The history of fashion. This week we have started the Fashion Design course and today we are talking about the history of fashion. Fashion is the art of clothing, of making garments based on functional and stylistic parameters, both in clothing and accessories: hats, gloves, belts, bags, shoes, glasses.
The dress emerges as a basic need for men. Over time, the dress has acquired an aesthetic character, in as much as it has reflected the taste and character of its wearer, and has become one more adornment of the person, subject to the canons of fashion and the artistic evolution of vlone shirt.
When did we start talking about fashion?
In the fourteenth century when it began to have a concept of fashion. Since then there have been different designers and garments that have marked an era and we talk about the history of fashion. Next we are going to mention some of them.
Paul Poiret
The man who had declared war on the corset. He gained fame with the creation of the so-called "La Vage" silhouette. It was so narrow at the bottom that you could only walk with it in tiny steps. "I have freed their torsos, but I have tied their legs," ironized the dressmaker.
The cult of youth and the lust for rebellion prompted the emergence of the recognizable (and inspiring) flapper aesthetic. Characterized by dresses that discreetly marked the chest and waist, adorned with crystal beads, jewels or feathers, short hair and bare knees, this look managed to challenge the beauty ideals of the time. Another milestone of the decade was the introduction of Coco Chanel's “little black dress”.
In the face of the Great Depression, the cinema was the best escape route. Bette Davis, Jean Harlow or Joan Crawford dazzled on the screen with their glamorous outfits. Silk dresses cut on the bias, a technique popularized by Madeleine Vionnet, marked an era.
One of the less predictable consequences of World War II was the great popularity of the two-piece bathing suit, devised as a result of the fabric rationing promoted by the US government starting in 1943.
Introduced in 1947, Christian Dior's “New Look” defined the 1950s. After the austerity and limitations of a time of war, women dreamed of wasting fabrics and flared skirts. Dior fashion left dark past times behind to return glamor, luxury and beauty to the feminine wardrobe.
In the 1960s he suggested the miniskirt attributed to Mary Quant. Symbol that marked the decade preceded by platforms in the 70s. During this time the jeans widened the legs, the heels gained in thickness and the synthetic fabrics flooded the stores. If in New York the disco style set the trends that would later be seen in the legendary Studio 54, in London the punk aesthetic led by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren reigned.
Mary Quant
Years later, pointed shoes, accessories and complements such as handbags worn on the elbow and floral prints began to prevail, which, in the 60s, were replaced by flare pants and cotton blouses. The flowery themes that are mixed with "retro fashion" are maintained, boots triumphing among women.
In the history of fashion, the access of women to managerial positions in the workplace also led to a change in dress codes: the skirt suit and jacket with wide shoulders became a status symbol.
Faced with the opulence of previous decades, in the 90s a trend emerged that, dyed in gray, black and white, bet on sobriety and quality basics. American designers - Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein -, supported by Vogue, were strongly consolidated. As the decade progressed, the explicit beauty of the top models was being displaced by androgynous and boyish-looking models.
Fashion's history. Dolce and Gabbana
Starting in the 21st century, in the year 2000, people began to speak of urban tribes and a series of brands and styles were associated with each of these “tribes”. The classic suit and dresses are only worn on special occasions and for working in exclusive settings or in front of the client. A trend towards customizing clothing is born. Many people create their own garments and accessories, and design and customization options are included in manufacturing processes on a global scale by Travis Scott Clothing.
This seemingly short period of time becomes very (very) long in terms of fashion. Social changes have left their mark on styles, garments like the bikini have unleashed real revolutions and, despite the constant recovery of past trends by designers.
Clothing is a reflection of the personality and individuality of each person, one more way of expressing oneself. Designer fashion is trendy again and dressmakers and fashion designers are considered artists.
Summary
Hope you enjoyed this journey through the history of fashion. If you want to learn the principles of fashion and the steps to develop a collection, our courses may interest you. We wait for you.