Paul Poiret establishes fashion house; creates harem pants; first couturier to launch perfume, “Rosina”
Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel opens boutique in Deauville, France; revolutionizes women's fashion with tailored suits, chain-belted jerseys, quilted handbags; the most copied fashion designer in history
World War I prompts women to work in factories, offices; women wear pants; military cut influences clothes
Women participate in sports, prompting new styles, including the “flapper”
Madeleine Vionnet creates flowing, feminine clothes, including the chiffon handkerchief dress; creates cowl neck, halter top; sets trends in 1930s
Popularity of rayon causes decline in use of cotton
Knee-length hemlines mark new high
Elsa Schiaparelli opens Paris boutique; pioneers use of zippers, shoulder pads, unusual buttons; favors bright colors, including “shocking pink”
Beginning of The Great Depression
Hemlines drop; then gradually rise
Alix “Madame” Grès becomes famous for elegant draped dresses
World War II forces many Paris couture houses to close
Christian Dior reestablishes Paris as fashion center; revives haute couture; replaces wartime austerity with the glamour of the “New Look” with tight waist, stiff petticoats, billowing skirts
Shoes begin to have pointed toes, stiletto heels
Cristóbal Balenciaga introduces “semi-fit” dresses with soft, round shoulders; is the classic designer of the 1950s
Pierre Cardin becomes first designer to license his name for various products; is first to create ready-to-wear lines
Influenced by rock music, “Mod” scene makes London major fashion center with fun, revolutionary clothes: bell bottoms, psychedelic prints, wild colors, dresses made of vinyl, paper, cellophane, metal, covered in mirrors; go-go boots; ruffled shirts for me
London boutique owner Mary Quant champions the youth movement; introduces mini-skirt, hot pants; launches Twiggy as supermodel
Yves St. Laurent opens fashion house; often uses ethnic inspirations; remains most classic modern designer
Calvin Klein begins producing elegant, simple clothes, favoring neural earth tones and luxurious fabrics
Ralph Lauren creates men's wear line; expands into women's wear; favors natural fabrics; designs feature western or country motifs
Known as Halston, Roy Halston Frowick dominates 1970s with pantsuits, sweater sets, form-fitting dresses, knit wear
Giorgio Armani creates men's wear line; popularizes Italian tailoring
Claude Montana founds couture house; specializes in leather
Japanese “school” of designers, including Issey Miyake, Kenzo, Rei Kawakubo, Hanae Mori, enjoy major couture success
The Malden Mills company invents Polarfleece
Donna Karan launches line of versatile, casual knits; favors black
Through music videos, Cyndi Lauper shows the world her wacky, colorful look-part vintage, part punk-and helps make thrift shopping the new frontier of chic.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America begins Fashion Week in New York City
Alexander McQueen emerges as daring new designer; features cozy, romantic designs, dresses looking like quilt blankets, rabbit-skin dresses; favors highly theatrical fashion shows