2000's Back to the Future

This decade is strong evidence that fashion is cyclical.  A major trait of new fashion has been recycled trends with futuristic twists.  The dreaded eighties shoulder pad has been reworked as the “architectural” shoulder.  Current boot-cut and flared jeans are toned-down versions of bell-bottoms.  Both real vintage and vintage-inspired clothes have become popular.  The boho hippie look has come back into fashion thanks to celebrities like the Olsen twins and Vanessa Hudgens. 

Minimalism of the 1990's

As technology made working from home more attainable, offices started “Casual Fridays.” Fashion became more laid back and comfortable in contrast to the excessive consumerism and gaudy color palette of the 1980's. 1990's style veered toward a more minimalist look with lots of black and neutral colors.  The fashion industry blossomed the most in the United States. Designers like Calvin Klein used overtly sexual advertisements to shock a supposedly "unshockable" nation. Grunge was an alternative rock subculture that began in Seattle and spawned a style of unkempt dressing. A lot of present fashion is inspired by the 1990's. Many people have reverted back to dressing in the 90's style. Overalls, High-waisted shorts/pants, and crop tops are found in almost every woman's clothing store today.

1980 Material Girls

Princess Diana

Materialism defined the 1980's, as the western world experienced an economic boom.  The power suit became a symbol of the eighties, especially after John Molloy argued in his book Women’s Dress for Success that women would need such a suit to climb the corporate ladder.  People flaunted designer brands as symbols of wealth.  Increased use of credit cards encouraged spending. The creation of MTV revolutionized the music industry by turning musicians into television stars who had the power to influence through fashion and visuals in addition to music. Princess Diana also became a fashion icon during this time. 

1970 - 1980

 Bell bottoms

                Leather Jacket

 Crochet pants and cropped top




                                                                                                   Silk
                                                                                                  Gown

                                                                

The 1970s is often called the Decade of Decadence, the ‘Me’ decade and the decade of excess and androgyny. Skirts could be seen in a variety of lengths, mini midi or maxi. The maxi dress was worn throughout the decade in a multitude of styles and shapes. Rich earthy tones dominated in popular colors; warm browns, burgundy, rust, mustard, and avocado green. Television shows such as Charlie’s Angels featured the smart and liberated but attractive woman. The California sun-kissed blondes Cheryl Tiegs and Farrah Fawcett represented the new sporty and physically fit ideal.

The Woodstock festival of peace and music was the end of the 1960s hippie movement, with the U.S. still at war. The hippie flower child look from the late 1960s carried over into the first half of the decade in a nonrestrictive bohemian silhouette with a heavy folksy influence. They wore ethnic styles such as Indian style prints, free flowing breezy gauzy tent dresses and wide legged pants. Arts and crafts elements such as tie-dye, batik, knitwear, crochet and macramé were also very popular. There was a great sense of ease and comfort to early 1970s clothing. Designers like Laura Ashley and Jessica McClintock for Gunne Sax popularized the prairie dress phenomenon.

Blue jeans emerged in the 1970s as everyday wear. Denim was being mass consumed by all ages and seen as the ultimate American garment. Jeans were flared, bell bottom, wide legged, hip huggers, high waist, embroidered, embellished, studded – you name it. Denim was was not just limited to pants: jean skirts, suits, vests, jackets, hats and accessories were omnipresent. Designer jeans were seen as a status symbol and the more expensive, the more desirable! A tighter, second skin fit with designer names such as Gloria Vanderbilt, Calvin Klein, Jordache, and Sasson were branded across the backsides of men and women everywhere.

Glam or glitter rock brought on to the scene flamboyant boldly colored clothes in lux fabrics like satins, velvets and lurex. Emblazoned with sequins, bedazzled, gemmed and worn with feathered boas! Nothing was too outrageous. Super high stacked platform shoes or boots were the favored footwear. Pop star David Bowie, sported over-the-top androgynous outfits both on and off the stage. Glitter rock stars of the the time such as Kiss, Marc Bolan, The Sweet and the New York Dolls were often dressed in chiffon, spandex and satin. Glitter trends in makeup were worn on the face by both men and women. This style catered to the teenage audience and rock stars alike.

Disco brought excess and decadence. Draped jersey goddess dresses, kaftans and Ultrasuede were the perfect party clothes for a glamorous night out. Quiana polyester was wildly popular and was used in day dresses, shirts, blouses and evening wear. Cheaply made tight fitting body conscious clothing could be seen in any disco. Wrap-around skirts, leotards, tube tops, dance wear inspired dresses and separates with ease and movement were made in Lurex, miliskin and spandex. Film star John Travolta wore a white 3-piece suit with black shirt in the blockbuster movie “Saturday Night Fever”. Diane Von Fursternberg popularized the uber flattering jersey wrap dress, which became a staple in every woman’s wardrobe.
Punk fashion evolved alongside the musical genre out of open disgust of society, the modern political agenda and the slick overproduced mainstream that rock music had become. Punk rock stripped rock and roll down to basics. Punk was gritty and offensive. The clothing represented a darker and harsher view of reality and dissatisfaction of conformity.

American punk preferred a more laid back look with tight jeans,
leather motorcycle jackets, sneakers, and ripped t-shirts.

1960 - 1970

The 1960s were greatly transitional. The decade opened with a continuation of the 1950s silhouette but ten years later the look was the complete opposite.

In the U.S. in 1961 John F. Kennedy took office as President, bringing with him a beautiful, young and fashion-inspiring wife as First Lady. Jackie Kennedy’s innate sense of style and dress soon made her ‘Queen’ of American fashion. The American designed short-jacketed sheath suits which captured the passion for French couture style.

As the first wave of baby boomers came of age, the market shifted towards a more youthful silhouette. Teens dominated the fashion scene and in time adults adopted some of the looks of their offspring. The French ‘baby doll’ look personified by Brigitte Bardot comprised shorter skirts and big hair. Eventually this gave way to the ‘British Invasion’ or ‘Youthquake’ movement, with teens embracing the free and fun fashions of their London contemporaries. The “It” girl Twiggy was seen on the covers of most fashion magazines, slinking about in colorful shifts and space-age prints. This helped convince the majority of women in the mid 1960s to try the new styles.

The movement towards modernity was alive and international. Italian designers like Pucci created psychedelic palettes of color, transforming wearers of simple silk knit gowns into walking works of art. American designers excelled in casual, uncomplicated sportswear chic. French couture explored other ideas; one of these borrowed pants and tuxedo jackets from menswear for the hip, set free fashion-obsessed woman.

The times were changing and fashion needed to follow suit. By 1967 the new fashion was scandalously baring more of the body than ever before – "less is more". Even the most conservative suits were cut above the knee. The old etiquette gloves and hats, was out the door. Balenciaga even proclaimed that “Fashion is dead”.

While the 1950's introduced teenagers to fashion and society in general, the youth were the leaders of the 1960's, which was a colorful decade in many ways. Young British people were called the Mods and Rockers, and they were at odds. The Rockers tended to wear clothes like black leather jackets, and the Mods were more stylish and bohemian. By 1966, the mini skirt became very popular and appealed to bold young women. America's answer was the hippie movement. The young crowd started trends like bell-bottom jeans and tie-dyed shirts. The youth still based their fashion off of media and celebrities at this time. Fashion icons included supermodels, the most famous one being Twiggy, and most men wanted to dress like the Beatles.

Once World War II ended, fashion rebelled against the uniform of the time and produced a design of a fitted jacket with a cinched waist and a calf-length skirt using ten to eighty yards of fabric. This style, was the "New Look," it proved to be a turning point in the postwar. The designs became extremely popular, as women were longing to dress femininely again. Other designers countered the voluminous look with boxy suits and slim skirts. Synthetic fabrics (nylon, polyester, and acrylic) became more widely used because they were affordable and easy to maintain. Finally for the first time, teenagers became a force in the fashion market because of influences such as music and film.