A Bolero is a short jacket that barely reaches the waist. It is generally worn by men in Spain, but women, too, wear it, usually over a blouse or bodice. Often colored, it owes its origin from bull fighting outfit that percolated down to women’s fashion. A style that started in the 1860s, it has definitely seen a lot of followers till date. The story of its origin is rather fascinating. The Torero in the bullfighting arena needed a light jacket that didn’t hinder movement and that could be discarded quickly if the horn of the bull reached him. At the same time the strike dress code was also to be adhered to. So, in the early 19th century, the bolero was designed to serve both purposes. Soon enough, it caught the fancy of the society ladies. It suited the dressing style of that period, as the jacket was short and so much more convenient than a long jacket.
Prior to 20th century, the bolero was worn with cocktail dresses, bridal gowns or evening dresses. During the first decade of the 20th century, women wore flared skirts with small waist silhouette with bolero jackets, as they could visually balance the figure by adding just a little bit of width across the chest and shoulders. Few decades later, the bolero was worn with
light summer dresses and swaying petticoats. In the 1980’s, Yves Saint Laurent designed bolero jackets but it soon went out of fashion. It came back with a bang in the early 2000s. Paired with cocktail dress this time, the bolero came with a zipper.
The versatile bolero can be conservative yet liberal. Even a simple top paired with jeans can rock a bolero. Whether it is decorated with beads or sequins, and made of materials such as jeans, cotton, wool or even chiffon or silk, the bolero seems to make its way into all kinds of wardrobes.
There are many ways you can wear a bolero. Wear it with skinny jeans and tight top and sneakers to get the simple yet cool look. Pair up a solid colored Bolero jacket with a solid colored mini dress and put on stilettos to get a
feminine and mature look. A crepe Bolero jacket can be worn with chiffon maxi dress to look feminine. Look classy by donning a bolero jacket with a bodycon midi dress and open toe heels. The easiest pairing would be a strapless maxi dress with a bolero jacket to cover the shoulders yet give a sexiness to the whole ensemble.
You can always mix and match your bolero jacket with your favorite outfit. Look for a beautiful bolero at Beverlyheels.com.
