Valentines Day: The Chronicles of flirty dressing
What Did People Wear to Flirt Throughout History?
Valentine's Day is knocking on our door, and I thought to write a piece about the history of Valentine's Day and the concept of flirty dressing. First, I think it's important to set the scene. Valentine's Day is a Christian invention that targeted the pagan predecessor known as Lupercalia. Lupercalia was celebrated on the 15th of February until the Middle Ages, which makes it suspiciously close to the date we celebrate Saint Valentine's Day. It was more a celebration of fertility than of love per se. The pagan celebration takes its name from the Luperci, meaning "the brothers of the wolf," and the festival began at the cave of the Lupercal on the Palatine Hill, where, according to legend, a she-wolf (lupa) nursed the infant orphans Romulus and Remus, who would later found Rome. Apart from all the pagan rituals that I will not disclose to avoid tiring you with creepy details, the festival included a matchmaking lottery, in which young men would draw the names of women from a jar. The couples would then be paired for the duration of the festival, or longer, if the match was right. These matches often ended in marriage.
Lupercalia was later replaced by the Christian version of it, known today as Valentine’s Day, because Middle Ages were not known for giving space to paganism, and we have the first adopters of the Christian love fest situated in UK and France. If you ever wandered what people were wearing to flirt at that time I have all the answers for you starting from…
Middle Ages
Modesty and Symbolism: In the Middle Ages, fashion was heavily influenced by the Church, emphasizing modesty for both men and women. However, subtle elements could be considered flirtatious, such as the use of color, embroidery, or the cut of a garment to accentuate certain features while still adhering to modesty standards.
Courtly Love: The concept of courtly love, which involved knights expressing admiration for a lady, often included the lady giving the knight a token, such as a scarf or sleeve. This could be seen as an early form of flirty dressing, where the item given would be worn during tournaments.
If you are looking to replicate the Middle Ages flirtarious look I suggest you go for the Pinko sleeves or the Jacquemus sleeves, the Burberry scarf or the Miu Miu boa looking scarf.
Renaissance
Increased Opulence: The Renaissance saw more opulent and form-fitting clothing, with both men and women wearing garments that highlighted their figures more explicitly than in the Middle Ages. For women, dresses with low necklines and tight bodices were popular, while men wore hose that emphasized their legs and codpieces that accentuated their groin area.
Use of Accessories: Accessories like fans, gloves, and jewellery became tools for flirtation, with specific gestures and ways of wearing these items serving as non-verbal cues of interest or availability.
To replicate the Renaissance style of flirtation, I would go for some velvet and tulle or something more Bridgerton looking but still modern. For example, I was totally inspired by this Diesel dress and from this beautiful Reformation neckline and then you can just style up your closet with some of the accessories mentioned above, I would go for gloves and pearls.
18th and 19th Centuries
Rococo and Victorian Era: The flirtatious element of dressing became more nuanced. In the Rococo period, women's fashion included elaborate dresses with wide hoops, low-cut bodices, and an emphasis on ornamental details. By the Victorian era, fashion swung towards a more conservative approach, with high necklines and long skirts. However, even within these constraints, there were elements like tight corseting, which emphasised the waist, and the use of parasols and fans for subtle flirtation.
For this style choose Vivienne Westwood and you won’t go wrong, like this set or this dress. I also like this Behr necklace. PURE LOVE.
Early to Mid-20th Century
Flapper Era: The 1920s marked a significant departure from previous fashion norms, with women adopting the flapper style—shorter hemlines, dropped waistlines, and less restrictive silhouettes—signaling a more overt expression of freedom and flirtation.
Post-War Fashion: The end of World War II and into the 1950s brought about a return to femininity and glamour, with cinched waists and full skirts. The emergence of youth culture in the 1960s and 70s saw fashion becoming a form of rebellion and sexual liberation, with mini skirts, body-hugging garments, and bold prints.
For this century I would go full 60s with a short A-line skirt or dress like this Courrèges one or this modern interpretation of Diamonds are a girls best friend dress that Marilyn Monroe was wearing.
Late 20th to 21st Century
Diversity and Individuality: The late 20th century onwards has been characterized by a diversity of fashion trends, with flirty dressing encompassing everything from the minimalist and subtly sensual designs of the 1990s to the bold and revealing trends of the 2000s.
Modern Day: Today, flirty dressing is defined more by individual expression and confidence than by any specific style. The rise of fast fashion, social media, and celebrity culture has led to a rapid turnover of trends and a blend of high and low fashion elements. Body positivity and inclusivity have also become significant themes, with flirty dressing being about feeling confident and comfortable in one's skin, regardless of body type.
I’m not here for this part but if you want some inspiration here are a few pictures I took today and they might inspire you. Either you celebrate Valentine’s Day or Galentine’s Day you can choose casual sneakers like the ASICS x Cecilie Bahnsen ones or a bomber jacket and of course you definitely have a red sock or stocking after the colour red infestation in fashion the last few months.
Whatever you decide to wear for whatever type of plans you have for the 14th of February I’m wishing you the best and I’m looking forward to see your fits. Spread the love <3.