The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly: Fashion Changes Throughout the Years


It's a new year, and that means a new you. The season is changing and it's getting warmer, so it's time to retire those Uggs and break out your Rainbow sandals. Throughout the year, people change fashions almost as much as they change underwear (literally). So if we go through four fashion phases each year, imagine how much fashion has evolved in the past fifty years or so. I highly doubt that your grandmother wore mini skirts and tank tops or your grandfather sagged his pants while sporting some new Nikes. Every decade has had it's 15 minutes of fame (or 10 years of fame, I should say...) when it comes to fashion. Let's take a look at how our styles today have been modified over the past few years.

The 1950's-1960's: These two decades were very important when it came to how people dressed. These were the years that the younger generation decided it was time to break the conformaty and begin a rebellion in fashion. Before these decades hit, people were generally very modest about their choice in clothing. Women wore long dresses that covered pretty much everything, and men wore business suits and vests. It was a very sophisticated look, but the baby-boomers decided they wanted something new. Strapless dresses and form-fitting pants became a hit for women. Neon poodle skirts and leotards were also popular items. Grandma was a hot thing back in her day.
Model wearing a spotted evening gown, photographed by John Rawlings

The men of the 50's and 60's didn't mind budging from their old ways. Men still dressed in business suits and sweater vests just like their fathers before them. Flannel and tweed were the most popular kinds of suits. Young men began wearing leather jackets, which was definitely a new thing for them. New patterns and button-up shirts became popular as well. These fashions definitely stood out and marked the rebellion and coming-of-age of many teenagers back in the day.


The 1970's-1980's: The 1970's marked the "hippie" stage for young Americans. Women wore long bohemian skirts, headbands, and platforms. Men and women often shared styles, for instance, bell-bottom jeans and tie-dye patterns were popular among both sexes. Men often wore three-piece suits with matching vests. Large eyeglasses and leather pants were also popular.

For women in the 80's, there were many fashion icons: Madonna, Paula Abdul, Grace Jones, Demi Moore...the styles definitely took on an edgier look than the 70's. Some popular items were finger-less gloves, leg warmers, and over-sized tops. Lately, in the 2000's, these styles have made a big comeback. Men in the 1980's were fond of pushed-up sleeves and open jackets, "Member's Only" jackets, Hawaiian T-shirts, and Miami Vice styled suits.

The 1990's- Early 2000's: Ah, here we are at last: the day and age we all are familiar with. Back in the 90's, everybody thought they were pretty hip. 90's fashion was slowly evolving from the 80's: the styles were a bit similar, but there were some changes. Women wore high-waisted jeans with neon tank tops that revealed their midriffs, combat boots, and overalls. The grunge look was quite popular as well. Men and women in the 1990's wore dark colors, stone-washed jeans, and flannel button-up shirts. Hip Hop in the 90's influenced fashion as well. Snapback hats became a big thing along with wide-leg jeans and bomber jackets.

As we all know, we have come a long way in this fashion abyss. Here in the 2000's, there is an eclectic selection of styles which allows us all to be our own person. These are the years that we have broken from comformity and have discovered new styles to express ourselves. Whether you are hippie chic, swaggerific, indie, or hipster, you are revolutionary. Whether you are black, white, Asian, Mexican, or whoever you may be...you have your own style that is unique.

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