British women are covering up
UK women are more inclined to cover themselves up than their European counterparts claims the Paris based fashion house, Georgede. Research undertaken by them shows that a UK women chooses skirts and dresses that are 10cms longer than those opted for by women in Germany, Holland, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and the Scandinavian countries. Indeed, the only country with comparable lengths was Luxembourg.
The length of a skirt or dress is shortest in France and Italy 70cms, Spain and Germany 72cms, Scandanavia 73cms, Austria 74cms, UK 75cms and Luxembourg 78cms.
The research also threw up startling evidence that UK women are more conscious of their bodies than nearly every other European country and that consequently they are more prone to covering up than baring all.
As Phillip Bendavid, managing director of Georgede says: "It is very much the Kate effect. Kate Middleton and Kate Moss are leading the charge. Kate Moss' recent comment that women should cover up more is very much a reflection of what is happening in the UK. Increasingly British women are becoming more conservative in the way they dress.
"The Duchess of Cambridge is also definitely influencing the way British women are dressing. For example, you never see her inappropriately dressed. She covers up those areas that women are very conscious about.
"Over the last few seasons skirt and dress lengths have become longer. The trend is very much around demure outfits. Scantily clad is being replaced by Saintly clothed."
Research: The research of 1,000 women exposed the areas of the body that they are inclined to cover up.
Top of the list was the upper arm. 61% of women over 35 years old said this was the area that they most avoided showing, along with 32% of those under 35.
Next where knees, with 54% of women over 35 and 30% of under 35s choosing to cover them up, either with longer length skirts and dresses or trousers.
The upper bust area had 37% of over 35s and 19% of those under 35 choosing to not show this part of the body.
Of the torso the shoulder was the area of least concern for all females with only 18% of women over 35 opting to not show them and a mere 8% of under 35 year olds.
Bendavid explains: "Shoulders are one of the most sensual, but not necessarily sexual, areas of the body. Women are very comfortable showing them off with many believing it to be the most acceptable area of the body to expose - aside from lower leg and ankle."
The research flies in the face of the misconception that British women bare too much flesh. Bendavid says that those in Europe are more likely to expose more of their bodies.
He also believes that, aside from the enormous influence the Duchess of Cambridge has on the way the UK dress, women are once again appreciating that flatteringly cut clothes are sexier than showing bare flesh. He says: "Imagination is a wonderful thing. A woman is often more alluring when sufficiently well covered."