WORLD FASHION
In the nineteenth century Paris dominated that period of fashion. Those styles became very much appreciated after introducing them to the world. The fall of the dominance of France in the fashion world was interrupted when Germany conquerors took control of France during World War II. The United States and England, and some of the designers of French started out to make their own styles.
LEISURE SUIT
During the 60s and 70s leisure suits were very popular among men's. A casual suit for men's was consist of a jacket and matching trousers made of polyester fabric, bright colors and plaids, open front with large lapel collars, large patch pockets and stitching in a color that contrasted with the fabric.
Men's fashion changed less frequent than women's fashions so to keep pace with the women's changing style, French designers Pierre Cardin and Yves Saint Laurent both introduced modern looks for men's.
On disco nights men's wore polyester three piece suits extremely bold colors, with wide lapels. Their shirts was different prints and patterns, and they also wore platform shoes with their suits. The Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta was released in 1977 enhanced the spread of disco around the world.
BOLD LOOK
In 1949 a magazine company "BOLD LOOK" created by editors of Esquire magazine, also the most popular magazine for men's at that time encouraged men's to dress bold, to make bold choice in their style of clothing, accessories, and their shoes. The bold look was a very influential factors in the world of men's fashions in that era.
MIX-AND-MATCH
In 1950 women's appetite to accessorize began to cease. To make up for declining sales companies advertised a new style: MIX-AND-MATCH. Fabric and accessories was limited by World War II (1939-45). After the war women's started embracing accessories and it was available at all price range. They accented their flowing skirts with an array of hats, belts, handbags, shoes, and gloves. In the United States and Europe matching ensemble became a craze among women's. It was such a craze they began obsessively matching their outfit accentively even nail polish in matching colors. In this period they wore completely coordinated ensembles.
DRESSES
In the 20s clothes wasn't so revealing, much of the body was covered, but attracted the way the design contoured to fit the body. Boots and stockings was very ornate, and was intended to attract attention. However they wore low lined garments revealing only the upper part of the body (the neckline).
Dresses from the twenties were knee high. for a period of time. Long dress began to come back in style in the 30s. Flowing dresses was a hot fashion. During this period they began to reveal the back. In the 50s the shoulders and the 60s the legs again. The 20s-60s era of short skirts. In the late 60s they had no shame of fashions. They began to wear shorter dresses, hot pants, and miniskirts. Some wore hot pants with sock knee high.
The 70s era sparked the long flowing dresses worn with shoulder neckline and halter tops, which was among the popular fad. a short miniskirt and even the midi was considered hipped. Evening wear was defined in a different way.
The flowing maxi dresses in full length and halter-neck tops not only made a women felt gorgeous it show cased her femininity. The flare straight dress with gathers in he neckline were called empire dresses and sometimes they were embellished.
CATSUIT
In 1964 was the rising of catsuits. A French designer, Andre' Courreges made know his space age collection. It was a program he tried to introduce to the public consist of goggles, silver moon boots, and astronaut helmet. From there it skyrocket to become one of the hottest fad of the 60s. To name one of the retro psychedelic catsuit, silhouette! Catsuit was name because of the sleek look at that time made out of synthetic material. For years catsuits could be seen in comic books of the hero's Batman and superman. Designers from all parts of the world start copying the slinky look after Diana Riggs from the series "Avenger"wore a wetsuit-like on the show
MINISKIRTS
By 1965 Andre' Courreques, a French designer conducted a fashion show. He felt that 1965 style wasn't keep up with modern styles of the 50s and 60s. His designer skirts was narrow at the waist and wider hem and four inches at the knee, His styles were greatly excepted at the fashion show. Mean while a fashion designer in London name Quant opened a Boutique called Bazzar. Her style not only designed for models, but for the average person also. So Quant revealed her clothes line or version of the miniskirt . Her design for miniskirts tightly fitted with even a shorter hem line up to the middle of the thigh.
HOT PANTS
Hot pants was viewed by some fashion expert as a replica of the rising miniskirts. Miniskirts were so short it revealed the under garment. That's when the idea of short short was introduced. The name hot pants came from a magazine "Women's Wear Daily". Hot pants wasn't like the usual everyday shorts, they were made from satin, velvet, or leather and had been seen far back as the 20's and 30's mainly by call girls or nightclub performers. Wanda Woman style of shorts and high boots indicated the 70's look of hot pants coupled with boots or platform shoes.
BELL-BOTTOM
Bell-Bottom had its place in the fashion world they were extremely popular in the 70s. Flared out at the knees down to the ankles, and they were call bell-bottoms because they were wide like a bell and some nicknamed them elephant bell.
Bell-Bottoms served a great purpose especially for those who worked on boats. They could easily roll them up from dirty jobs on deck. And if someone felled overboard, they could pull the pants over their boots or shoes and the wide legs become inflated with air, this was a great life support.
Manufactures would not sell bell-bottoms at first because they viewed them as dangerous radical. Some people would go to Surplus, there were some who would make their own by cutting the outside leg seam and sewing in a triangle of fabric to widen the legs, but out a large variety of material companies began to market trendy bell-bottoms in the 70s. The 70s bell-bottoms were made from denim bright cotton and satin polyester. This style was worn by Sonny and Cheri, Singer James Brown, and Pat Boone.
In my opinion today's fashion is ahead of itself and also ahead of time, and is changing from one day to the next. Their is no limits to the many styles, fashions, fads, crazes, and trends that can be mix-and-matched according to each individual preference. In my opinion today's fashion is a replica of yesterday's style. But the legacy of the fashion world that has been left behind by famous designer and those that carry their legacy can appreciate and look ahead in the world of fashions.
HIP HUGGERS
Hip huggers was popular among both men and women and has come back in style several times since the 60s. The early 60s and early 70s hip huggers was popular among young people and hippies. The waist length varied from a few inches from the waist to several inches below the navel, and was worn with a belt. sometimes they flared out like bell-bottoms. Hip huggers was woren by people from all walks of life. Sonny and Cheri and the rock star such as the Rolling Stones, popularized them by wearing them on stage in the 70s.
Disclaimer
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