1990-1999: We're at the end of the Century... Origin During this time, there were about three fashion changes one change was in the early 1990's, the second one was in the mid 1990's, and the final change was in the late 1990's. During the 199's the youth fashion was greatly influenced by the media and the hottest new hip-hop artists.And because of this, many young people wanted to be apart of the "hottest new trend" and soon bought almost all of the stock in many stores.
"But then grunge happened. Suddenly every thrift store in town couldn’t
keep a flannel shirt in stock to save their backs. Teens were digging
through dad’s box of old clothes to get their hands on some authentic
hole-ridden jeans to wear over top of their long john stockings. Barbers
nearly went out of business because no one under 17 got their hair cut
any more (OK, we may be exaggerating just a little.)" "Also in the early nineties fashions worn by hop hop artists were
becoming increasingly mainstream. And because of the growing popularity
of hip hop music among the suburban community, urban styles were seen
everywhere, not just in the big city. By the late 1990s hip hop style
was arguably the most popular among young people" "Starting in the mid-90s, industrial and military styles crept into
mainstream fashion. People were finding any way to make a fashion
accessory out of a piece of machinery. Camouflage pants were ironically
worn by anti-war protesters." "Interestingly enough, late 90s clothing styles are not too drastically
different than they are today. In the 1990s, musicians had a much
greater influence on what young people wore than designers. All a kid in
Kansas had to do was turn on MTV for the latest east and west coast
styles of the moment."
Purpose What was new in the Fashion of the 1900's was the fact that it was developed by many people of the span of the decade. At first the style held resemblances to the 80's but as the years went on new music artists in the media came up with their new styles which quickly became mainstream but by the end of the decade people began to enjoy dressing up in more "elegant" clothes. The fashion that I'm mainly focusing on is the fashion trend set by the hip-hop artists and the trend called "grunge", they occurred because of the popularity the styles gained from the media. Value The fashion style of the 1900's is an expression of the time because it shows how the media began to influence peoples daily decisions and even how they thought about the world. Fashion was also used to protest in the mid 1900's. Many people wore camo-pants and used it in anti-war protests that they held. This is one of the best expressions of the period because fashion can be used to express your inner feelings without having to physically speak about how you feel. Everything in society is about expression and fashion is just one of the ways you can sort of "show-where-you-stand" so to speak. What you wear and how you wear it is all that one person needs to see how you feel and what you're speaking for or against. Limitations What the fashion style of the 1990's can't tell us about the time period is that the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, and that Germany was once again united, and that the internet became available to people in 1993. There's a lot of information that fashion can't tell us, but that doesn't mean it's a useless thing. The fashion of before helped to bring the fashion that we have today and I'm glad that we have the fashion we have today because I don't have to wear dresses all the time and I have many choices of what to wear. In the 1990's the fashion style called the "grunge" became mainstream as more and more people adopted the style. They mainly adopted it because the hip hop artists influenced them.
Origin Alright!!! We made it to the 80's! Fashion is really close to today's style, but the 80's has it's own appeal that's starting to come back into fashion these days. But enough of that, lets get the details flowing. In the 1980's In the early years of the 1980's we see dull colors and don't have that much of an exciting wardrobe. But as the years go by... we begin to see an explosion of color. Every where you could look you see young people and maybe middle age people walking around in neon colors and I believe that the streets looked like one giant mix of individual colors. Jean jackets became popular during this time as well. I believe that the style of the 1980's was influenced by the "Baby-Boomers" as they got older and the economy was getting better and better, I believe that that influenced the style of the 1980's. Also media played a part in influencing the younger generation's fashion style.
"The early 80s were somewhat subdued in color, where we see a lot browns
and tans and oranges. Blocky shapes were everywhere and dressing like a
tennis player was the cool thing to do. Velour was hot and velvet was
even hotter. For both men and women, the waistline was a little high. But
let’s face it, early 1980s fashion was very similar to the late 1970s.
In 1983 there was a slight 1950s-style throwback, especially in women’s
dresses. By the mid-80s, pop music stars like Cyndi Lauper were ushering
in an entirely new style — one that many people associate with the
1980s to this day. Bright colored accessories like sunglasses,
bangles and hoop earrings were a necessity. Teased hair, loud makeup and
neon were an important part of this style. This style was obviously
more popular with the younger crowd." Purpose What really interested me was the foot warmers many of the people wore while working out. I hate it when my feet get too warm while exercising so I can't imagine how they could've worn them. As the years went on, the style became very common, it was common to see someone walking down the street wearing a mini skirt, leg warmers, a nice top and shoes to match and all the colors neon.
Value This was an expression of the decade because the nations economy went up, and many people were happy, everyone was equal, no discrimination. The younger generation was looking at America through fresh lenses and didn't have the negative views of the people about 2-3 generations before them. Fashion is something many people enjoy believe it or not. Many people both men and women enjoy walking around looking nice and stylish. In a way it unites everyone, especially if they're wearing a similar style.
Limitations The fashion of the 1980's can't tell us about the tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union and how the Soviet Union collasped, or how the U.S. thought that because the Soviet Union wanted to place a communist friendly government in Afghanistan, that the Soviet Union was trying to expand. It also can't tell us that Mt. St. Helens exploded in 1980 and that many people died that day... The fashion in the 1980's was still changing rapidly... but most of it was dependent on the media. (Also Ronald Reagan was president during this time)
Purpose The Hippies got their ideas for their style from nature. They embraced nature and tried to live as naturally as possible. This style became mainstream in the 1970's. The Hippie style of clothing could've been seen everywhere during this time period as many people embraced the hippies values and ideals. Value The main focus of the hippies was to not be tied down to any one government, they also wanted to live natural lives so they loved anything handmade, and wore loose clothes made from "natural fibers". This shows that the values of the hippies were to help the planet and encourage peace between all people. Limitations The hippie style can't tell us that the women's movement started in the 1970's or that many people were fighting for their equality under the law. Gays, lesbians, African Americans, and other people who were considered social outcasts all fought for their equality.
1960-1969: The Wow Years Origin Though pants were becoming more and more popular, dresses are hard to ignore especially since all women love to wear dresses. Dresses hold a high spot in fashion, especially at a time where women were ridding themselves of the stereotype that women had to wear dresses. What's also really exciting is that we can begin to see the development of the mini-skirts. Many, many young women enjoy wearing mini-skirts today. If the mini-skirt hadn't been invented then we probably would've still been stuck with knee-length skirts and pants. The 1960's was also the time when hippies began to appear. This was also a major change because the style was totally different from the normal social fashion.
"The 1960's saw the appearance of the mini-skirt. Up until that time,
skirts and dresses in Australia finished sensibly at the knee. New
soaring hemlines created huge controversy when they first appeared,
exposing centimeters of thigh never before seen in public" "Mini-skirts represent more than just a fashion landmark of the decade -
they have become an icon of the general culture of rebellion that characterized the 1960s. Young people were rejecting the social
standards of the past and so too was their fashion. Many devotees of the
feminist movement of the 1960s also saw the mini-skirt as a claim to
the right of women to proudly display their bodies as they wished" (Audrey Hepburn sleeveless dress in 1962) "1962 was marked by subtle, yet meaningful changes. The silhouette became
slightly more form-fitting, but the lines didn’t try to accentuate
curves"
Purpose Pants, shorts, tops, dresses, socks, shoes, ect... everything is changing. The way the tops look, how short the shorts are, how loose (or tight) the dresses are, and even the shapes of the pants are changing. Now pants have become so common, that you begin to see them everyday in the daily lives of the people of America. Value Each outfit allows women to express what and how they feel. How confident they are, how happy and many other emotions or attitudes can be expressed through the way that each woman dressed. Also the clothes that the Hippies wore really expressed their views about the society that they lived in (and still live in today). Here are some of the HippiesBeliefs:
Do not conform to society. -Materialism is wrong. -Technology is unnecessary and oftentimes dehumanizing. -Be your own person, not who anyone else wants you to be. Although each hippie embraced his or her own ideals as a part of their new culture, the stereotypical hippie: -Practiced or were interested in Eastern Religions -Had very liberal political views. -Peace and love instead of hate and war. -Expressed extreme tolerance and on the subject of sexuality and sex. -Live life to the fullest -Embrace the peace and love expressed by music, as well as the unification it creates among people, usually rock and roll.
"The
lifestyle of a hippie centered around non-conformity, because hippie
culture is all about embracing who you really are and rejecting the need
to conform to their society or authorities."
Limitations As stated before, fashion doesn't give very much input to what was going on in America or around the world during this time period. The fashion of this period can't tell us about the war in Vietnam, or the protests going on in America at this time against the segregation and the unjust treatment of African Americans and the protests against the Vietnam war.
Here's a video that will help show in more detail the fashion of the 60's
"1950's clothing contributed so much to modern-day fashion and to the Ruchette look in particular!" Origin These pants are the pants that sort of "lead the way" in fashion for our modern-day pants (shorts in particular). As the years (or decades) have gone by, we can see that women have begun to take control of their lives. The way they act and the way that they dress. The dresses, the pants, and the tops have all changed drastically in the last two decades.
"Many variations of skirts, pants, and shorts became popular during
the 1950s, paving the way for a wider selection of mix and match
outfits. The sleek and alluring pencil skirt we adore today came about
during this era and was often paired with a peplum top or loose blouse.
Other skirts of this decade were ankle length with full volume, similar
to dresses of the time. Luckily we can still wear both of these skirt
styles today for cute 1950s inspired fashion! As people became interested in casual sportswear, ankle length pants,
pedal pushers and Bermuda shorts came into fashion. These styles of
cropped pants and shorts were paired with simple, patterned blouses or
knit tops for a chic, casual look. These trends had a great impact on
modern fashion, as we can now wear pants of any length and can pick and
choose as the weather or our mood changes. For a darling, casual 1950s
outfit, pair khaki Bermuda shorts with a tucked-in floral blouse and
simple belt." Purpose What's new in the 1950's is the actual style of the pants. Before they were pretty large and "boxy" sort of. Now, they're not as large, shorter and way more stylish than before. The pants are beginning to follow the body's natural curves rather than look as stiff as a board.
Value With the new change in the fashion in America, women were able to express themselves in new and unique ways. No one could copy her style because many combinations from shorts and a nice top and shoes can be made. Women especially young girls were able to enjoy showing off with their unique styles. Limitations What this new style can't show us is the full effect that WWII had on the U.S. or what was happening in the world like the cold war that was going on... it can't show us the suffering people of west Berlin (Berlin airlift). It can't even show us what's going on inside the U.S. itself with the civil rights movement that started in 1954.
Yes!! Change is Back!!! We saw what happened during the 1930's but now fashion seems to have turned around and is starting to become more and more modern. I know we don't have the awesome fashion we have today but we're getting there. Slowly but surely...
Origins Finally! The dresses are finally starting to get shorter (and more modern) and we finally see women beginning to wear pants. Pants began gaining popularity among women and the younger generation of women in 1940. I bet that the women who wore pants loved how free they felt with movement. And thrilled that they could do many activities such as acrobatics and other sports that couldn't be done while wearing a skirt.
Purpose This is a new idea of this time period because women were expected to wear dresses and not wear similar clothing as men. Pants became more and more common as women began wearing them more often in public. "With the men overseas at war, women entered the workforce to take over the jobs
the men left behind. Because of this, women had to choose clothes practical for
work. For the first time, it became acceptable for women to wear pants.
Women also began to wear overalls for more heavy work.
Hair had to be pulled back and covered to prevent it from being caught in machinery.
Often, snoods and handkerchiefs were used to achieve this. By convenience,
women began to wear these outside of work resulting in fashionable snoods being
designed to be worn as evening attire.
Sportswear became popular on college campuses where they spread to the wider
population. Women would frequently wear tight rayon or cotton shorts and playsuits
during hot weather" A classic example of a woman working during WWII is the lady in the picture below:
Value This can be seen as the women's expression for wanting to be socially equal to the men. (This includes in the household) This is the best expression of the time period because it show how the women felt. They wanted not to be below the men any more. They had the right to vote, and now that many, many of the men went off to the war, many women found jobs and replaced the men. I believe that many of the women enjoyed working for a living instead of staying home cleaning, cooking and caring for small children all day. Limitations What the fashion of the 1940's can't show us what's happening around the world at this time. It can't show us that the U.S. joined WWII in 1941 after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, or how horrible the Holocaust was for the Jews in Europe. Pants in the 1940's was still a new idea but soon gained popularity, especially since many women now took the jobs that had once belonged to the men.
