the eras of fashion

written by Manique Zafira Smit

Fashion is constantly evolving. Every season there are new prints, color schemes, and patterns. Fashion is a cycle and the past will always inspire the future.

The Roaring 20s

The Great Gatsby Era was known for its flapper style and pearls, feathers and tassels. Casual suits and free-flowing, non-fitting dresses were a staple. It was about glitz and glamor, but with simple silhouettes. The real element to its extravagance wasn’t the shape but rather the details and luxurious materials. Coco Chanel had a huge influence by giving women a chance of individuality by breaking free from restrictive corsets and instead opted for looserflowing silhouettes.

The Swinging 60s

According to singer Madeline Bell,

“Music played a huge role in the fashion of the 60s, especially in London. Carnaby Street was where young people from around the world came to shop and be part of ‘Swinging London’ . Peace and love were wanted. ” That’s why the peace symbol was greatly worn. The 60s also had very big sci-fi and hippy elements to their looks along with floral patterns. Staple pieces include wide-legged or bell bottoms, stiletto heels, platform shoes, flared jumpsuits and anything big like the buttons on blazers, hairdos, and eye makeup (just like how Priscilla Presley did it).

The Groovy 70s

The 70s were not far different from the 60s but had a more retro look to it. They opted for a warmer color palette like burnt orange and yellow. It was known as the disco era with big afros and jumpsuits.

The Electrifying 80s

Brands: Nike, Gucci, Levi’s, Lacoste, Tommy Hilfiger the 80s style was retro and sporty. Tracksuits and leotards were two of the most commonly worn pieces, especially in eccentric, bold colors, and this also went for their hairdos and makeup. People weren’t afraid to wear bright neon and flashy geometric patterns. On the contrary, they were also known for their bold statement suits with big shoulder pads. The bigger they were, the more noticeable you got.

The Iconic 90s

Brands: Versace, Chanel, Vivienne Westwood, Thierry Mugler During the Kate Moss era, the 90s were notable for glamorous, timeless chic that was effortlessly elegant. It was more casual compared to the previous years, as it started to shift more towards minimalism, and it also broke the cycle with a more grungy and punk influence. Effortless met rock n’ roll in the 90s.

The Early 2000s

Brands: Juicy Couture, Von Dutch, Bebe Paris Hilton. Britney Spears. Nicole Ritchie. These ladies were 3 of the most influential and iconic figures of the y2k era. It was all about low rise and BLING everything. The style was playful and risqué with mini skirts, halter tank tops and chunky boots. Denim was huge and worn in kinds of mediums and cuts such as flared and bootcut. One of the things that really stood out was the prominence of the Juicy Couture velour tracksuits that took over fashion looks with a storm.