It's hard to believe that almost a century ago, citizens everywhere were dressing in tight-knit clothing that was careful not to reveal much in public. Just as fashion has changed so drastically, so too has the perception on how men and women should act in public. But as we'll see, more than just rebellion has helped shaped the fashion industry.
Many years ago, when the 1920's were starting to take shape, women started to become part of the flapper mold. Flappers, as they have come to be called, were eccentric and flexible types of clothing that allowed for a new generation of women to compare themselves to men as equals. Braziers even restricted the chest so as to give a more manly look to females- as to show their worth to men.
We mark the early 1940's as nearing the end of World War II. Although most of the decade was spend out of war, it was known for its conservative lifestyle and fashion statements. Men would wear two-piece suits that saved on clothing materials, while women had to restrict themselves to basic uniforms for use in factories and places of work while the men were away.
The popular rebellion of what is expected and fight for freedom in fashion came in the 1960's, where hippies would dress for comfort rather than fashion or because of social norms. Hippies would wear loose-fitting clothes that were usually decorated with flowers or patches of some sort. This movement is commonly associated with the 1970's, although it got started in the 1960's.
A few decades later we come to the 1990's, where fashion has become a mixture of several styles. While there will always be those who value retro styles, the 1990's brought a mix of many different types of fashion and combined them. Different sects or cliques easily form as a result of one's taste in fashion. One thing that was always popular was bright colors and usage of pastels in clothing, along with blue jeans and tennis shoes to match.
As it stands today, fashion has become a melting pot of hundreds of different styles combine into one. There are the sophisticated business dresses that come from the 1980's, the pastels that we remember the 1990's by, and even the "flapper" styles that were popular almost a century ago. As it would look to be, it seems fashion is only going to continue to mix and match its way into a rather diverse and exciting field.
Final Thoughts
Art, music, and politics have vastly affected fashion over the past decades. It'll be an interesting topic to view as we sit back and relax through another century of styles, fashion statements, and hopefully the next new fashion that will redefine our era.
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