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