A few weeks ago I wrote about about the trend of tiers on this season's new dresses. I never noticed that sweats were busy joining forces with dresses to bring back that horror of my late teen years, the muumuu.
I love Hawaii as much as anyone. I can pack a bag in an hour if you tell me we're going. Post WWII America discovered the culture of the Hawaiian Islands. Though it wasn't easy to get there, Hawaii came stateside via the ukulele, tiki bars, the Aloha shirt, Elvis Presley movies and...the muumuu.
A muumuu is a shapeless dress that hangs (very) loosely from the shoulders and is worn by some native Hawaiian women. It's probably an offshoot of the "Mother Hubbard" dresses brought to the islands by 19th century missionaries. When muumuus became popular in the 1950s they featured the bright tropical prints of Aloha shirts. While they were never high fashion (see Sack Dress which tried and failed) muumuus were considered fun and we all got them—my mother, my older sister and I.
The problem with the muumuu is that, while they were certainly colorful and comfortable, they had as much sex appeal as a grocery bag and were universally hated by that eternal source of criticism, men.
The muumuu craze faded fast, although they've never truly gone away. Muumuus just joined the house dress brigade.
No one will likely label this latest crop of dresses muumuus, but they are teetering in that direction, and I caution fashionistas young and mature (a fashionista is never "old"), to look before she leaps. The 2021 muumuu is definitely not an investment piece.
All those who hope to switch your sweats to something cooler but just as comfortable next season—tread carefully.
I agree. They are definitely more appealing off than on. Lise
ReplyDeleteThey're perfect for the endless summer of southern California. I am not interested in attracting the interest of men, excepting my husband, who only notices my clothes when I'm not wearing any...
ReplyDeleteI honestly find women that wear them more attractive, since it shows a level of confidence
DeleteWell, for all you fashionistas out there, young and old: take it from someone who’s lived through the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s to now, 2024…the muumuu is still here, and has never left.
ReplyDeleteI’ve seen the muumuu embellished and adorned with lace and embroidery in the 1970’s and sold to us as boho dresses, then worn with belts to make it look more contemporary in the 1980’s and ‘90’s.
And then here they are, in the 2000’s till now, with a ruffle or two at the hem, added puff sleeves as well.
Regardless of how it has been embellished, dressed up or adorned, the basic premise of this style dress hasn’t changed in decades…in the future, your daughters will enjoy wearing them as well, hooray for the muumuu.
Thanks for your comment. Yes, still with us because comfort always will be. It's just not quite as extreme as the shapeless ones I remember!
DeleteSome of my most fitted dresses are my muumuu with long sleeves and the high lace color. My boyfriends hates it when I wear them because they are tooo sexy.
ReplyDeleteI don’t know what you are going on about? The muumuu is timeless. We collect vintage muumuus and sell them at our shop and we can’t get them in fast enough!!