When we say "fleeting" fashion what do we mean?
It is amazing to see how the
different events in history have influenced and changed the way people have
dressed throughout time. And when we say fashion is up to the minute, this is
simply what we mean.
Has it ever occurred to you or
have you ever wondered why fashion keeps trending? What influences fashion?
What were the fashions like in those days?
Often certain fashion trends are
dependent on the tastes of particular groups of people or cliques and are
usually associated with social status or cultural preferences like the type of
music a person likes, a favorite movie star, popular culture, happenings and
events, athletes, royals, books, and the list is endless.
An instance is during World War
II, when people were only allowed a certain amount of fabric and forced to
create simple outfits that were practical enough for wartime duties. From the
1920s to the 1990s, popular fashions reflected the mood of each decade and
showcased changes in society as the styles of clothing and accessories evolved
with the times.
One peculiar thing about fashion
is that it keeps changing, and as it evolves, people move with it as well. So
we therefore can say fashion is fleeting.
In the 1960s and 1970s, hippies
made bell-bottomed blue jeans popular. In the 1980s, Michael Jackson made
parachute pants, all the rage. The clothing of the 1970s placed an emphasis on
individual style and expression. After all, fashion is a way of expressing
oneself. One thing we need to know about this time is that clothing was bolder
and more radical than in previous decades.
The hippie style of the late '60s
continued into the 1970s. Apart from the bell-bottoms or baggy trousers that
were common in this decade, flares, platforms, fringe and suedes dominated this
age and makeup was light and natural looking. Over-sized glasses were the order
of the day too.
After 1975, the disco style began
to replace the hippie look. The film ‘Saturday Night Fever’ unleashed the disco
era upon the psyche of individuals. John Travolta, the lead actor in the film,
was an icon for male fashion. Men wore bell-bottoms, leisure suits and
high-soled shoes or boots. Open-neck shirts with the collar turned up were part
of the disco fad, and some men also wore medallions around their necks. Men's
clothing was tight and collars and shirt cuffs were wide. A distinctive disco
trend also was the jumpsuit. The jumpsuits of this era had large collars and
prominent pockets.
Also, Farrah Fawcett, one of the
majors of "Charlie's Angels", was a considerable influence on not
only the clothing women wore in this age but also the hairstyles they chose.
She inspired the use of heated rollers or curling irons to attain the flip for
which she was famous. The Afro look was also popular, though more in males than
females.
As we entered the 1980s, fashion
evolved once more. Skirts and dresses were once again longer and featured
straight lines and more serious design. As more and more women joined the
professional work force, business suits became a trend for women with straight
conservative skirts, and broad shouldered boxy blazers topped the look.
In the 1990s, skirts and dresses
were not as prominent, and more casual looks became acceptable with hip-hop and
alternative music- setting the scene for fashion early in the decade. Skirts
and dresses were usually short, especially in the latter part of the decade;
however, loose and flowing dresses as well as long denim skirts were notable
trends also.
The 2000 fashion, apart from
bringing its own unique fashion trend, saw a fusion of all the previous styles
of all decades, though experiencing minor changes to keep up with the trends.
For men, bow ties, long ties, and
pockerchief or pocket square have alternated their turns in the favour of
fashion. From time to time, the length, width, fabric, colours and patterns of
neckties have varied according to trends.
Handbags and purses have also
always been popular with women, but the styles have changed throughout the
decades. At a time, handbags would often be used as vanity bags that featured a
built-in mirror and could be used to touch up one's make-up and hair while out.
But an era came, when handbags became more of a fashion statement and would
coordinate with the type of occasion one was attending.
Presently, the type of handbags
women own have become even more of a status symbol than in the past, with
designer bags from Coach, Salvatore Ferragamo, Dooney & Bourke, Fendi,
Prada, Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton, Kate Spade, and others.
It is amazing to see how the
different events in history have influenced and changed the way people have
dressed throughout time. And when we say fashion is up to the minute, this is
simply what we mean.
