The Humble Muu Muu Has Come The Long Way To High High Fashion
A Muu muu is a loose-fitting Hawaiian dress that falls easily from the shoulder. While this depiction is the most popular, it does not accommodate the idea that muu muus are a philosophy, armed with poetry, values of a people, thematic principles, and dresses. In the beginning, the initial name for the dress was holoku but was also known as the "Mother Hubbard dress". This early muu muu was cut with long sleeves, a high-necked yoke, and was formal length. Intended for women of any weight because of the unbelted casual fit of the polynesian clothes, these muu muus were invented in Polynesia thanks to Protestant missionaries who arrived during the end of the last century. These church fathers were faced with females who were bare other than for a skirt bound loosely around their midriffs that kept their upper body visible.
Integrating customs which were brought by the church body, they designed these dresses as a loose cloth to cover the breasts of the ladies. Submitting to the church, the ladies wore the muu muus but the cloth was Hawaiian in its brilliant colors and floral fabrics incorporating a combination of ginger blossoms, bird of paradise, plumeria, hibiscus, and tropical orchids.
The Hawaiians at that time pioneered the descriptive name Mu 'umu 'u which translates to "amputated" or "cut off" in the Hawaiian language in 1923 because the dresses at the time didn't employ a cinture and were worn by island women without the tight neck and the back panel of the customary Protestant form. The brightly colored designs sport Polynesian patterns such as used with Hawaiian shirts. In present Hawaii, locals wear muu muu with more neutral hues as formal wear for holidays as well as formal ceremonies. They sometimes are worn by staff in the resorts.
Muu muus are commonly preferred by heavy set women and ladies who are pregnant since they are comfortable and pretty, but are designed for women of any breadth. As consequence to the simple hang of these comfortable muu muus, their ubiquity has expanded internationally, with women putting on every color and design conceivable.
The Hawaiian prints of the muu muu suggest aspirations of an optimistic future, joy, and contentment. The poetry flows along such sentiments containing stanzas relating to the freedom of muu muus like the independence of surfing, being innocent and footloose in muu muus, and the ability that the muu muu has to bring everyone collectively over vast difference, joining as one in the spirit of muu muus and aloha.
Sewing patterns for muu muus contain a classical neckline with reinforcements on both the front and the back panel. The front has an opening placket which is buttoned while the back has a generous core fold. There are inseam pockets in addition. Bell shaped muu muus are meant for pregnant women while formal muu muus are meant for girls.
These traditional dresses have seized their place in the midst of Hawaiian municipal groups and choirs, characterizing a refinement of older Hawaiian ladies, civilities, and ethnic balance enveloped in enjoyment. It is thought that the author of the maxim that each of us is an outgrowth of the society around them is from Japan, numerous Pacific Islanders unify this philosophy as a part of the muu muu ideology.
This is a worthy reason for carrying on the traditional muu muu as dress for native gatherings such as the Merrie Monarch dance contest, infant luaus, and nuptials. Muu muus show the culture found in ongoing in Hawaii, not meant simply for larger folks. At one time intended solely for native women, the style was very liked over the 1950s, peaking as a sort of comfort attire. Blending stylistic content of fads throughout the decades, muu muus mirror beachey cover-ups from the 1960s wrap dresses from the 70s, and additional tribal lines.
Pop culture has momentarily mirrored the mainstreaming of muu muus on both the Pacific islands and the mainland. The percussionist from Phish, John Fishman, ofttimes puts on a muu muu when he plays citing that the degree of comfort and unconstraint allows unconstricted motion and improved musical play. Zippy of Zippy the Pinhead sports a polka-dotted muu muu while the main character Homer from The Simpsons put on a muu muu on one show (doh!). Kathy Griffin, a D-list darling and stand-up comic, has announced repeatedly that her mom dons a muu muus for formal occasions.
About the Author
Keoni Honomua is a lifelong resident and ardent performer of the native hula. She has an abiding love for Hawaii and everything Hawaiian. See her most recent Muu muu prints at http://www.muu-muus.com.