Ladies Fashion Through the Decades

Ladies fashion has been through many trends throughout the decades. From the twenties with its flapper dresses to the thirties with its return to conservatism to the sixties with its mini skirts and seventies with its flower power and disco glam styles. Today women’s fashion is as eclectic as ever. They can mirror past trends in their outfits such as skinny jeans and boots or dress up in a classic 60s ensemble. Handbags and purses have also been popular with a variety of styles to suit the occasion. For example, a practical tote bag would be used for shopping or a day out with family while smaller, fancier purses are used for parties and other fancy occasions.

The nineties saw a revival of more feminine styles as the baby boomers grew up. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were a big influence on this era’s style. Their matching outfits in movies such as Double, Double Toil and Trouble influenced a generation of girls. Sheath dresses were a popular style thanks to their narrow/straight design. Ribbons were a simple yet attractive accessory added to dresses and skirts. Outerwear was usually made out of fabric like lace and chiffon for a soft look. The sleeveless blouse became more popular with a v-neck and long bow tie attached around the neck. The sheath dress was complemented with a streamlined coat that hugged the body with low buttons.

With the onset of the Roaring Twenties women’s fashion began to shift from the conservative silhouette of the previous decade into a more flowing feminine style. A new era of freedom was dawning for women as they entered the workforce. Workplace attire grew in popularity as women wore tailored suits, blouses with rolled collars and tunic-style overdresses. Designer Paul Poiret introduced oriental-inspired fashion with kimono-style sleeves and turban headwear. In the thirties, Madeleine Vionnet’s bias cut technique gained prominence in creating figure-skimming garments that hugged a woman’s curves.

In the forties, nylon and silk were replaced with rayon and linen in formal wear while terry cloth, canvas and linen were used as leisure shirts. During this time, war-torn America was suffering from financial depression. Movies were an escape from reality for the American public as film icons like Bette Davis and Joan Crawford dazzled on the silver screen in glamorous gowns and skirt suits. Women who served in the American Women’s Auxiliary Corps wore military-style uniforms.

As the thirties turned into the forties, women’s fashion shifted back to conservatism with a return to traditional shapes and sizes. Hemlines moved up to the knee, while waistlines lowered back down to their natural place. The corset was still worn as a “health” garment, but it was no longer dramatic and emphasized an hourglass figure. The forties also saw a return to practicality as outerwear was made out of fabrics such as wool and velour with buttons and bows added for decoration.

In the mid-nineties, the sexy schoolgirl look was in. This look was mirrored on the silver screen in movies such as Clueless (Fig. 10) and later in Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time” music video. Slip dresses were paired with white t-shirts and knee high socks for a minimalist look that accentuated the leg.