Welcome back to The Extravagant. Instead of just sharing trends today, I will share why these and many other trends are coming back, along with why style changed and is still changing in the 2020's.
The Roaring 20's
Hopefully you are familiar with the decade of the 1920's. It was sandwiched between WWI and the Great Depression. Everybody was super happy and excited, hence it was called the "roaring 20's". Fashion changed significantly in the 20's. Hemlines got shorter, waistlines got lower, corsets became more relaxed, and heels became higher. And when you think of 1920's fashion, you think of the famous "flapper", the idea of a young women rebelling against society's expectations. The flapper wore loose and somewhat shapeless and short dresses, in contrast to the 1910's. And when they were going out, they would wear sparkly dresses decorated with rhinestones, feathers, and sparkles.
But why did fashion change so much? Well, imagine living in a time of war. People would be worried and scared. And as soon as the war ended and things went back to normal, what would they do? Go out, dress up, have fun, and rebel. Sound familiar? (It is important to note that at this time in history, fashion was decided by the older generations.)
The 60's and 70's
Now let's jump forward to the 60's and 70's. Guess what? World War II ended! People were very happy at first, but soon things started to change. They were still excited, but there was worry too. The 60's and 70's were a lot like 2020. The threat of the Vietnam War loomed overhead. The civil rights movement was getting bigger and bigger, similar to Black Lives Matter. There were also many other movements, like environmentalism, feminism, and youth suffrage. People were also afraid of a nuclear war. At the end of the 1950's, 60% of American children reported to have had nightmares about nuclear war. By 1979, 70% of them felt sure of an attack. People also started to romanticize the simple things, leading to the hippie movement of the 1960's, or the cottagecore aesthetic today. People were rebelling now more than ever, and fashion changed once more.
Hippies
Cottagecore (What is cottagecore?)
Civil rights movement
Black Lives Matter
The Miniskirt + Rise Of The Younger Generation
Mary Quant, a famous British designer, was credited for the creation of the mini skirt in 1964. However, she didn't think she brought it popularity; instead she said it was "the girls on the street." This started the era where fashion was dictated by by the younger generation, much like the Millennial vs. Gen Z fashion war (see more here). Mary Quant didn't invent the mini skirt, but she gave it to the general public. Also, the popularity of the miniskirt led to the downfall of stockings. They were not tall enough to cover the leg with the new miniskirt. Instead, tights in fun colors and patterns were the go-to.
Heels + Escapism
Let's talk about heels. You can watch this video about the theory of when the economy goes down, heels go up. It's a pretty solid theory, so I highly recommend you check it out. Basically, when the economy is suffering and the world is a mess, the height of heels go up. You can see that in the 1920's Mary Jane's, the 1970's platform heel, and the chunky sneakers, loafers, and block heels of today. Many people believe that when the economy is down, people will often become forced to be frugal. So, they would make themselves feel as glamorous as they can to feel better. Escapism in "the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by seeking entertainment or engaging in fantasy." It can be reading fantasy, watching fantasy, and basically any form of art. Escapism in fashion is a very common concept.
The Space Race
The 60's were also the time of the famous Space Race, a "competition" between countries to see who can get to space first. Russia ended up winning, sending Yuri Gagarin to space. However, the U.S. put Neil Armstrong on the moon first. All of the buzz (no pun intended) around it also changed fashion. Fashion became "modern" and futuristic. Chainmail, PVC plastic, and other funky materials were used in Space Age fashion. 60 years later and we still don't dress like that. Nevertheless, it is a very interesting concept that's been getting recreated by today's designers.
Space Age fashion
2020
Finally to 2020. When everything went into lockdown, fashion changed once more. Since are locked up in the house for so long, people overdress when going out, even if their just going grocery shopping. We are facing similar problems that were in the 60's and 70's, and we are handling it about the same. There are many teen activists (I actually wrote a whole essay on teen activism, so leave a like if you would want to see that). And when people went to school and work everyday, there wasn't much time to experiment and we'd and up wearing the same thing everyday (for me it was a tee shirt, leggings, and a zip-up hoodie). Through quarantine, I have found the wonder of jeans, skirts, sweaters, and so much more! I have spent more time on Pinterest than I could dare and trust me, it paid off. People have really found their true style.
On the other hand, there was a rise in athleisure and loungewear. Since people were spending so much time in the house, the really couldn't be bothered to put on cute clothes. So brands started making cute and comfy clothes. Things like cute sweat-suits, tie-dye tee shirts, knit sets, and furry house slippers were super popular.
Sustainability and Small Businesses
The last category is sustainability. Due to the state of the world in all subjects, awareness is spreading about sustainability. You can read my post about fast fashion here for more information. People are now trying to shop more sustainably in hope to slow climate change and the death of the earth. Here are some cool pieces of art about climate change.
60's and 70's trends that are coming back
To end on a light note, I'm sharing some trends from our new "it" decade.
Sources
This is a very interesting post, Medha!