The Evolution of Fashion

I did a blog post similar to this one about music, and thought that fashion would be a great one to write about as well! So let's dive in!

1800s

Tight corsets, dress frames, and high necklines. This century’s fashion definitely wasn’t the most comfortable, but it was truly iconic. Can you imagine walking around in a huge ballroom dress all day? I can’t, but hey, it would be a moment. During this era women usually wore heavy, thick, dresses made of many layers. One of the fashion icons of this time was Queen Victoria, who inspired this royal look, using elements of dark velvet and large gowns. A woman would usually wear a morning dress around the house, which was more simple and plain compared to their other looks. On a night out, a woman would have worn a tight corset that probably made it hard to breathe, a large dress frame so their round gown would spread out nicely, and of course a bonnet. We can see a lot of social norms be reflected based on what women wore during this time as well! For example, the tight corset was worn to give women the ideal body type of that time: an hourglass figure. Women wanted small waists, to be curvy yet “small”. In fact, even bonnets symbolized the sexism of this time, since the bonnet symbolized a woman’s modesty, and their submission to their husbands. Not exactly the best fashion statement.

Early to Mid 1900’s

This era was a bit more toned down, with clothing becoming much more practical. Many dresses were shorter, and corsets decreased in popularity as women began to embrace their natural shape. Women also began to wear petticoats and long skirts for a more casual look. During the empowering flapper era of the 1920’s women wore short skirts with tassels, and cut their hair into short bobs as they protested against gender norms. This century was important for women, since during the early 1920’s they fought for the right to vote. We can see how as women became more empowered, they began to dress for themselves, and nobody else during this era. One of the most famous people who influenced fashion during this time was the early movie stars. The most popular was of course Audrey Hepburn. Her modern and simple fashion during the mid 1900’s inspired the fashion industry. One of her most iconic roles is undoubtedly Breakfast at Tiffany's, where she wears the famous outfit designed by Givenchy: a simple form fitting black dress, with a pearl necklace, long black gloves, and a mini tiara. Another influencer was Marilyn Monroe, who encouraged others to embrace their curvy figure with fashion forward statements.

The 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s

The 1970s, definitely one of my favorite fashion decades, was all about hippies, flower power, and a bit too much tied dye. Fashion was more free than it had ever been, and was all about just “staying groovy dude”. Bell bottom jeans, peasant blouses, and fringe were all the craze. Stevie Nicks, Olivia Newton John, and Debbie Harry influenced so much of fashion with their boho chic style. This era's fashion could best be described as a free spirit in a field of flowers!

Go get your fitness CDs, disco ball, and get a perm because it's time for the 80’s!

This decade is loud in every way, with people taking huge fashion risks (that I’m not the biggest fan of). Biker jackets, neon colors, and poufy skirts were normalized during this time. Of course, let's not forget my personal favorite: mom jeans! These high waisted jeans were worn ripped, bedazzled, and even acid washed. Madonna was definitely one of the biggest icons of this time, inspiring others with her eccentric and sometimes outrageous outfits! Molly Ringwald gave us a more toned down look during the eighties, giving the era an indie twist.

Ohhh the 90’s. Supermodels ruled this era, with models such as Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Kate Moss heavily influencing the fashion industry. Style during this era was very simple and modern. Some staple pieces were slip dresses, leather jackets, and high waisted jeans. Another one of my favorites were plaid tennis skirts, which were popularized even more due to iconic movies like Clueless and shows like Friends. The nineties was the whole package: a “girl next door” vibe with a little bit of glamour!

2000s

The early 2000s has been one of the most popular decades this year, with its evergreen fashion coming back in style! Items like slip dresses, plaid skirts, and low rise jeans have been trending, and have been labeled as y2k fashion. Although there were many fashion icons, such as Perez Hilton and Britney Spears, a lot of the inspiration for clothing was coming from cinema! Mean Girls, Legally Blonde, and The Devil Wears Prada were just some of the movies on the big screen that inspired many of the fashionable looks people wore. The y2K trend has proven that it can still work its magic almost a decade later, with crop tops, cheetah print, and mini skirts still selling like crazy! Not to mention the heeled flip flops and juicy couture sweat suits, which are all the rage. This decade was definitely out there, with many clothing pieces that were a hit or miss on my part. However, it was also a time of just having fun with different looks, even if that resulted in some disastrous red carpet looks (search some up, you might regret it)!