[tps_header]Hello world, today I will be writing about how fashion has changed through different decades. Fashion changes from year to year and people love to keep up with the latest trends. Women love to experiment and this is the reason that brought about all the revolutionary changes in the fashion industry.
From corsets to maxi’s, dungarees to mini’s women have tried it all. The concept of having “A perfect body” has also changed throughout the years. Women back then were not concerned with their body shape. Natural way was the right way, whereas today everyone is going for the zero figure. How can we forget about the hairstyles, accessories, shoes and makeup? I personally love the makeup and hair back then, and when people say history repeats itself they don’t lie. Fashion history also repeats itself, let’s get into the details to prove that:[/tps_header]
- [tps_title]EARLY 1900’s[/tps_title]
This period was also known as “The rise of haute couture”. Skirts brushed on the floor, often with a train, even for day dresses was the general fashion style for women in this period. The fashionable silhouette in the early 1900’s was that of a confident woman, with full low chest and curvy hips. If they had the look they were not afraid of flaunting it.
A fashionable woman in this era needed a gown/dress for all occasions. Breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner, party and what not. The dresses were made in a tight fitted corset to show off her torso. These dresses took a long time to be ready. After a final fitting the designer had to add layers of cloth, laces, broaches, etc., to make it perfect.
Huge hats were worn by women that included feathers and flowers. They generally went for hair buns and topped it off with beautiful big hats. The more formal the occasion the bigger the hat.
There were shoes for every occasion; slippers with straps, pearls, boots, etc., the shoes generally had medium height heels.
By the end of the decade the most fashionable skirts cleared the floor and reached the ankle, the hats became smaller, beginning a trend that lasted up to the Great War.
- [tps_title]1920-1929[[/tps_title]
After world war one, fashion took a different turn. This is the decade where fashion entered the modern era. Women understood the meaning of comfort. Fashion changed drastically. Women who wore hats and buns once had bob cuts and short hair.
There was a revolution after world war one. Women got the right to vote, and the right to have a say. This freedom showed in their dress sense too, trends became more masculine and strong, fitted corsets were just things from the past. Middle class working women got inspiration from the wealthier women and wore less expensive day suits to work.
Silk was highly desired for its luxurious quality, but the limited supply made it expensive. Low-waisted dresses with a full hemline allowed women to kick up their heels and dance.
At the end of the decade, dresses with straight bodices and collars became popular. Knife pleated skirts with a hem approximately one inch below the knee, were worn by the new age confident women. Older women however, who still wore the corset dresses.
- [tps_title]1930-1945[/tps_title]
This was the period of “The great depression”. So what does the public do now? They escaped the real world through the world of Hollywood. This is the period when glam kicked in. Movies were the new medium of fashion. Butterfly sleeves, banjo sleeves and exaggerated shoulder pads were common for both men and women now.
To bring back the womanly look, dresses with low-waists were not common anymore. Short bolero jackets, caplets and dresses cut with fitted seams below the bust increased the focus on breadth at the shoulder. Halter necklines and high-necked but backless evening gowns with sleeves were gathering attention. Evening gown with jackets was worn to the theatre nightclubs and elegant restaurants.
Gloves became very important in this period. Evening gowns were accompanied by elbow length gloves and day costumes were worn with short gloves. Makeup was bold including winged liner, full eyelashes and bold lips. This really was the fairytale era.
- [tps_title]1950’s[/tps_title]
This was the time after which fashion really evolved and does till date. By 1947, fashion houses had reopened and once again Paris retained its fashion name. The evolution of fashion had stopped because of the war but once those problems finished, fashion took a new direction. The padded shoulder, tubular, boxy line short skirts were gone. Christian Dior and Cristobel Balenciaga defined the changing fashion.
In the post war period fashion took a more feminine turn. The “softness” of the new look was deceptive, the curved jacket peplum shaped over a high, rounded, curved shoulders and full skirt of Dior’s clothes relied on an inner construction. A new consumer market was born, and for the first time, teenager became a force in the market which was influenced by the music and film.
- [tps_title]1960’s[/tps_title]
This was the time with diverse fashion trends. Bell-bottomed trousers were alternatives for capris in the 1960’s. Girls usually wore chiffon blouses, polo necks, ribbed sweater, etc with these trousers. Hemlines kept rising and reached above mid-thigh. These were knows as mini-skirts. A popular look for girls was the suede mini-skirt with polo necks and beret caps. For evening wear, skimpy chiffon baby-doll dresses with spaghetti-straps were the mode as well as the cocktail dresses, which was a close-fitting sheath usually covered in lace.
By the late 1960’s, the hippie look was more in style. This was the rebellious age for teens as well. Fashion was inspired from all around the world like, Nepal, India, South Africa, etc. They wore bell-bottomed jeans with tie-dyed shirts and headbands. Messy hair with natural eyebrows was the thing back then. Sandals became very popular among people. Long maxis with belts and animal prints began to rise by the late 1960’s.
The rise in economy led to the rise in women power which started the single girl thinking. Women became more independent and to show their freedom they started promoting sportswear. This term quickly changed to “The working girl”. The working girl created an image of a new, independent woman who has control over her body and who chooses to wear anything.
- [tps_title]1970’s[[/tps_title]
This decade was the most iconic fashion decade ever. Fashion trends changed so drastically in the 70’s. There was the hippie look, glamorous look, Hollywood look and what not. In the early 70’s, the hippie look continued, with tie-dyed t-shirts, bell-bottoms, headbands and sandals. Women wore accessories made out of shells and bog ornaments.
On the other hand many women carried on with the glamorous wear. This included dresses, blazers, peplums, evening gowns, etc. Women were judged on the basis of their sweaters. Bright pastel colors were really in fashion those days. This fragmented into more styles, such as sweater coats, sweater dresses (oooo I love those), floor length sweaters. Women used to accessorize their outfits by wearing pearl earrings, feathered jewellery, hats and what not. Boots became very popular during that time. Almost every kind of boot was sold.
By the mid 70’s, the hippie look completely disappeared. Casuals were preferred more. Women wore sweaters, t-shirts, kimonos, graphic t-shirts.
By the end of the 70’s decade, fashion became more relaxed and baggy. It became fashionable to show more skin. This resulted in shirts being unbuttoned, sleeves being rolled up and tops being strapless and sees through. Women’s fashions in the late 70’s included cowl-neck shirts and sweaters, pantsuits, tracksuits, sundress worn with tight t-shirts, strapless tops, crop tops, tube tops, embroidered vests and jeans, knee-length skirts. This continued into the 1980s.
- [tps_title]1980’s[/tps_title]
Fashion in this decade was very bold and emphasis was laid on expensive outfits and jewellery. Hair was big, curly and heavily styled. Long wool coats, long flared skirts, slim miniskirts, slightly tapered pants, designer jeans, extremely long and bulky sweaters, pastel colors, fur coats, extremely large scarves, leather gloves were worn. Gloves (sometimes laced or fingerless) were popularized by Madonna, as well as fishnet stockings and layers of beaded necklaces.
The New Romantic style in the late 80’s favored streaky bold eyeliner, spiked hair, clothing designs that referenced historic eras, and celebrations of glamour.
Women’s apparel in the late 80’s included jackets (both cropped and long), coats, reversible inside-out coats, rugby sweatshirts, sweater dresses, taffeta and pouf dresses, baby doll dresses, jumpsuits, miniskirts, stretch pants, tapered pants, and opaque tights. Popular colors included neon hues, plum, gold, and bright wines. Accessories included watches, earrings, and eyewear. Other sub-cultures of the 80’s were heavy metal style, punk style, hip hop style, rap, etc.
- [tps_title]1990’s[/tps_title]
Fashion during this decade took a western turn. Women too were engaging in body piercings, tattoos. Women wore denim button down shirts, colored jeans dark green, red, and purple colors, leggings with oversized tee sweatshirt or sweater with slouch socks and Keds, colored tights, black leather jackets with shoulder pads, baby doll dresses, and skater dresses. Bright neon colored tops and leg warmers were popular, together with leopard print skirts and black or white shirts, leggings and jackets printed with abstract red, blue, yellow and green geometric patterns.
In the mid 90’s fashion became more feminine and women had more fitting-style clothes. Pencil skirts, cardigans, satin lingerie, and fitted suits. Popular accessories that went hand-in-hand with this revival included broaches, white gloves, sheer stockings, diamonds, sequins, and red lipstick.
The unisex casual chic look gained mainstream appeal, with dark stonewash jeans, crop tops, tracksuits, sweatpants, etc. Denim’s became all time favorite clothing and gained popularity. There were designer denim jackets, jeans, etc.
And when I said history repeats itself, it does. Denims are popular till date and almost every brand makes and sells them.
- [tps_title]2000-2010[/tps_title]
Women became more aware of what they were wearing and let’s just say their fashion sense became better. This decade was often described as the “Mash up”. Those 25 years of age and older adopted a dressy casual style which was popular throughout the decade.
Globalization also influenced the decade’s clothing trends, with the incorporation of Middle Eastern and Asian dress into mainstream European, American and Australasian fashion. Furthermore, eco-friendly and ethical clothing, such as recycled fashions and fake fur, were prominent in the decade.
Popular mid 2000s trends for women were embroidered low-rise jeans, yoga pants, thong underwear, cowl-neck tops, tube tops, denim jackets, bell-sleeved shirts, jean shorts, crop tops, whale tails, tracksuits, trench coats, puffy jackets, longer tank tops worn with a main blouse or shirt, infantile dresses.
In the early 2000s, many mid and late 1990s fashions remained fashionable around the globe, while simultaneously introducing newer trends. Although the 2000s did not have one particular style, they revived clothes primarily from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
In 2008, there was a second wave 1980s revival, which incorporated general items of late 1980s and early 1990s street wear, such as neon colors, gladiator shoes, animal print headbands, denim-print jeggings, knitted sweater dresses, Nike Tempo shorts, wonderbra and sloggi underwear, sundresses, geometric pattern tops, slap bracelets,ballet flats, black spandex leggings, light, translucent tartan shirts worn with a camisole underneath, kinky boots, and ripped skinny jeans. Long, baggy empire line shirts were taken in at the bustline and often paired with a belt. Fur coats made a comeback.
- [tps_title]2010 Onwards[/tps_title]
The early 2010s saw many recycled fashions from the 1950s, 1970s and 1980s as designers from stores like Top shop replicated original vintage clothing. In the United States, it was popular to wear designer brands like Gucci, Chanel, and Versace, neon colors such as pink, green, teal, black, purple, and yellow. From 2010 to 2013 many late 2000s fashion trends remained popular in Europe, the United States, East Asia, and Latin America, with pant styles such as acid wash skinny jeans, “trouser-dresses”, romper suits, preppy colored jeans, colored skinny jeans, and pants cropped at the ankle.
Women’s hairstyles in the early and mid 2010s have been fairly individualistic, although many women keep their hair traditionally long, straight, and wavy with a side parting. Bangs are often either left straight down above the eyes, or left long and side swept or parted. American women favored long, volumized and teased or curly hair, but most European women and girls continued to wear their hair straight, sometimes in retro styles such as the hime cut, bun or French braid.
Solid-colored hair is generally considered the most fashionable, although since 2012 it has become increasingly common to dye one’s hair in an ombré style. It has also become increasingly fashionable for European, Asian and American women to cut their hair into shorter styles, such as the pixie cut, crop, and bob cut.
