Fashion was always thing of a perception. Even though big fashion brands constantly want to impose their own viewpoints and with it, products, people always had freedom to create their own style. By doing so, we are able to make our own look and spearhead some new, interesting trend. Some people are hard to sway and will always wear things which they prefer, regardless of what is popular at the given time. Like art or architecture, fashion changed over the decades.
During 1920s, people wore broad and comfortable clothes. Females loved long, light skirts and trousers. This is also the period when Coco Chanel made first, designer dress. Even though males wore tailcoats, fashion slowly became more loose and relaxed. At the end of 20s (1929 to be precise), Wall Street crash ravaged entire American industry. Because of this, people needed to adapt their clothing to this newfound situation. Instead of extravagant and expensive materials, people started using cheaper alternatives. Clothes were made to last, not to impress. Women slowly started wearing pants. Trend lasted until 1940s.
Designers such as Cristobal Balenciaga, Digby Morton and Norman Hartnell marked this period. While men fought in war, women needed to take all the responsibilities at home and perform jobs that were otherwise reserved for men. In order to make them more efficient and comfortable at their work place, fashion companies started making long trousers. Later on, Dior launched full dresses that were very long. Even though they were received poorly at the beginning, this trend quickly caught up and was prominent even during 50s. On the other hand, zoot suits were a popular option for men. T-shirts were first noticed on the beaches of Florida and California and they became an instant hit.
Sixties were the most important decade of the previous century when it comes to clothing. Hippie and other types of movements wanted to fight for public freedoms. Women wanted the same rights as men and freedom to wear whatever they want. This led to creation of miniskirts which were first presented in 1965. It was common for females to wear jeans and jumpsuits. Wardrobe was made from various, easy to maintain materials. People wanted new, vivid colors so green, orange and pink became popular. When it comes to men fashion, first pieces of male jewelry were produced. Both men and women enjoyed same liberties as male clothes became more relaxed and casual.
The same way rock influenced 60s, disco influenced fashion during 70s. Men and women started wearing skinny jeans, t-shirts with logos and different designs, mostly made from synthetic materials and polyester.
During the 1980s, fashion became a highly profitable business as Kelvin Klein, Giorgio Armani and Ralph Lauren stepped on the scene. Male fashion became very macho. Men started wearing jeans, as well as leather and denim jackets. Hip-Hop music dictated fashion during this period as people started to turn to flashy colors, tracksuits, leg warmers and sneakers.
The Nineties allowed full freedom to people. This decade introduced some new styles such as cyberpunk and gothic. It was easy to recognize a person and his music preferences according to his clothing. This trend remains up to this day, given that the market is saturated with products such as tripp pants, leather, skinny jeans and other accessories.
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