Although fashions have gone through many changes over the years, you can still see the influence of the past in fashions today. Styles that have fallen out of fashion tend to resurface every few decades.
Trends from the 50s, 60s, and other decades have been brought back with a modern twist. Even after a trend has faded away, it can come back and be more popular than ever.
People from all wakes of life have made fashion an essential part of who they are. The way you dress is a way to express yourself, and it can influence how others perceive you. When you’re choosing how to dress, you can find many sources of inspiration. While magazines, celebrity fashion, and social media are all popular influences, the fashion of the past can also help you shape your style. Now that a new year is starting, it’s likely that new trends will start to catch on.
If you want to deepen your understanding of fashion today, you’ll need to take a look back at the past. The history of fashion is rich and fascinating, and the factors that influence styles are just as compelling.
Fashion in the 50s
In the aftermath of World War II, many countries saw economic growth. Social norms were conservative during this time, and there was pressure to conform. For many people, that focus on conformity sparked people to rebel through fashion.
Styles for men and women shifted significantly during this time. It was common for clothing to feature distinctive hand-decorated patterns that featured paint or beading. Men typically wore high-waisted trousers and ties, while women often wore fitted blouses with round collars and shoulder pads. If you would like to see ‘shaping corsets‘ then see here.
Wearing Hats
Both men and women typically wore hats during this decade. Stars like Audrey Hepburn wore many different styles of hats, including small hats. For men, felt hats were a part of an everyday wardrobe. A typical uniform for men was a shirt and tie paired with high-waisted trousers and a felt hat.
The Role of Cigarettes In Fashion
While people recognize the dangers of cigarettes today, they were seen as a fashion accessory in the 50s. It was very common for people to carry a stylish cigarette holder.
Fashion In the 1960s
The influences of the counterculture movement in the 60s can still be seen today. Not only did clothing styles change dramatically, but public views on drugs, education, and sexuality shifted as well. People began to prioritize individual freedoms, and in order to achieve those freedoms, they looked for ways to rebel.
During this period, a sitting United States president was assassinated. Martin Luther King made his historic “I Have a Dream” speech. In 1967, young people converged in San Francisco and kicked off “The Summer of Love,” a social movement that caused hippie culture to explode.
The Rise of the Hippies
Many of the events of the 60s, including the Vietnam War and Woodstock, helped to give birth to hippie culture. This movement had a major impact on fashion. It was very common for men and women to tie-dye clothing in order to put a personal and artistic touch on what they were wearing.
Even though tie-dye was about personal expression, it was still uncommon for women to wear trousers during this period. Instead of wearing denim, women tend to wear long, flowing dresses and skirts.
