Fashion is always changing and evolving. Over the last twelve decades there has been a tremendous revolution in the styles that have come and gone. The constant change and evolution that fashion goes through is both incredible and wondrous; the ever different ideas and styles that people are able to come up with. From the beginning of the 1900s there has been a very evident shift in the styles that came into trend.
1900 – 1910s
Fashion in the first part of the 1900’s was very different to what it is now. There were strike rules about what a woman should or should not have worn, for example, it was considered improper for a woman to show her ankle. Women wore long, elegant dresses that accentuated their figures, but did not reveal any skin. It was also a sign that a girl was a woman when she began to wear her hair up. Women also wore corsets during this time, in order to give them a desirable, hourglass figure. The women wore floor length gowns, under which were layers of petticoats, along with lacy and frilly blouses.
1920s
Near the end of the 1910’s and at the beginning of the 1920’s there was a dramatic change in the fashion worn by women. It was during this time that hemlines and hair got shorter and women started to break the previous rules of propriety. The 20’s was the time of the flappers, with their tasselled, short dresses, not being afraid to show a little skin, unlike the women of the previous decade.
1930s
Fashion changed again in the 1930s. Women were more comfortable with their new found identity. It was around this time that Coco Chanel became quite a well known name within women’s fashion. Clothing was feminine, but there was a bit more focus on the comfort of women within their clothes, and therefore corsets were no longer in vogue, however, this had already started with the previous decade, it was also during this time that necklines began to drop.
1940 – 1950s
The 40s were still a time of elegance and class. Dresses and skirts were still the main item worn by women, but trousers were also starting to make it into women’s fashion. When thinking of fashion during the 40s and 50s I always think of the movie Grease and Olivia Newton John in her flared A-line skirt and white tennis shoes. Although that’s not the only fashion that was around in those days, it certainly is the stereotypical outfit of the day. The 50s was the time of the netting petticoats that gave shape and body to the A-line skirts that were first designed by Dior, along with an array of other dress styles, such as the sack, which is a looser fitting dress created by Givenchy, the trapeze dress and the tent dress.
1960s
Fashion during the 1960s was led very much by the youth of the day, just as the decade before it. Knee-length, waist fitting dresses, such as the shift dress, was the trend of the day. In the mid to late 60s the mini skirt started to come into fashion, showing a more daring and adventurous attitude towards fashion, especially near the end of the 60s when the hippy style was starting to emerge.
1970s
The 70s were the time of peace and love. Clothing and fashion changed. Some people were not as focused on fashion, while others experimented with new styles and were not afraid to try new and bold styles, designs and colours. Loose flowing trousers, and long billowing dresses were the style of the day. During this time jeans started to appear, a very casual and comfortable look, that was in some ways a rebellion against the fashion of previous decades.
1980s
After the 70s the rebellious nature of fashion continued. The 80’s were a time of bright and bold colours, along with big hair. Shoulder pads and over sized tops were also in style. The styles of the 70s were turned on their head in the 80s, when the trend went from wearing loose fitting, and flowing pieces on the bottom, and tighter fitting pieces on top, to tighter fitting trousers, such as the birth of the stovepipe (aka the skinny jean), and looser fitting and over sized tops. The saying go big or go home was definitely relevant during this period of fashion.
1990 – 2011
There haven’t been a lot of changes over the last two decades, styles and colours do come and go, but simple trends, such as jeans and a T-shirt have remained. There are, of cause, always new styles and trends to follow, but the basics of fashion have remained the same. Some older trends have back in vogue, such as the bright colours and styles of the 70’s which are this season’s style.
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