Fashion History
Chapter 5
The Earliest Clothing
• Made from natural resources as protection from weather– Animal skins and hair– plants – grasses– tree bark
Fashions of Early Civilizations Ancient Egypt
Made from lightweight linen and cotton which made them suitable for the hot climate
MEN• Knee-length skirts tied
in the front• Sleeved shirt-like
garment completed their outfits
WOMEN• Long, straight dresses
that tied behind the neck or at the shoulder.
The Evolution of Fashion
• Many years ago, fashion changed very slowly
• People often wore the same styles their entire life
• Sometimes even generation to generation
Fashions of the Twentieth Century
1900-1950
• During WWI, more women worked in shops, offices and factories, so more practical clothing developed.
• Looser garments, such as sweaters and middy blouses with sailor collars, became popular.
1920s
• Flapper Dresses– Straight and short– Adorned with fringe or flounces – Worn with long string beads
1930s
MEN • Unchanged in this
same period. Both single-and double-breasted suits were popular.
WOMEN• Became active in
sports which encouraged wide trousers and above-the-knee shorts to participate
• Evening gowns were long and formfitting
1940s
• Both women and women wore tailored suits with broad, padded shoulders.
• During WWII, a shortage of fabric occurred because so many textiles were used for military uniforms and equipment.
Football Team
• With the fashion industry closed down by the war in Europe, the designers turned to the military for inspiration.
• The “bomber jacket” was based on the Air Corps flying coat made of leather with knit wrist cuffs to keep out the wind.
This woman was married in a suit quickly for her
husband to be shipped out.
1940s
• Women’s skirts became slimmer and shorter due to fabric rationing.
• Nylon stockings were almost impossible to get, so women wore cotton stockings
• Slacks and jumpsuits became the standard work clothes for women as they replaced men in factories
Fashion and War Restrictions
Stockings were expensive and usually not available!
1947- “The New Look”
• Softer, more feminine look• Stylish, elegant and reflected the
opposite of wartime restrictions• Hemlines fell to just above the ankle • Skirts were incredibly full• The shoulder pad was taken out to
eliminate the squared, manly look
1950s
• Dior introduced the A-line silhouette for women
• Full skirts were worn with crinolines and paired with sweater sets.
• Pants were rolled up or cropped for casual wear.
1950s
• Men’s fashions featured the gray flannel business suit--- single-breasted and loosely fitted, with narrow lapels and natural shoulders.
• Worn with a button-down oxford with a narrow tie (Ivy League look)
• Dress shirts were now pale blue and yellow not just white anymore.
1950s
• The T-shirt came out from under the dress shirt influenced by James Dean
• The former undershirt was now worn on its own with blue jeans
• Leather jackets were popular
• Young women wore a man’s shirt over a pair of cuffed jeans with saddle shoes or white bucks.
1960s
• The influence of fashion designers declined and cultural events such as the Beatles, Woodstock,and rock concerts.
• First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy became an important fashion leader for women, popularizing the Chanel suit and pillbox hat.
1960s
• Many young men started wearing colorful fabrics and jewelry
• Men wore multi-colored, striped or check shirts with their business suits
• Jacket lapels widened and pants were flared or bell-bottomed.
• Men grew long side-burns, mustaches, or beards to go with longer hair lengths.
1960s
• Women’s fashion focused on the miniskirt, which kept rising throughout the decade
• Pantyhose were introduced and boots became the “in” accessory.
• African Americans rediscovered tradtional African garments made of kent cloth. Afro hair styles and cornrow braids were widely worn by both men and women.
1970s
• Mid- and maxi-length skirts were introduced.
• Women wore more and more pant suits- which gained acceptance for all occasions
• The unisex look was very popular
• Men and women wore the same styles in the same fabrics and colors.
1970s
• Men wore the polyester pant suit to work
• Bright floral shirts were worn without ties
• The shirt collar rolled over the jacket collar for a casual look
• Jeans became fashionable
• T-shirt had slogans printed on the front
• Hiphugger pants were worn
1980s
• Broad, padded shoulders• Skirt lengths ranged from short to long• Designer jeans became a status symbol• Warm-up suits were worn for jogging and for
street-wear • The standard outfit for yougn people
consisted for jeans, a shirt or sweater and athletic shoes.
1980s
• Styles were influenced by Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Prince, and Michael Jackson
1990s
• Baggy pants to tight leggings; from oversized shirts to skinny tops. No longer did one style dominate.
• Styles from the past decades re-emerged in the middle 1990s. Consumers were attracted to fitted jackets from the 1950s, sheath dresses from the 1960s and wrap dresses and hiphugger pants from the 1970s.
1990s
• Casual business attire created a new clothing category for men-- allowing khakis and no ties
Today