Evolution of Style Article
We all love the latest trends but did you know that some of
the fashions we wear now actually were worn by our parents and grandparents as
early as the 1940’s to as late as the 90’s. Here at Crush we love a good
fashion revival so why not revisit the trends of the past!
40’s
You didn’t have much choice in
the style stakes in the 40’s as WWII had a huge effect on women’s lives. Nylon
and wool were needed by the military so women had to make do and mend by
creating a new material- ‘Rayon, a synthetic fibre. Doesn’t sound very
glamorous does it? However some women managed to keep trendy even during air
raids with the store Harvey Nichols offering gas protection suits made from
silk in a variety of colours. I suppose you never know who you might meet!
After the war, however, women soon made up for lost fashion time with many
changing their outfit 3-4 times a day- morning outfit, sports outfit, afternoon
and pyjamas. Well, I guess a girl’s got to have options!
The Film-
The Style Icon-
The Look-
50’s
So before in the 40’s, women were helping
out for the war effort now they were back to being good old housewives! That
doesn’t mean they couldn’t rock the trends however. The look varied from rock’n’roll for the
particularly daring to billowing skirts with petticoats underneath for the
sweet and innocent. There was a look for everyone to rock! So now you’ve got
the look- what’s next? Well check with your friends of course! You could wear
the same style but make sure you are rocking it in different colours to your
mates- matchy-matchy was not allowed! But wear this new look of yours, well you
could also go down to the poetry recitals which were the equivalent of today’s
hottest parties (yeah I didn’t believe it either!) or cycling. Oh the joys
before TV were invented, huh?
The Film- Westerns!
The Style Icon- Take your pick from Doris Day to Audrey Hepburn
The Look- Rock’n’Roll to housewife chic
60s
Guess what in the sixties- you had the power in dictating the latest
fashion! With the WWII baby boom, the youth now held the sphere of
influence. And your trend item of choice?
- The mini skirt of course! They don’t call it the swinging sixties for nothing
with hemlines 7-8 inches above the knee. With the rising sexual freedom women
had, they could now choose whatever they wanted to wear- totally different from
the 50’s housewives. However mini-skirts
weren’t the only look of choice. The hippy look was truly in force with unisex
bell-bottomed jeans and embellished t-shirts. Although today, I don’t think
matching your boyfriend would be a good look!
The Film-
The Style Icon- Twiggy of course!
The Look- Paper dresses in bold graphic prints- yeah I don’t think they
would catch on today!
70’s
Technology was on the rise with the first VHS video recorder going on
sale in 1978. No blu-ray DVD’s in the seventies- it was all about the video.
Women could now see their favourite film stars looks at home. Women were also
becoming more experimental in their style choices, dressing in disco clothing designed
to highlight your body under the disco lights. Full on Lycra not your style?
The hippy look was still in force, even stronger than in the sixties, with many
women living in communes and experimenting in drugs. Luckily today you don’t
have to take drugs in order to achieve the 70’s look.
80s
Exaggeration was big in the 80’s with Dynasty style shoulder pads and
permed hair reaching the moon. Big was
the only way to do things for 80’s girls and many took influence from their
favourite stars including Madonna and Blondie.
Even your dad could be a style icon with many girls wearing white men’s
shirts with pink satin ties! Not a look that would be in now! However many men got in on the action with
the ‘New Romantic’ look being in with men wearing YOUR makeup and YOUR
jewellery! So girls, in case that look comes back, invest in some extra secure
makeup cases!
The Film- The Breakfast Club
The Style Icon- Madonna
The Look- Ra-Ra skirts with plenty of neon
90s
Think 90’s? Think Clueless with Cher and co’s tartan skirts and feather
boas being the look for almost every 90’s girl. However if preppy chic isn’t
your thing then you can go on the opposite side of the scale with grunge
getups. To be grunge, all you had to do was basically not wash your hair for
weeks on end and wear oversized tartan shirts which again weren’t washed for
weeks and you are the perfect grunge girl! Listening to bands such as Nirvana
and hanging in your room for hours on end was typical teenage behaviour. Not
much different from today then?
The Film- Titanic
The Style Icon- Gwen Stefani
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