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Cheer Skirts

Even though cheerleading has recently turned into a sport which usually requires its members to bear quite a bit of skin it actually started out quite conservatively.  In the early 1900’s cheerleading uniforms consisted of long sleeved sweaters with the school letters sewed onto the front.  Sometimes cheerleaders would even wear a turtleneck under their sweater for additional coverage and warmth.  Additionally many cheerleaders wore long cheer skirts, reaching to almost their knees.  However, these skirts limited the cheerleaders movements, thus the creation of the shorter skirt. 

In the 1950’s sheer shirts began becoming shorter, but were still quite conservative.  In the 60’s the skirts again became shorter, but they also became pleated.  These skirts allowed the cheerleaders to execute all their moves with extreme ease and comfort.  These skirts were usually made of cotton which allowed them to be lightweight and extremely flexible.  Simultaneously long sleeved sweaters were replaced by crewneck sweaters and became, more commonly, short sleeved.    As time progressed cheerleading routines became more elaborate and harder stunts were incorporated.  For cheerleaders to safely perform these stunts they needed to eliminate the restriction that cheer skirts of the day had on their movements.  Extremely short pleated skirts were introduced in the 1970’s and they allowed the cheerleaders a full spectrum of movements.
 
Many onlookers became outraged at the indecency that cheerleading allowed their daughters to portray.  Cheer skirts were easily determined to be “too short” of the length of the skirt is above the finger tips when the arm is placed to the side of the body.  It was around this time that spankie shorts were introduced.  These shorts were to be worn underneath cheerleaders skirts to ensure privacy when they executed even the most complicated routines.  Spankies often match the color of the skirt so they easily go un noticed under the skirt. 

Today you can purchase an array of cheer skirts from long to short in length.  However short is still in style.

 

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