A petticoat or underskirt is an article of clothing for women; specifically an undergarment to be worn under a skirt or a dress. The petticoat is a separate garment hanging from the waist (unlike the chemise).

In historical contexts (sixteenth to mid-nineteenth centuries), petticoat refers to any separate skirt worn with a gown, bedgown, bodice or jacket; these petticoats are not strictly speaking underwear as they were made to be seen. In both historical and modern contexts, petticoat refers to skirt-like undergarments worn for warmth or to give the skirt or dress the desired fashionable shape. In this context a petticoat may be called a waist slip or underskirt (UK) or half slip (US), with petticoat restricted to extremely full garments. Petticoat can also refer to a full-length slip in the UK, although this usage is somewhat old-fashioned.

Petticoat is the standard name in English for any underskirt worn as part of non-Western clothing, as with the sari.

The practice of wearing petticoats as undergarments was well established by 1585. Petticoats were worn throughout history by women who wanted to have the currently fashionable shape created by their clothing. The petticoat(s), if sufficiently full or stiff, would hold the overskirt out in a pleasingly domed shape and give the impression of a smaller waist than the wearer actually had. It would also complement the desired large bust.

Chantal Janzen (born 15 February 1979 in Tegelen) is a Dutch actress and musical star. She starred in The Preacher, Full Moon Party and Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo and presented Idols. She also played Belle in the Dutch Musical version of Beauty and the Beast and Jane in the Dutch Musical version of Tarzan. She also sang a song against cancer, called "Vecht Mee" (English: Fight With Us) with Dutch rapper Yes-R. From late 2011, she stars as Glinda in the Dutch premiere production of Wicked.

Janzen studied at the Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten. She was taught in classical-, modern-, jazz- and tapdance, acting, singing and musical repertoire. She played in several musicals, including Crazy For You, Kunt u mij de weg naar Hamelen vertellen, mijnheer?, Saturday Night Fever, 42nd Street, Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan and the current production of Petticoat (http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petticoat_(musical), in Dutch).

She played several guest roles in TV shows like Baantjer, Intensive Care, De Band, Meiden van De Wit and Kinderen Geen Bezwaar. She also hosted Staatsloterij Live and the Dutch version of Popidol, Idols. Janzen played several parts in movies:De Dominee, Feestje, Deuce Bigalow II, Volle Maan, Alles is Liefde, Kicks and the made for TV film Loverboy. In December 2002 her single Achter De Sterren, the title song from the movie Science Fiction was released.

"A Whiter Shade of Pale" is the debut song by the British band Procol Harum, released 12 May 1967. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 8 June 1967, and stayed there for six weeks. Without much promotion, it reached #5 on the US charts, as well. It is one of the fewer than 30 all-time singles to have sold 10 million (or more) copies worldwide.^{[citation needed]}

With its haunting Bach-flavoured instrumental melody, soulful vocals, and unusual lyrics—by the song's co-authors Gary Brooker, Keith Reid, and Matthew Fisher-- "A Whiter Shade of Pale" reached #1 in several countries when released in 1967. In the years since, it has become an enduring classic. It was the most played song in the last 75 years in public places in the UK (as of 2009), and the United Kingdom performing rights group Phonographic Performance Limited in 2004 recognised it as the most-played record by British broadcasting of the past 70 years. Also in 2004, Rolling Stone placed "A Whiter Shade of Pale" #57 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Sherlyn Chopra (formerly known as Mona Chopra) is an Indian model, singer and actress.

Chopra was born in India in 1984. She did her schooling from Stanley Girls High School. Gradually losing interest in her studies, she turned her attention to films.

Chopra's early acting career was mainly in B-grade Bollywood films. She appeared in movies such as Time Pass, Red Swastik and Game. She also appeared in the Telugu film A film by Aravind.. Chopra was the second guest on Bigg Boss (Season 3). She was evicted from the show on Day 27. She was also a presenter at the 55th Filmfare Awards held in February 2010.

Sherlyn Chopra has always desired to stay in the limelight. On 12 February 2012, after her birthday she published her first naked photo on twitter (Her twitter handle is @SherlynChopra), which was later deleted by twitter.

Laura Ashley (7 September 1925 – 17 September 1985) was a Welsh fashion designer and businesswoman. She originally made furnishing materials in the 1950s.She later expanded into clothing design and manufacture in the 1960s. The Laura Ashley style is characterized by Romantic English designs—often with a 19th-century rural feel—and the use of natural fabrics.

Although her Welsh parents lived in London, just before her birth, her mother returned home to allow Laura Mountney to be born Welsh at her grandmother's home, 31 Station Terrace, in Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil. She was raised in a civil service family as a strict Baptist. The chapel she attended in Dowlais (Hebron) was Welsh language and although she could not understand the language, she loved it, especially the singing. Educated at Marshall's School in Merthyr Tydfil until 1932, she was then sent to the Elmwood School, Croydon. She was evacuated back to Wales aged 13, with so many World War II evacuees there were no school places left, and she attended the Aberdare Secretarial School. In 1942, she left school at 16, and served in the Women's Royal Naval Service. During this period she met engineer Bernard Ashley at a youth club in Wallington. After the war, Bernard was posted to India with the Gurkhas, and the pair corresponded by letter. From 1945 to 1952 she worked as a secretary for the National Federation of Women's Institutes in London, and married Bernard in 1949.