Women’s Fashion in the 20th century

The 20th century changed what was socially acceptable for the female population to wear. Women started to dress in more clothing that expressed desire for more freedom .  The Industrial Revolution Era  allowed more choice in clothing design as  women started to dress more for their public appearance.  The upper class women who had leisure time set the trends.

♦        1910

                                                                                               

The  decade after 1910 was influenced by World War I (1914-1919).  A fashion trend was hobble skirts , laced up boots, and uncountable dresses that were elongated  with inverted triangles.  There were ankle skirts and flowing dresses up to the ankles that caused a really big deal.

                                                                                                                    ♦       1920

The 1920s fashion was influenced by Jazz, The Harlem Renaissance, the 19th amendment and Prohibition. The events led a fashion revolution in women’s clothing with smaller corsets, the introduction of bras, higher hemlines, new interesting patterns, and flapper dresses that were loose fitting and had long beads.

◊       1930

 

 After the 1920s short dresses the 1930 fashion became more feminine  as a re-introduction of the natural waist line and longer skirt lengths gave the female form a more elegant and slender look.  This more conservative trend was influenced by Movie Stars and the Great Depression Era.

♦        1940

Women’s fashion in the 1940’s was influenced by the military because of World War ll. Women wore squared shoulders, narrow hips, and skirts that ended just below the knee,  and  slacks(pants)  first gained popularity for women. 

♦    1950

1950 ‘s fashion was influenced by Rock and Roll that led teenagers to have their own fashion trends. Teenage girls wore poodle skirts, saddle shoes and a new introduction of Capri pants that wore tightly from the waist with a blouse tuck in. Women’s fashion was influenced by movie stars like Marilyn Monroe that  inspired tiny waistlines and full skirts and busts and slim pencil-line skirts were also popular.Women’s clothing was more elegant than teenage girls which was more bee bop.

♦      1960 

 

  The 60s was when people became unhappy with the government, tense over communism and rebelled through fashion.  This complimented various movements including the civil rights movement and the women’s rights movement.  Style was developed by the various movements.  The 1960’s was a decade  with the start of  bright, swirling colors, the introduction of the bell bottoms,the hippie look, really short skirts and hot pants.

♦  1970

The 7os was a continuity of the 60s with bright colors,  the bell bottom pants and the hippie look that led to the introduction of  the Disco look and the African Cultural was introduced as well. Fashion trends were unisex clothing, bold flower prints, platform shoes and bell bottom pants.

♦ 1980

 Fashion in the 80s rapidly changed and was becoming more diverse. It was influenced by technology and the expansion of cable television and networks because of celebrities and music videos.Popular wear for women and teenage girls were exercise wear, logo wear and designer jeans. Two popular types of styles for women were Power Dressing and Material Girl/Valley girl.  

♦    1990

The 90 s was the Age of Technology, ladies fashion was minimalist and influenced  by 60 & 70 and street fashion. Trends in the 90s were  babydoll dresses, denim, two piece formal, and the ”grunge look”. 

 

 Different events have had a big impact on society, if some events did not happen in the 20 century do you think fashion would have changed? For example the hippie movement , do you think people would have been wearing tie dye today? Do you think when the economy goes up fashion changes? Since some people might have extra money to spend on extra clothes then I think fashion trends expand during times of prosperity. Throughout the 20 century women have been the target of fashion but do you think men are now the target in our century, since there’s  a lot of equal rights on gay marriage?      

SOURCES

http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-14_u-189_t-506_c-1873/fashion-in-the-1950s/nsw/fashion-in-the-1950s/australia-s-social-and-cultural-history-in-the-post-war-period/social-and-cultural-features-of-the-1950s

1960s Dresses & Skirts: Styles, Trends & Pictures

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/80sclothes.html