Decades of Fashion

Fashion is an important part of history. Looking at the popularity of pieces during a specific time can say a lot about how people were living. Here is a look at iconic styles from four different decades that tell the story of the individuals living during that time.

1920s

Clothing of the 1920s showed the celebratory nature of Americans as WWI ended.  One well-known style of the 1920s is the flapper dress which was worn by performers while on stage and not as a common outfit for everyday women.  The hemlines of all dresses grew shorter, but none quite as high as the flapper dress, which often cut off at the top of the kneecap.  Along with shortened hemlines came more colorful stockings and shoes as they were now on display as opposed to being covered by dresses. But it was not just the shortness of the flapper dress that drew attention to its wearer. Flapper dresses, often made of silk or chiffon, had detailed beadwork and a lot of embellishments.  Their fits were boxy and shapeless, but the silhouette made it easier to move to the bouncy and energetic dances of the 20s, such as the Charleston.  

1960s

Prior to the 1960s, fashion had been geared toward the middle aged, who had the disposable income to spend on clothes.  The 60s brought a rise in youth culture which in return brought a rise in fashion aimed at teens and young adults with miniskirts and mini dresses.  In the late 60s, Americans became fascinated by space exploration as science took strides in astrophysics and astronomy, and even sent the first American, Neil Armstrong, to the moon in July of 1969.  The fashion industry capitalized on this interest in space exploration, launching Space Age Fashion.  

This dress is an example of popular Space Age Fashion.  It’s made in a metallic foil with a straight cut, dropped-waist, and a slightly flared miniskirt.

1970s

The 1960s youth culture evolved into hippies and feminists.  This Bergdorf dress was an iconic look of the 1970s. The silk material gave the dress a flow and created a silhouette that draped the body to emphasize the natural shape of a woman. The colors are a mix of muddy yellows and browns with neon oranges and pinks, a common color combination found in 1970s fashion. 

1980s

Similar to previous decades, pop culture influenced fashion.  As an emerging artist and trend setter, Madonna encouraged women to be more daring with their wardrobe and to wear clothing with confidence. She often wore pantsuits and blazers with think shoulder pads, staples of the 1980s as women focused on empowerment and demanded to be seen as equals to men, especially in the workplace.  As women explored work outside the home, they needed clothing that added to their newfound power, leading to the birth of the power suit.  The power suit had a masculine-inspired silhouette, but could be found with flirty feminist touches, such as the ruffled front of this neon orange Thierry Mugler blazer.