Peplums began their resurgence in winter and will continue to do so throughout spring. For the uninitiated, a peplum is basically an over-sized frill, normally attached to the waist of fitted jackets or pencil skirts. (Imagine a tailored, frill-necked lizard for your hips and you'll get the idea ... )
Occasionally you'll see a peplum hem, as in Ruby's latest collection.
The peplum's origins can be found in ancient Greece with the common floor-length peplos - a draped dress that had its excess fabric folded over at the waist. It rose in popularity in the 19th century in a form closer to the one we now know and love. Peplums were worn to accentuate the hips - and prove one's worth in the child-bearing department. In the late 1940s, Christian Dior introduced the peplum to jacket waistlines as part of his label's New Look. The feminine style complemented the clean lines of the era perfectly and became a trademark look for the brand.
Thanks to Dior's legacy of effortless elegance, the peplum can easily be worn by ladies with a love of tailoring and with any body shape. For spring, expect to see the peplum in a range of bold, bright colours and prints. They'll be paired with slim skirts and clean, tailored tops and jackets. For an edgier appeal, look for leather/leather-look peplums - for the high-end, shop Alexander McQueen. For the middle road, Ruby has some great coated black denim pieces and, at the lower end of the scale, Glassons has a metallic silver peplum top.
Peplums add a delightfully lady-like flavour to any outfit this spring.
