The History of Fashion (Part 2) - @iambenavat

In the 1990s, skirts and dresses were not as prominent and more casual
looks became acceptable with hip-hop and alternative music setting the
scene for fashion early in the decade. Skirts and dresses were usually
short and even provocative, especially in the latter part of the
decade, however loose and flowing dresses as well as long denim skirts
were also notable trends.
Blouses, Shirts and Tops In the 1920s, the jumper blouse was
introduced and became incredibly popular. Usually the jumper blouse
was made of cotton or silk and had a sailor collar. Perfect for
pairing with a skirt, it usually reached just below the hips and would
be accompanied by a belt or sash. Another popular type of twenties
blouse was a low-cut v-neck shirt with a chemisette attached to
promote modesty. Knitted long-sleeve shirts with rounded collars and
tank blouses were also popular in the decade. For men, polo shirts,
dress shirts and sweaters were the tops of choice. Going into the
thirties, feminine blouses that featured v-necks and long bow ties
attached around the neck, sleeveless blouses and knit shirts of satin
and linen were popular. During the war-torn forties nylon and silk
were replaced with rayon and viscose for formal tops, while terry
cloth, linen and even canvas were used for leisure shirts. Women who
worked during World War II wore military style shirts that had
button-up collars, and women who were a part of the American Woman's
Auxiliary Corps would wear a full war military outfit.
After World War II ended, up until the mid-1950s trends in women's
fashion changed again. Round-neck styles on sleeveless shirts or long
sleeve shirts were popular, as well as polo-necks. Dolman sleeves
dominated fashionable tops in the fifties and sixties, too. The 1960s
brought ethnic print blouses, ribbed turtleneck sweaters and boat-neck
tops into mainstream clothing. And, shirts for men and women often
featured "wild" patterns. From the late sixties to the mid-seventies,
brightly colored shirts and blouses with psychedelic patterns were
trendy and hippie fashion made Indian cheesecloth shirts, peasant
tops, tunics and Nehru jackets popular for both men and women of the
era. Space-like and futuristic fashions also became popular and many
tops were made out of suede, leather, vinyl and plastic.
In the 1980s, as styles became slightly more casual and T-Shirts and
polo shirts became acceptable tops, and for formal or business-wear,
boxy tops with shoulder pads, blazers, dress shirts and sweaters were
popular for men and women in the decade. Over-sized tops were popular
in the 80s and 90s as well. The 1990's saw a lot more
commercialization of fashion with designer labels appearing on the
outside of clothing as a way to promote status and trendiness. That
trend continues today as it is not uncommon to see people wearing
stylish casual shirts that host a bold Guess or Ralph Lauren logo on
the front. The nineties also saw an increase in the popularity of crop
tops and halter tops as women's styles became more provocative. In the
late 80s, 90s, and in today's fashion, T-shirts have become more of a
way to express individuality and a person's tastes and preference with
sassy catch phrases, funny pictures, or pop culture references
appearing more and more in the mainstream.
Shoes In the 1920s, women's shoes would often feature high and wide
heels whether on a pump or loafer style shoe.
Many women would even wear heeled shoes with their swimming costumes
as a mark of femininity. Oxfords of varying styles and colors were
popular too with men and women, as well as lace up boots.
During the 1930s strapped heels and pumps surged in popularity, while
more traditional styles of heels were still worn. For men and women,
laced leather leisure shoes were popular for outdoor activities and
exercise during the decade. In the forties, as a result of the war,
shoes became more conservative and practical. Women's shoes were
usually made with flatter heels and had either cork or wooden soles.
Flat shoes, sandals, heels and pumps with rounded toes and feminine
lines were worn by women in the 1950s. Saddle shoes, white lace up
shoes with brown or black leather accents, were also popular for both
men and women. Canvas basketball shoes (high-tops) or black leather
oxfords were worn by men. Suede shoes also enjoyed moments of
popularity during this decade. In the 1960s, black slip-on boots (most
likely of leather or faux leather material) were popular for men and
women, and heels became thinner on pumps. Vinyl boots, moccasin-style
loafers with wide heels, wedge heels, and slip-on heels with leather
cut-out patterns were all popular in the 1970s.
Sandals and western style cowboy boots were also popular with both men
and women.