Blog Post #3

Hello and welcome back to my blog! For my inquiry blog posts I chose the question “How has fashion changed and developed throughout history and how does that impact us?” For this week’s post, I chose to further research one of my sub-questions about all MAIN fashion trends from the past century (for both men and women). I chose this as one of my sub-questions since it correlates to my main inquiry question very well. By seeing all the oldest and newest fashion trends I will be able to know why these trends began. I will also understand why these trends keep changing and coming back. For this, I will look at the main fashion trends in the past century to have a basic understanding of the evolution of fashion in current and later years.

1900s – 1990’s: Fashion in the early 1900s to the late 1920s for women mostly consisted of formal and extravagant dresses. It was common to wear clothing from the “Edwardian Era,” which meant it was quite extravagant and dramatic. Women wore large hats and heavy dresses covered in things like lace and embroideries. It was also common for them to wear tight corsets. As for evening dresses, most women wore low-cut dresses that were “more revealing” (1). In the early 1900s – 1920 the fashion industry for men was taking a surprising turn. People called the era this “The Golden Age of Menswear” (2). It became more common to express yourself through your personal style and people became more open to trying new things. Men often wore fitted, button suits that had a sleek finished look. Additionally, they wore basic trouser pants and suspenders (2). For men, it was also more common to wear hats known as “Fedoras” during the late 1920s (2). They accessorized their outfits using colourful ties, hats and pocket squares.

1930s-1950s: Around the late 1930s women worked outside the house more often, so their clothing became more modest and formal. Women often wore skirts and skirtsuits. These skirtsuits later became a “symbol of independence” for women in the generation as well (1). Despite having a more formal style, women also wore more colourful clothing with patterns and designs. This is another way they may have expressed themselves through their clothing. Slowly as the world became more open to the idea of women in the workplace and women leaders, clothing became more inclusive to all genders. Women could dress more freely and openly with a “mix of conservatism and glamour” (3). They also wore more clothing that accentuated their hips and waist while also being able to wear pants and trousers. During this time, men’s fashion did not change much and stayed relatively the same. Men wore dark pants and suits similar to the way they did before. However, during the late 1950’s there was more variety in the clothes they could wear. Their wardrobes were filled with colours and clothing was more casual. Men most commonly wore sports coats, t-shirts and trousers.

1960s – 1970’s: Women during the ’60s and ’70s wore casual and vintage dresses, “hippie fashion” and sometimes flashy clothing. During the mid 60’s and early 70’s, everyone wore colourful clothing, flared pants, tie-die clothes and florals. Additionally, fashion designers looked at old clothing styles to create a new vision for the future which includes the previous elements with a mix of a futuristic look. It was more common to dress however you want to and people became more open to the idea of expressing yourself through your style. During the 60s, men’s style was strongly influenced by rock bands and military elements. They often wore military jackets and vintage clothing. The idea of second-hand clothing became more common and clothing became more colourful. Popular clothes included “tie-dye, loose-fitting shirts, and velvet vests” which give off a “hippie aesthetic” (4). Later during the 1970’s it became popular for men to wear flared pants, colourful shirts and have long hair. Many called this time the “Polyester Decade” even though clothing became more flashy and glamorous (5).

1980’s – 1990’s: The 80’s and 90’s were a turning point in the fashion industry. Everything was changing, and the whole fashion industry was filled with glamour and mystique. During the 80’s designer clothing and brands like Prada, Versace and Valentino became surprisingly popular. The style was very “urban-themed” and similar to street style (6). Like previous generations, bright colours were still very popular and most people wore a lot of denim. Many people dressed in flashy outfits while others wore retro styles. However, during the 90’s fashion changed more than ever. The 90s were always known as the “Golden Age of Fashion” and changed the way people viewed the fashion industry. Clothing became more unique and ever-changing. There was no “normal” and everyone wore whatever they wanted to wear. Since there were no fashion “norms,” people often wore denim jeans, tight clothes, polka dots, colourful clothing and ruffles (6).

2000’s – 2010’s: During this new decade of fashion, social media began to play a role in the industry. Wearing distressed and skinny jeans became common during this time and people wore street-style, low-rise clothing. The bohemian look became came back and “mixed designer {looks with} high-street pieces” similar to the late 90’s (7). With a new interest in low-rise clothing people also wore tight tops. One of the biggest “fashion icons” from this time was Paris Hilton. Additionally, in menswear, people often wore sportswear and futuristic clothing. It also became more common to accessorize your clothing with hats and necklaces. As the years went on the same type of clothing remained a staple with only a few changes.

Current Fashion Trends: Currently, fashion has become more unique than ever. Though there may be an ideal way to dress, everyone has their own unique style. Social media’s influence on fashion has begun to take a turn in the industry as people are beginning to show the world their own individual styles. Fashion trends are constantly changing and most people don’t find it as important to follow these trends anymore. Modern-day fashion is ever changing and as much as we would all like to keep up with it, it is difficult to constantly change your style for others just to fit in. Most people just wear neutral or “basic” clothing and staple pieces.

To conclude, after researching more about fashion throughout the years, I truly realized why fashion is one of the most fast-paced, unique and ever-changing industries out there. Whether it is through the influence of everyday people, celebrities or social media, fashion continues to change and develop. Something I found interesting was how fashion trends tend to repeat themselves. Throughout history, fashion designers have looked at previous styles to help create new ones. Fashion is something truly unique to every individual and is something not everyone thinks is important. We all have our own styles, likes and dislikes and that is one thing that will never change. It’s important to value our differences and realize not everyone is the same. Whether or not someone wears the newest clothes or the latest fashion doesn’t define a person. I believe fashion will continue to change and repeat itself throughout history. Seeing all the unique changes and developments made in the fashion industry amazes me. I never knew just how diverse and dynamic it is. Overall, I never knew how much fashion had changed and was shocked to see how much it has developed over the years. I realized that fashion will never stay the same and will continue to change the same way we as humans constantly change. Additionally, I also realized the main reason for changes in the fashion industry was either due to specific people or popular trends. Social media also played a large role in the fashion industry ever since the 2000s and will continue to change the way we view this industry forever.

1. (2021) Women’s Fashion History Through Newspapers Retrieved fromhttps://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2021/06/womens-fashion-history-through-newspapers-1900-1920/#:~:text=At%20the%20beginning%20of%20the,garish%20ornamentation%20dominated%20women%27s%20fashion.
2. (2021) What Men REALLY Wore in The 1920’s Retrieved fromhttps://www.gentlemansgazette.com/what-men-wore-1920s/
3. (2023) Fashion History: Women’s Clothing of The 1950’s Retrieved fromhttps://bellatory.com/fashion-industry/Fashion-History-Womens-Clothing-of-the-1950s
4. (2019) 1960- 1969 Fashion Timeline Retrieved fromhttps://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/1960-1969/#:~:text=Tie%2Ddye%2C%20loose%2Dfitting,were%20all%20widespread%20men%27s%20styles.
5. (2019) 1970- 1979 Fashion Timeline Retrieved from https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/1970-1979/

Extra Resources; 

1. The Golden Ages in Fashion: The 80s & the 90s Retrieved from https://fashinza.com/fashion-designs/design-trends/the-golden-ages-in-fashion-the-80s-the-90s/#
2. (2021) 2000- 2009 Fashion Timeline Retrieved fromhttps://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/2000-2009/
3. Modern Vs. Classic Fashion Style. Which One Suits You Better? Retrieved from https://d2line.com/thatlook/modern-vs-classic-fashion-style/#:~:text=Unlike%20the%20classic%20style%2C%20the,sticking%20to%20the%20elegant%20basics.