Political Influences On Fashion

“Fashion is part of the daily air and it changes all the time, with all the events. You can even see the approaching of a revolution in clothes. You can see and feel everything in clothes.” – Diana Vreeland (Quoted from -at: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/designers/a1576/50-famous-fashion-quotes) Throughout this essay I will be anaylsing the image above which captures a pivotal moment of women’s fashions.

There alternative and different ideas of a women’s role in society played a great factor in the changed that took place after World War I. As women’s role in society changed, the fashion trends for women also changed. Due to a dye shortage and fabric shortages during the war, a new utilitarian drabness in dress began to trend. The most noticeable change engendered by war was the relaxation of the formal rules of attire.

Did you know that back before the 1920s, makeup and cosmetics were not accepted by American Society because of their relation to loose living and prostitution? But because of popular movie stars like Joan Crawford and Clara Bow, women began copying their makeup. Now makeup is even more widely accepted by society. This and other fun facts make the 1920s among some of the greatest decades of all time because of the interesting fashion, jazz music, and celebrities.

While Movie and television actors and actresses also played a big role in deciding what fashion trends and body images were big. “Screen goddesses like Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly inspired tiny waistlines and full skirts and busts” (Fashion in the 1950s). Television and movies played a big role in teenagers fashion choices. “The influx of American cinema and television brought many new fashion ideas to the masses and prompted many young people to copy the fashion of their favourite movie stars” (Fashion in the 1950s). New materials began to form in the 1950s nylon was a huge thing because it made tights a big deal.

Christian Dior, the fashion designer who has created many brilliant pieces once said “A dress is a piece of ephemeral architecture, designed to enhance the proportions of the female body.” Fashion being a major impact in America brought many different trends to the people and showed their sense of nobility. “At the end

Unlike today’s society, different types of clothing were reserved for a certain occasion. Queen Elizabeth had huge impact on women’s clothing because she wanted women to seem “virgin-esque.” In order to seem “virgin-esque” women had to cover their bodies and couldn’t seem provocative. Another group who influenced clothing was prostitutes. They started trends such as wearing platform shoes and tight clothing (“Daily Life”).

The popular fashion movement was largely shaped by events that took place in the 1970’s. “Both hippies and war protesters influenced fashion trends with unisex clothing (Frankel).” Protesters against the Vietnam War dressed in military surplus and boots. The hippies wore jeans and cotton tshirts.

1920s Fashion The 1920’s was a dynamic influence on men’s and women’s fashion. Moreso the impact woman had on society and how their influence manipulated the fashion of the 1920s. Jazz,World War I, prohibition, the 19th Amendment are just some of the factors that contributed to the dramatic shift in the culture that we still admire today. During this time ‘the fashion landscape shifted like tectonic plates” (“retro”), everyone wanted to be in style and have the newest and glamorous clothes. Designer brands and unique hairstyles is still a lifestyle that we still see in today 's society and is growing.

Inspired by social icons in the news, most American followed suit in the crazy hair trends, soon making them the norm. Following the trend of consumerism, dressing for success also became big as citizens tried to mimic the wealth and beauty they had come to know in icons of the time. Genres of dressing also arose in the contrasting styles of “Preppy” and “Street Style”. The first favoring the typical white-suburban look, many wore pastel polos, sweaters, Keds shoes, and jean or khaki pants. Street style, however; followed the rise of Hip Hop and Pop, taking inspiration more from music stars in the form of sequin dresses, colorful athleisure pieces, wild prints, and outrageous colors.

1990’s Fashion The 90’s marked the beginning of many new fashion trends, it was a decade when people developed their own style by mixing top names with mass brands. Perhaps the most important influences on fashion was technology. With the arrival of the internet, information, including the latest fashion styles and trends, could now be communicated.

Clothing styles have been constantly changing as time goes one. A major factor for this has been the process at which these clothes have been made. Just like the style of our clothing, the creation process for garments has been constantly been evolving. From the handmade past, to the mass produced future, clothing itself has been altered by the means of its creation. Before the Industrial Revolution, the creation of clothing was a time consuming and expensive process.

American traditions and its culture have been revolutionized as we take and modify international culture to further stylize our modern society. The british culture and their traditions have always been the belle of the ball, from their extraordinary fashion, that breaks and bends traditional fashion, to their exquisite cuisines and intricate language. British’s iconic fashion inspires countries to further their creativity to meet fashion standards. Their language which has revolutionized, since it first got spoken, sets the basis for our American language. Some of the delicious dishes of the British culture have been Americanized into our very own recipes.

Fashion never remains the same and with the advancements in technology fashion has become even more wavering. Fashion is highly influenced from the social, technological and economical changes. A series of events that replace current societal patterns with the

As quoted in Coco Chanel: a woman of her own (Axel Madsen, p124), ‘’ fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening. ’’ (Refer to appendix 1) Fashion is everywhere nowadays and is having more and more impact in our daily life. Fashion existed in different forms.

Heraclitus once stated “the only thing that is constant, is change.” , nothing exemplifies fashion more than this statement. As a person that is constantly demanding herself to grow and change, fashion is the one thing that can keep up with me. It is the only constant in my life that I have a stable relationship with, due to its shape shifting nature which resembles mine. A part of change for me was always aspiring to be bigger, better, and bolder; I apply all of those concepts when it comes to fashion and design.