raise her arms if it is suspected that her shirt will expose her midriff. Although more tolerated with younger girls, female students can be disciplined for exposing their navels on school campuses. 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." The enforcement of such rules depends on the school itself, and varies widely. At schools with more relaxed or unenforced dress codes it is not uncommon to see girls with some midriff showing or exposed lower back midriff while sitting in class.

Recently,a Colorado teenager whose yearbook picture was rejected for being too revealing vowed to fight the ban with her high school’s administration, but the editors of the yearbook insist it was their decision alone on the photo.The five student editors of the Durango High School yearbook in Durango, Colorado, told the Durango Herald they were the ones who made the call not to publish a picture of senior Sydney Spies posing in a short yellow skirt midriff and shoulder-exposing black shawl as her senior portrait.

External links

• Bellage