Fashion In The 20th Century Essay -- History Clothing Style Fashion Es

Fashion In The 20th Century Fashion is said to be evolutionary and not revolutionary. This was not true in the 20th century. Fashion revolutionized America and the rest of the world during this time period. Also, during this time period fashion evolved tremendously. New fabrics and innovations were introduced to America. When World War I came about, people had to sacrifice their clothing for the men at war and they dressed more conservative. Christian Dior changed all of that when he came out with the â€Å"New Look.† This look consisted of draped gowns with a lot of fabric being used. What Christian Dior was basically saying was that we should not have to sacrifice how we dress. In the 20th century, new synthetic fibers were invented, making new fabrics come to life like rayon and polyester. New technology changed many different ways we made our garments toward printing and construction. Of course the 20th century started out in the 1900’s. The silhouette of the female was made up of the pigeon-breasted bosom, tiny corseted waist, and full, swayback hips. There were many common designs in this era. One was a white, high-necked, trimmed cotton blouse with a heavier, dark shirt. Another was tailor-made jackets and skirts for working women. Most of the fabrics available were mostly natural fibers like cotton, silk, linen, and wool. Daywear was most often in shades of white, brown, and black, commonly in a small figured or floral print. Eveningwear consisted of lightweight silks in sometimes brighter solids or light-colored hazy prints. In this particular period, fancy trim meant status. Trim was very excessive as possible on shoulders, waist, and the lower half of the skirt. Items used included were lace, embroidery, jet beading, flowers, ribbon, and net. All of the hemlines reached the floor. Sergers were first introduced in this era. In 1910, most of the influence for fashion came from designer Paul Poiret and Eastern influence. Daywear silhouette included a head-to-ankle coverage with lowered necklines for the first time ever in decades. The primary silhouette was a straight, squarish outline with low hips. Common designs were long, ethnic influenced tunics with a skirt and waist sash, and horizontal layered appearance in skirt or vertical wrap effect on tailored jacket-and-skirt sets and dresses. Rayon was invented and used. Also used wer... ...isure to eveningwear, but natural fibers were still used with the organic flower child look. Loud and clashing colors were now in everyday fashion prints, from conservative to wild. Swirling psychedelic prints, dotted with flowers, medallions, and geometric shapes were popular. There was widespread use of designer names and labels as an incentive to shoppers, marketing everything from clothing to luggage with designers such as Geoffrey Beene and Christian Dior. No matter what decade or century you are in, fashion is going to change. People make fashion change and evolve through the decades with different events that happen. Early on, it was the designers who decided what men and women wore. Through the decades it became evident that we should choose and decide what we should wear to incorporate our environment. Women basically decided that they were the rulers of fashion and that they make fashion what it is today. Why shouldn’t they choose? Of course fashion is here to stay, so, I wonder what we would be wearing in the 22nd century? Sources Cited: Vintage Vixen Clothing Co. Fashion History. 1997-2005. Vintage Vixen. 20 Apr. 2005. http://www.vintagevixen.com/history