Flexible Article of Apparel

Abstract

An article of apparel is provided and may be formed of a plurality of movable apparel members. The movable apparel members may be connected to each other via a fastener and may be movable or rotatable relative to each other. The movable apparel members may form a web-like structure having a plurality of apertures of varying sizes defined by the movable apparel members. The position of the movable apparel members may be maintained, such as via a friction fit between the movable apparel members and the fastener, until one or more of the movable apparel members are acted on by a force sufficient to overcome the friction fit. The article of apparel may be adjusted to a plurality of different configurations by moving the movable apparel members and may be worn as an exterior garment or may be worn beneath another garment to provide shape, structure, etc. to the other garment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of apparel, comprising:
 a first movable apparel member;   a connecting fastener;   a second movable apparel member movably connected to the first apparel member via the connecting fastener;   wherein the first movable apparel member is movable relative to the second movable apparel member when acted on by an outside force.   
     
     
         2 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein a position of the first apparel member and the second apparel member is maintained by a friction fit between the fastener, the first apparel member and the second apparel member. 
     
     
         3 . The article of apparel of  claim 2 , wherein the outside force is sufficient to overcome the friction fit. 
     
     
         4 . The article of apparel of  claim 3 , wherein the position of the first apparel member and the second apparel member is maintained by the friction fit until at least one of the first apparel member and the second apparel member are acted on by the outside force. 
     
     
         5 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the article of apparel is configured to be worn beneath a second article of apparel and is configured to provide at least one of shape and structure to the second article of apparel. 
     
     
         6 . The article of apparel of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one of the shape and structure of the second article of apparel is adjustable based on adjustment of the first movable apparel member or the second movable apparel member. 
     
     
         7 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the first movable apparel member and the second movable apparel member are substantially identical in at least one of size and shape. 
     
     
         8 . An article of apparel, comprising:
 a first movable apparel member having a first end and a second end;   a second movable apparel member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second movable apparel member being connected to the first end of the first movable apparel member and being movable relative to the first movable apparel member, the first movable apparel member and the second movable apparel member being in a first configuration;   wherein the first movable apparel member and the second movable apparel member are movable to a second configuration, different from the first configuration, when at least one of the first apparel member and the second apparel member are acted on by an outside force.   
     
     
         9 . The article of apparel of  claim 8 , wherein a position of the first apparel member relative to the second apparel member is maintained unless acted on by the outside force. 
     
     
         10 . The article of apparel of  claim 8 , further including a third movable apparel member and a fourth movable apparel member, wherein a first end of the third movable apparel member is connected to the second end of the first movable apparel member, a first end of the fourth movable apparel member is connected to the second end of the second movable apparel member and a second end of the third movable apparel member is connected to a second end of the fourth movable apparel member. 
     
     
         11 . The article of apparel of  claim 10 , wherein an aperture is formed between the first, second, third and fourth movable apparel members. 
     
     
         12 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , further including a second article of apparel configured to be worn over the article of apparel. 
     
     
         13 . The article of apparel of  claim 12 , wherein the second article of apparel is in a first visual configuration when the first and second movable apparel members are in the first configuration, and the second article of apparel is in a second visual configuration when the first and second movable apparel members are in the second configuration. 
     
     
         14 . An article of apparel, comprising:
 a plurality of movable apparel members, each movable apparel member of the plurality of movable apparel members having a first end and a second end, wherein a first end of each movable apparel member is connected to a first end of another movable apparel member, and a second end of each movable apparel member is connected to a second end of another movable apparel member;   a bodice portion formed from a first portion of the plurality of movable apparel members; and   a skirt portion connected to the bodice portion and formed of a second plurality of movable apparel members;   wherein the bodice portion and skirt portion are configurable in multiple different arrangements by movement of one or more movable apparel members of the plurality of movable apparel members.   
     
     
         15 . The article of apparel of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of movable apparel members are connected via a fastener. 
     
     
         16 . The article of apparel of  claim 15 , wherein the fastener is at least one of a screw, a rivet, a snap-fit, a snap, and an aluminum post. 
     
     
         17 . The article of apparel of  claim 15 , wherein a position of the plurality of movable apparel members is maintained by a friction fit between the movable apparel members and the fastener. 
     
     
         18 . The article of apparel of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of movable apparel members form a web-like configuration having a plurality of apertures defined by the movable apparel members. 
     
     
         19 . The article of apparel of  claim 14 , wherein the movable apparel members are generally rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         20 . The article of apparel of  claim 14 , wherein the movable apparel members of the plurality of movable apparel members are substantially identical in size and shape.