I hate to break it to you but your “y2k Adidas Sambas” aren’t actually Y2k, they were originally meant to be men's soccer shoes. I guess that’s why the Blockette girls love them. That’s the funny thing about fashion, we take inspiration from other decades of fashion but manage to add our own aesthetic to them, and trust me people have been doing this for centuries. We often note the “large” shifts in fashion, and change in fashion is inevitable. However, sometimes these dramatic shifts aren’t as dramatic as they seem. For example, this past year the denim maxi skirt came back into style, which many people like me never saw happening. But denim maxi skirts aren't new, in fact, they were prevalent only thirty years ago. Slowly, however, they were replaced and deemed unfashionable in the 2000s. When everything mini, including skirts, was the trend. All this to say fashion trends are just a big cycle which can be clearly shown by trends of the past. Not only do these trends reflect what people at the time looked like aesthetically, but also their view on society and life.
I don’t know if I was the only person in Gen-Z who religiously watched Little House on the Prairie growing up, but to say I was obsessed is an understatement, and I wasn’t just intrigued by the overdramatic storyline but the costuming, as well. For those unfamiliar with Little House in the Prairie in short; the long-time-running series was from the 70s and, followed the Ingles family as they lived their lives out west in the late 1800s. Ten-year-old me wasn’t the only one obsessed with this prairie-style dress, the people of the 1970s were consumed by the late 19th-century prairie aesthetic. A brand reminiscent of this 70s prairie fad was Gunne Sax, which took heavy inspiration from the late 19th-century Western look but, put its own bohemian twist on the style. Not only were these dresses a contrast in terms of appearance from the 1960s micro fashions, but they also reflected a shift in perspective that occurred in the 70s. There was a push against radicalism and war and want to regress back to old habits, which was made clear by the romanticization of past decades in the 70s. Interestingly enough, Gunne Sax dresses have surged in popularity in the past few years. This possibly reflects people’s desire to live a simpler life during difficult times, politically and socially, with global events like COVID-19.
To contrast the 70s desire for traditionalism, the swinging 60s was a wild time consumed by youth rebellion. Everything from clothing to culture in the 60s paid homage to the 20s. The boxy silhouette of women’s dresses, paired with raised hemlines was a theme in both decades. The sixties, however, raised hemlines to the next level, with the creation of the mini skirt. Contrary to popular belief the 20s dresses weren’t actually that short, in terms of today's standards. Almost all the dresses remained below the wearer’s knee, however, their ankles were exposed. Which was something that past decades deemed to be scandalous for fashion. The 60s and 20s also loved their short haircuts. One of the most recognizable 1920s would have to be the “bob”. This was a short hairstyle that landed just around the chin; it was popularized by stars such as Clara Bow and Josephine Baker. The 60s also took part in this “bob mania” However, they also had their own short hairstyles. The most well-known being the “New” Pixie which British model and style icon “Twiggy” popularized. Again, both decades shared a similar theme culturally and politically. These decades focused on the youth and their movement away from conservative ideas. They rebelled not just by cutting their hair and wearing short skirts, but also by protesting in the streets.
If there was one thing that the 80s loved more than big hair, it would be stealing fashion. Most of the 1980s fashion bears similarities to that of the 1940s and 50s. Both women’s and men’s workwear were very much influenced by the 40s. The “Zoot Suit,”. Which was a popular style of men’s wear among Latinos and black men in the 40s, was essentially ripped off by the 80s and mass-produced. Women’s suits of the 40s often sported by Katherine Hepburn, were also mass-produced for the working women of the 80s. In both decades there was a focus on women’s workwear, as an exuberant amount of women joined the workforce. The 80s even coined women’s suits “Power Suits” as a way to show how women’s roles had elevated in society. In addition, there was a takeover of the “prep” style which was embodied by brands like Ralph Lauren; influenced by Ivy League kids of the 1940s and 50s. Blazers, knit sweaters, and long plaid skirts were a staple of this style. Not only was this trend popular in the Western fashion world but, this style had a large influence on Japan as well, and can still be spotted in Japanese style today.
Fashion isn’t linear. We pick and choose trends from past decades and add our own personal touch. We may think our current trends are drastically different in comparison to the past decade, however, we have only slightly altered them. Once you realize this, finding the origins of current fashion trends becomes almost a game. Fashion is never forgotten, it's just recycled.
