100 years of style and fashion
February 22nd, 2008I have several favourite fashion eras but my absolute favourite is fashion from the late ‘50’s to mid ‘60’s. Think Grace Kelly in “Rear Window”, Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, Jackie O, Twiggy and Edie Sedgwick. Fashion at this time was the perfect mixture of dressy lady-like silhouettes and funky pop art inspired designs. I could have happily lived as an adult in this fashion era, although I’m sure I’d miss my straight leg jeans.
I also love the glamour and drama that prevailed during the ‘40’s and the crazy disco vibe that ruled the late ‘70’s. The roaring ‘20s had its flapper appeal, and even though the ‘80’s is regarded as ”the decade of anti-fashion”, it had it’s absurd appeal. I was an impressionable teeny bopper then. I thought I looked fabulous in my bad taste creations and teased hair, which is why I have to include the era among my favourites. (Read more ‘80’s confessions on YLF forum).
Fashion in the ‘30’s, late 60’s to early 70’s, and ‘90’s leaves me cold. The Second World War had a realistically somber impact on fashion and I’m not a hippy at heart. And the ‘90’s was a confused era of ‘80’s remnants, grunge, hip hop mania and minimalistic millennium madness. But I’ll commend the decade for bringing back the natural female hourglass silhouette and ridding us of rugby player shoulder pads.
We’re in the first decade of the 21st century and I wonder how the current fashion era will be remembered. Today’s fashion is much like a modern melting pot of 20th century fashion and that’s unique in itself. I find myself excited as each new season unfolds. Which are your favourite fashion eras? How do you feel about the era we live in right now?
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:51 am
Angie, I’m with you. I love the late 50’s to mid 60’s. I am attracted to the lady-like, yet relaxed style. I have been so excited when recently those styles were brought back–especially some of the looks last summer. Made me want to go to Miami and do the cha cha. ha!
Today’s style is nice; we do have many options. But I could have done without the late 90’s, early 00’s rehashing of the 70s and the modern resurrection of the 80s. I don’t have fond memories of the styles in the 80s, and I don’t like them now, either.
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:02 am
I think comfort has to go with style, and something just bugs me when a womans body is disfigured such as those very pointy bras and cinched tight dress waists of the 60’s. We didn’t have stretch in our fabrics back then and it was very uncomfortable. My bras didn’t even have any stretch in the straps. The first time my mother put a bra on me I thought it was the end of the world.
My favorite dress was from the early 60’s I think. It was very flowing, and usualy large floral print, bright fresh colors, with a yoke on the front and back (like a yoke on the back of a dress shirt) and the beautiful fabric flowed out in in an exagerated A-line. I was a teeny bopper then and I thought these dresses were stunning even on the hanger and looked good on everyone. Maybe it is just my love of fabric or the fact I was a teeny bopper that makes me remember these dresses with such vivid fondness.
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:07 am
I think my least favorite decades of fashion were the ’70s and the ’90s. It all just seemed so messy to me. I enjoyed the ’80s with the oversized zoot suits, cartoon-like jewelry, and bold colors. I think my favorite fashion decade is the ’30s, as it seems the height of glamour to me. When I think of the ’30s, I think of Claudette Colbert, Ginger Rogers, and Greta Garbo. I love the long silk gowns with feminine sleeves and elaborate jewelry.
As for our current decade…I love that women and men are finding fabulous outfits that look stylish, tailored, and are also comfortable. I adore the fact that I can find a nice pair of shoes that don’t kill my feet. I am, however, waiting for a style renaissance to completely awaken Seattle’s fashion senses. I will know we have reached new heights when I can go to the opera or the theatre here and not see a single person wearing flip flops or fleece. Come on people!
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:31 am
I hate to be negative, but I think we’ve reached an era of laziness. Crocs, flipflops, sweatsuits, athletic/yoga gear, t-shirts, and oversized clothing are all evidence of this. What I like about the time periods you mentioned is that people were “dressed up” consistently and thought nothing of it. Men wore suits just to go to the movies. Perhaps that’s extreme in our time, but it takes no more effort to put on a NICE shirt with NICE jeans or pants and NICE shoes than it does to put on their drab and dull counterparts. These days men seem to think grabbing a clean shirt out of the laundry is considered dressing up.
I think 60’s mod is probably my favorite decade. Think Marlo Thomas in That Girl, or Andy Warhol’s fashion sketches. I think the 50’s would get boring long term. I love Audrey Hepburn and it was her that inspired me to start dressing better, but she lacked a certain funky element that I like in my wardrobe. The 60’s brought that funky element without sacrificing elegance.
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I’m with you Maya - it has become the “era of lazy” - when I’ve dressed in something other than yoga or soft pants - the reaction is “what are getting all dressed up for”! How did it become totally acceptable to go out of your home still dressed in the pajamas ?!#$
That being said, I really like the architecture lines of now - such as Mikaye and some of the Japanese designers, some German designs and even some of the Americans sent down the runway - the contemporary edgy urban, kind of structural, with funky, but clean lines.
I’m glad we’ve kept the great flats of all kinds, lean pants, empire type tops, flattering and cute dresses. We can keep some of the neat items from many eras, and incorporate them into something new. I love to be able to dress like a lady, but still have some fun with the silhouette.
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Besides this being the “era of lazy”, which I totally agree with (and hate), it also seems to be the era of flashbacks, era-confusion, or vintage, whichever you prefer to call it. “New” fads in the 00’s are mainly just old classics or old fads from other decades redone. Not that that’s a bad thing, because most of them are redone well.
As for a favorite fashion era, I love the classiness and flowy skirts of the 50’s. Audrey Hepburn is my hero. And I adore the volume of the 60’s. I’m discovering that I’m becoming something of a hippie in my clothing style. I love tops with volume, long dresses, tunics, and bell sleeves, but I love classy stuff too. So right now I’m an artsy-eclectic/modern classic/hippy… if that’s possible.
I’m trying to get away from my old fashion persona of non-modern classic, conservative bordering on frumpy.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I love those movie stars too Meredith and I think of that exact look as the 40’s. But you are clued up on old movies, so I’m sure that the same look must have been around in the late 30’s!
I hear you on the fun funky aspect of the early ‘60’s Maya. I feel the same way and therefore included Andy Warhol’s era as one of my favourites. Edie Sedgwick was his muse.
I don’t think that any of you are negative, just annoyed at so called casual wear privileges being abused. Needless to say, so am I. I don’t even refer to items of clothing like sweats and yoga gear as casual wear. It’s beyond that. It’s sports gear. The fashion era that we dress in today can be dressy if you want it to be. There are plenty of fabulous dressy clothes available and plenty of opportunity to wear them. It’s a personal choice to wear gear when you are NOT working out and this is awfully bad style. Start setting your own dress code standard and be the best dressed person in the room. Opting to be a little dressier never fails. Over dressing is also inappropriate, but maintaining a polished, pulled together and somewhat current look is always a good thing. This look is not achievable with sloppy sporty clothing.
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Building on what everyone has been saying about the over-casualness of this decade (which I wholeheartedly agree with), I think that the younger crowd is affected by this more than the teens of earlier decades.
I’m only in my early 20’s, so I don’t really know much about the teeny boppers of the 80’s or anything, but after reading some of the funny posts about the 80’s on the YLF forum, it seems that they/you were all very into personal and creative style (however interesting it was!). High schoolers and college kids today bother less and less with trends, many opting to throw on a sweatshirt over a workout tee with jeans and running shoes or walk around all the time in flipflops, shorts, and tank tops.
Not to say that many young people don’t strive to be very fashionable, but it seems that the sloppy/casual side of this decade has influenced many of my peers. It irks me sometimes that many of my classmates sees the 21st century as a time of little thought and disregard for classic style.
Don’t get me wrong, I like this decade of recreating things and making them work in a more modern way, but it bothers me that this time period also seems to give some the idea that it’s okay to be unconscious of style. Sorry, this rant’s grown rather long
February 23rd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I think my favorite fashion season is always the one we are in…I really enjoy the flats that are so prevalent now and all the choices we have in new fabrics, for example.
I’ve lived through many fashion decades….and it’s a lot less work now! In the sixties, we had to iron our hair…with an iron!…and fade and soften very stiff mens jeans with bleach.
Though we can look back on the past with nostalgia, much of what was worn in the long ago past was very uncomfortable…and more high maintenance. While Audrey might have looked fab back then, (could that woman ever look bad? What a beauty), it was a time when us girls couldn’t even wear pants to school, let alone denim. Stockings…and girdles with garters to hold them up (not the sexy ones)..yeah, pre-panty hose… were a requirement instead of all the great options we have now. Life was pretty narrowly defined and I’m grateful it’s loosened up…
But I agree that some take it too far with the “schumpla dinka” look, if any of you saw the Oprah show this week where Lloyd Boston helped some suburban mom’s improve their style at the stores they already shop at!
I noticed the other day at the Seattle Costco…which is usually THE place to see the sweat pant look…that there were many stylish women….wearing flattering structured jackets and well fitting jeans. They looked fab! I took it as a very positive sign!
February 23rd, 2008 at 10:53 pm
My favorites are probably the 30’s and 40’s, with the 90’s a rather distant third place.
I’m a bit of a minimalist at heart. I love glamor, but in a clean, no fuss, way.
February 24th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Is it just me, because I love dresses and skirts, or have we seen lots more dresses & skirts in the last few years? I love this trend and I hope it stays. It’s great to enjoy looking feminine and pretty.
February 26th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Angie,
I think that another aspect of the “laziness” is that that girls and women seem to want to dress alike (in mostly all black or jeans and a T-shirt). This style (or lack thereof) reminds me of the movie, “Waterworld.” I appreciate feminine styles and love the dresses from the 40’s and 50’s! Even in the early to mid-60’s, girls and women dressed in pretty, feminine styles.
March 3rd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
jennifer, it’s not just you! I’ve been seeing a LOT more of dresses and skirts recently.
I’m in highschool right now, and where 5 years ago, all the girls I knew, (older and younger) would REFUSE point blank to wear skirts and dresses, (even to church) they now wear them all the time, sometimes even during the week.
I’ve also noticed that the new style is to wear long skirts - below the knee, or even as long as floor sweeping. I’m very excited that (hopefully) soon, when you say you’re going to wear a “short” skirt, you mean a knee-length skirt, not a mini that won’t cover you when you go to sit down …