Fashion History and Trends - Essay Example

Fashion History and Trends Introduction Since the beginning of time when ever people socialize with each other they tend to inspire someone. As humans we tend to combine our circumstances with our surroundings. In prehistoric times, when humans used to kill animals and save their skin for cold they showed great courage and ability. They inspired appreciation and envy in those around them. This led to imitation of such primate fashions in other members of their society. (www.greatestlook.com). Though primarily related to dressing, fashion is in fact a statement about ourselves and our lifestyles which we spell out through our personal styles, shoes, furniture and so on. It covers all areas of life. In 2003, a team of German professors made a fascinating discovery. Our early ancestors didn’t own all the clothes that we do own. Cavemen wore animal hides to fight the winter cold. In warm weather, they wore loincloths. As time passed, new discoveries made it possible to create new fashions. Thousands of years ago, the Chinese created silk from cocoons of silkworm moths. In 1972, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, which removed seed from cotton. By hand, it took several hours to produce one pound of cotton. The cotton gin allowed workers to clean up to 50 pounds (23 Kilograms) of cotton daily. Today silk and cotton are still used for many fashionable styles. The Europeans in the 1700s witnessed a time of great thought and social change. Historians call that time the “Age of Enlightenment.” The machines of that era changed the way people earned a living. Many people left their jobs on the farm to become factory workers. Throughout the 1700s and 1800s, several breakthroughs paved the way for mass production of clothes. In 1733, John Kay invented the flying shuttles for the loom. This machine sped up the weaving process. Perhaps the most exciting invention was Edmund Cartwright’s power loom. His loom used water as a power source. Made in 1785, it was the first loom to produce large amounts of cloth. Following in its footsteps were modern sewing machines. Elias Howe and Isaac Singer made these time-saving machines in the mid 1800’s. The way Fashion impacted our lives and how we changed its trends. Some of the world’s greatest fashion pioneers created styles that are still “in today. Thank Levi Strauss for your favorite blue jeans. During the California gold rush of the mid-1800s, Strauss created sturdy canvas pants for miners. The pants were instantly popular. Strauss later used heavy blue denim instead of canvas. An American tradition was born! Designer Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel was the brain behind ground breaking fashions that set the modern stage. She believed fashion should be comfortable. In the 1920’s, she popularized wardrobe staples like the wool jersey cardigan. It changed the way the women dressed for they no longer had to hold their breadth in corsets anymore. In 1857, Charles Worth, established the first haute couture fashion house in Paris. His premium designs for royalty and wealthy American patrons set the tone for the modern couture luxury. To showcase the work of American designers, in 1943, fashion publicist Eleanor Lamber organized the “Press Week”. In later years, the event became New York’s glory. Fashion Designer André Corteges introduced the “Space-Age” look just in time for the first moon landing. Other Designers followed his lead. People everywhere adorned white and silver clothing made of vinyl and plastic. (Jones, 2007). People’s thought process has evolved over time. Nostalgia from the 50’s began at the same time as reminiscences of the 40 were still glooming. Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, poodle skirts, mothers in aprons invokes the similes of a pleasant time that seems enhanced, squashy, and simpler. Without a doubt, the times between 1950 to 1959 were a time of hopefulness and security through observance with the social order. In the dominion of fashion simplicity was without doubt the answer in all section apart from, obviously, the chrome-laden coupé with their gargantuan tail fins that gave the impression of being complementary to a vehicle about to blast off into the stratosphere. During the 50’s the trend in fashion or the types of stuff that people considered fashionable were beatniks (mostly black), poodle skirts, peter pan collared shirts, saddle shoes, cat’s eye glasses, Hawaiian shirts, letterman jackets, white t-shirts, blue jeans (deep cuffs), circle skirts etc. The 60s represented a time of transition in every facet of the American society. Naturally the fashion scenario was not left in isolation. From a traditional way in which Jacqueline Kennedy was dressed to the large made-in US coupé with tail fins and gargantuan engines to the kitschy Las Vegas-inspired edifice veneers. Those unpredictable transformations in fashion sense, certainly, echoed the environment of the society as a whole. The changes that 60’s experienced were miniskirts, Nehru Jackets, go-go boots, Pill box hats, hot pants, shift dresses,tie-dye,3/4 lengths sleeves, baby doll dress etc. The 70’s initiated from where the 60’s ended: on the edge, unfavorable of the status-quo, quizzical of the norm, conventional authority and societal chain of command, and ostentatiously expressive. The societal mayhem that dominated America from 60’s like, women’s liberation, the environmental movement, LGBT movement, protest in Vietnam continued to influence the 70’s. It’s not fair however to call it a repeat of 60’s accepted wisdom. Lifestyles and consumption were more focused and this inspired “the me Decade”. The preference of the people in the 70’s was track suits, corduroy, polyester shirts or printed nylon, disco/glam rock, leisure suits, platform shoes, bell- bottoms, earth shoes, mood rings etc. The tumultuous, self-expressive times of the 60s and 70s progress into the 80s. From a fashion view point, this was a decade manifested by conventionality and lavishness. A lot of Americans desired a better life in the new decade; they were wary of the new gender roles brought on by the womens movement and exhausted by the political strife of the last two decades. Now they wanted to experience the security and political stability of the 1950’s. The Reagan administration, proclaiming itself with the one of the most expensive inaugural commemoration in history, gave Americans a sense of security .They were in awe struck by. Ronald and Nancy Reagan, with their Hollywood relations and 1950s societal outlook. This contented Americans hunger for allure and prosperity, in addition to their desire for conventional values. In 80’s, the fashion trend was represented by polo shirts, punk, big shoulder pads, acid-wash jeans, parachute pants, flash dance: leg-warmers, ripped sweatshirts, designer jeans etc. Several fashion trends. In the 90’s were set up almost from the start of the decade. Both the clothing for men and women, were designed to be softer, the simplicity of the 50’s was regaining its ground. Designers also designed clothes to be simple yet fashionable. These new designer were unfussy and calm as compared to the decade of the 80’s. Bell-bottoms became a fashion again. The fashion of the people of the 90’s was represented by minimal designs, ghetto fabulous, tattoos, pashminas, power bead bracelets, long, straight hair parted down the middle, grunge etc. Fashion will always vary with time, each era having its own impression of the way fashion has evolved overtime. Classical designs of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s are not obsolete; we still see miniskirts and bell-bottoms. The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan are still being listened to; and inspiration is still drawn from Empire State Building when constructing new buildings. Fashion characterizes the whole biography of a person and gives an idea about his personality. As Katherine Hamnett said: "Clothes create a wordless means of communication that we all understand,” (www.pbs.org) References 1- http://www.greatestlook.com/info/fashion_history.html 2- http://www.pbs.org/newshour/infocus/fashion/whatisfashion.html 3- Jen Jones, 2007, Fashion History: Looking Great Through the Ages, Capstone Press, USA. Read More