16 Mar 2015

Walking the streets of Gaborone, one could see a new fashion trend of women wearing a somewhat peculiar dress.

Most men stare at her with admiration, but others with a bit of resentment and distaste. The dress, which is popularly known as the Altezza dress, has overflowing flaps on the side showing it all.

Altogether, hot pants, a pair of leggings or jeggings even a jean could radiate the dress but most Gaborone women just wear it on its own. Though showcasing some skin, it can radiate a woman’s natural beauty all together with her body, but when does showing off cleavage, an arm and thigh become too much or indecent?

According to a website, www.wisegeek.org, public indecency is a legal term or perception regarding acts or behaviours that may or may not be illegal, but are considered private behaviour that could harm the public in some fashion.

Not surprisingly, many behaviours that were once considered public indecency are no longer widely considered to be so; in the early 20th century, for example, women could be arrested or fined for wearing bathing suits that exposed their arms or knees.

Even a tight micro-mini skirt which has been in existence for centuries men still stare or haul insults to a confident woman rocking it with or without thunder thighs.

The website further states that although standards have relaxed over time, the aim of decency laws remains the same; they are generally meant to prevent unwanted public exposure to behaviours that might be found offensive.

Interestingly, the perception of nakedness changes when someone is wearing Western clothes. This is because in our Setswana culture, a girl child usually wears makgabe and a boy tshega.

In many villages and cultures, women are often seen jiggling thunder thighs and bare breasts or in the traditional matlalo attire. They are never attacked or humiliated as this is culture.

A fashion artist and co-founder of GaTsh Fros, Tsholo Dikobe said that, “We are living in a modern society where perceptions shift and we expect people to respect ones choice of clothes not to judge and make women uncomfortable”.

Altogether, if Kim Kardashian flashes her gigantic behind, men drool over her pictures on Instagram but controversy spark when a renowned singer Berry Heart wore a ravishing Altezza dress at the 2014 BOMU awards.

However, Bonolo SoulfulB Oabile Plus Size Model and fashion blogger stated that trends are what guide a person’s style and some choose to follow and some do not. “It seems though that some people still do not know the right kind of clothes for their type of bodies.

The word “sexy” is often misused by a lot of people. We see younger girls and some women showing parts of their bodies which are not supposed to be shown in public, because it is what’s on trend or maybe because they felt like it,” she added.

She said, “Although, there is nothing wrong with expressing yourself but if it is tastefully done it is acceptable.” A mini skirt dazzled with a coat and a panty-hose can be a classical look, or even for the fuller chest ladies a revealing top would be ideal with a cardigan put over it,” she says.

It is still not convincing that wearing short pieces of clothing as indecent because many women can rock short clothing and still look very decent and professional despite the length of her dress.
It just depends on your body type, accessories and being bold, beautiful and confident as a woman. ENDS