10 Decade Defining Moments in Fashion

10Decade defining moments of fashion

Written by Veronica Polanco, Nikki Cohen, Isabel Burden Edited by Karina McCarthy, Faveanny Leyva & Lexi Fernandez

10s

Fashion at the start of the 1900s shared something in common with the decade itself: it was divided into two periods- pre and post-World War I. WWI had an intense effect on societal culture, and fashion was not exempt from such an influence. A substantial transition in fashion resulted in silhouettes shifting from the norm, transitioning from tight straight-fronted corsets into a soft, natural shaping silhouette. This fresh, freeing silhouette was formed due to the outcome of how women’s bodies were molded into the “S-curve”. Such a form was the result of a straight-fronted corset that started lower on the bustline than the corsets women had been wearing in previous years. After the S-curve style began to fade, skirts narrowed toward the bottom. This definitive moment in early 1900s fashion allowed women to express their bodies in an entirely new style, focusing on exploring their waists and the sex behind a tapered waist.

30s&40s

As the 1930 and 1940s approached, women’s fashion evolved from the boyish appearance attributed to the previous decade into the feminine silhouette of the early thirties. Hemlines migrated to ankle length, and waistlines ascended to their typical placement. This style was described as having a slender, elongated torso featuring widened shoulders and a smooth, perfect head of finger waved hair. The look of the 1930 and 1940s aimed to dominate romanticism and femininity. This paved the way for later looks involving more daring pieces of clothing.

20s

Throughout the 1920s, women’s fashion became increasingly controversial by rejecting formality and traditional layering. Instead, controversial by rejecting formality and traditional layering. Instead, they developed a more convenient, modernized female wardrobe by maintaining a stunning yet simplified choice of dress. This revamped wardrobe created the popular phrase “la garçonne” look that wardrobe created the popular phrase “la garçonne” look that dominated much of the decade. By definition, la garçonne means a young woman of the 1920s who rebelled against conventional ideas young woman of the 1920s who rebelled against conventional ideas of ladylike behavior and dress. This identity, more commonly known as the flapper, is symbolic of the glitz and glamour of the 1920s.

50s 50s

While the 1950s was a quintessentially modest and conservative While the 1950s was a quintessentially modest and conservative time during women’s fashion, there were still trends that allowed time during women’s fashion, there were still trends that allowed women to explore a sexier, more daring side of themselves. Fashion women to explore a sexier, more daring side of themselves. Fashion icons like Marilyn Monroe were the stars of the 50s fashion, showing icons like Marilyn Monroe were the stars of the 50s fashion, showing women that it was acceptable to dress immodestly. Monroe was women that it was acceptable to dress immodestly. Monroe was seen sporting halter neckline dresses and strapless gowns that were seen sporting halter neckline dresses and strapless gowns that were far from popular in the eyes of the average woman. In her famous far from popular in the eyes of the average woman. In her famous rendition of Happy Birthday to President Kennedy, Monroe wore a rendition of Happy Birthday to President Kennedy, Monroe wore a strapless and backless gown that was most definitely not a staple in strapless and backless gown that was most definitely not a staple in anyone’s closet. anyone’s closet.

Fashion designer Mary Quant first introduced the miniskirt considerable criticism. Even designers like Coco Chanel despised and youthful, and it paved the way for future designers to break 70s

The 1970’s can be characterized by excessive use of patterns and vibrant colors. In particular, Yves Saint Laurent’s groundbreaking 1971 Spring and Summer runway show was seen as extraordinarily scandalous. Inspired by the 1940’s film Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne, the collection was full of plunging necklines and short skirts, both of which were worn by prostitutes during the 1940s. This collection shocked the fashion world and was seen as immensely daring and original.

90s 90s

Grunge emerged in the 1990s with the help of Generation X. Grunge emerged in the 1990s with the help of Generation X. Graphic t-shirts with slogans, faded and ripped jeans, flannel shirts Graphic t-shirts with slogans, faded and ripped jeans, flannel shirts layered over t-shirts, and Doc Martens became American staple layered over t-shirts, and Doc Martens became American staple trends. With an increase in recycled clothing, a new approach to trends. With an increase in recycled clothing, a new approach to creating outfits emerged that included layering of different patterns creating outfits emerged that included layering of different patterns and textures to encourage individual style. Quentin Tarantino’s and textures to encourage individual style. Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction featured Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace, a character Pulp Fiction featured Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace, a character who paved the way for femme-fatale looks. Her most famous look who paved the way for femme-fatale looks. Her most famous look was a white button-down shirt and black cropped pants paired with was a white button-down shirt and black cropped pants paired with a black bob cut with bangs and dark lipstick and nails. Her outfit a black bob cut with bangs and dark lipstick and nails. Her outfit made the basic men’s button down shirt more feminine, embracing made the basic men’s button down shirt more feminine, embracing professionalism for women entering the working environment in the professionalism for women entering the working environment in the 1990s. 1990s.

60s

Fashion designer Mary Quant first introduced the miniskirt in the early 1960s. This look quickly became the most defining piece of clothing throughout the entire decade but was met with considerable criticism. Even designers like Coco Chanel despised the mini skirt and did not believe that it was modest enough to be as popular as it was. People were worried to see such a short skirt being worn by young women. Some places even enacted rules in which mini skirts were not allowed to be worn. In reality, it was an edgy piece of clothing that allowed women to feel sexually liberated and youthful, and it paved the way for future designers to break boundaries and create more exciting and chaotic pieces.

80s

The 1980s paved the way for punk fashion as the youth wore clothing that went against society’s expectations. Bondage-type clothing, dog chains, safety pins, fishnet stockings, ripped jeans, leather jackets became popular fashion pieces. Vivienne Westwood’s collection, Punkature, was launched in Fall 1982 and showcased distressed garments in over-printed and pre-washed materials. Her Autumn/Winter 1983 collection Witches was inspired by Haitian voodoo, as it applied the magical and abstract sign language of Keith Haring on graphic, stretch-fabric bodies and tube skirts. Additionally, the collection featured oversized garments and unisex overcoats with exagerrated bat-wing sleeves.

2000s/y2k

The color palette of the 2000s consisted of reflective metallic and shiny black tones. Emo fashion emerged into the mainstream as it was influenced by punk, goth, and grunge styles. Outfits were mainly all black with band t-shirts, skinny jeans, leather chaps, baggy cargo pants, Converse shoes, and studded belts. Hairstyles included choppy cuts with long side-swept bangs, usually dyed jet black, platinum blonde, or a bright color. For cosmetics, lip gloss and the smoky eye were popular looks. 50