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The S-bend corset was fashionable during the 1900s. It thrust the hips backwards and forced the chest forward into a fashionable pouter-pigeon shape, emphasised with puffed, frilly blouses that were often embellished with decorations like lace collars and broad ribbon ties. Separates were popular, with skirts fitted over the hip and fluted towards the hem.
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Frilly, puffed blouses and fluted skirts continued to be popular. A slightly high waistline was fashionable, as was a long tunic-like top worn over an ankle length A-line or 'hobble' skirt (cinched in at the hem). During World War I (1914–18), women adopted practical, working clothes and they sometimes wore uniform, overalls and trousers.
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Men wore narrow-cut lounge suits, with pointed collars turned down, and plain or simply patterned modern knot ties. Cloth caps were popular amongst the working class, though trilbies or homburgs were worn by the middle classes.
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Parisian couturiers introduced the bias-cut into their designs, which caused the fabric to skim over the body's curves. Long, simple and clinging evening gowns, made of satin were popular. Often the dresses had low scooping backs.
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Clothes were made with a minimum of fabric, few pleats and no trimmings. Skirts were a little below the knee and straight, worn with boxy jackets and broad, padded shoulders. Many men and women wore uniforms.
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The 1950s continued the late 1940s style with very full skirts, cinched waists and sloping shoulders. Another popular silhouette was the narrow pencil-skirt look. Daywear consisted of skirts and jackets or day dresses in tweeds and woollens.
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Women wore pale foundation and emphasised their eyes with kohl, mascara and false eyelashes. Hair was long and straight or worn in a shaped bob or wedge. Towards the end of the decade the hippy movement from the west coast of America emerged, experimenting with colours, patterns and textures borrowed from non-Western cultures. Older or more conservative women still tended to dress in skirts below the knee with tailored jackets, coats or cardigans.
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Women emerged in the work place tenfold. Pantsuits, day wear, and separates with a sense of masculine style as echoed in the film ‘Annie Hall’ created a sensation with Diane Keaton wearing a fitted vest with a collared white shirt and men’s neckties. Skirts could be seen in a variety of lengths, mini midi or maxi.
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The clothes worn in the 80s depicted people who were trying to find themselves. They looked for ways to express their creativity and individuality. Men wore heavy make up and grew long hair. Women wore short hair and layers of clothing. Both sexes were looking for an identity. 1980s clothing styles are back on the shelves now, and we take a look at what makes these eighties fashions for women endure the test of time.
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The new wave of 1990s-inspired plaids, slip dresses and faded florals marks the return of grunge this spring. Part punk, part working class, grunge has been a recurring trend in fashion since the early 1990s.
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We're heading into the home stretch of our almighty Best of the 2000s series, and word to Vanessa Williams, we're saving some of the best for last. Don't take this to mean we're not thoroughly knowledgeable about the other subjects we've already covered, but if Complex are authorities on anything, it's men's style. We observe trends, we set trends, we hump trends, we dump trends, we aretrends.
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In 2010 faded coloring of clothes was very popular in the spring.High-waist and slim-bust jackets are being incorporated with jewel-like embroidery worn tops and mid-knee length, slim pencil skirts or Capri pants.
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In 2011 the fashion consisted of bright color outfits and dying the tips of your hair rainbow-colored tips. As well as bright colored denims and women in tuxedos became trends that sparked interest in L.A.
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In 2012, menswear grabbed women’s fashion by the lapel and took things into their own hands as men started suiting up, and owning up to their space in the fashion world. This year, women kept things sassy while borrowing some pointers from the boys to pair up with the many trends they had at their disposal.
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Fur may have been the biggest story of the season, but designers also dabbled in head-to-toe chromatic dressing, lowered hemlines to midi-length, and cut slits on skirts right up to the hip bone.
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2014 trends include tribal prints, sports influence, metallics, art prints, feminine and oversized florals, shiny and metallic fabrics, bold brushstrokes, pleats, transparency, checks, lace, grunge, double denim and 1990's style vibrations.
