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Paul Poiret establishes fashion house; creates harem pants; first couturier to launch perfume, “Rosina”
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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
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World War I prompts women to work in factories, offices; women wear pants; military cut influences clothes
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Women participate in sports, prompting new styles, including the “flapper”
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Madeleine Vionnet creates flowing, feminine clothes, including the chiffon handkerchief dress; creates cowl neck, halter top; sets trends in 1930s
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Popularity of rayon causes decline in use of cotton
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Knee-length hemlines mark new high
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Elsa Schiaparelli opens Paris boutique; pioneers use of zippers, shoulder pads, unusual buttons; favors bright colors, including “shocking pink”
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Beginning of The Great Depression
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Hemlines drop; then gradually rise
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Alix “Madame” Grès becomes famous for elegant draped dresses
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World War II forces many Paris couture houses to close
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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
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Shoes begin to have pointed toes, stiletto heels
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Cristóbal Balenciaga introduces “semi-fit” dresses with soft, round shoulders; is the classic designer of the 1950s
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Pierre Cardin becomes first designer to license his name for various products; is first to create ready-to-wear lines
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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
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London boutique owner Mary Quant champions the youth movement; introduces mini-skirt, hot pants; launches Twiggy as supermodel
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Yves St. Laurent opens fashion house; often uses ethnic inspirations; remains most classic modern designer
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Rudi Gernreich creates “radical” fashion—topless swimsuit, see-through blouse, “no bra” look
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Calvin Klein begins producing elegant, simple clothes, favoring neural earth tones and luxurious fabrics
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Ralph Lauren creates men's wear line; expands into women's wear; favors natural fabrics; designs feature western or country motifs
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Known as Halston, Roy Halston Frowick dominates 1970s with pantsuits, sweater sets, form-fitting dresses, knit wear
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Giorgio Armani creates men's wear line; popularizes Italian tailoring
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Claude Montana founds couture house; specializes in leather
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Japanese “school” of designers, including Issey Miyake, Kenzo, Rei Kawakubo, Hanae Mori, enjoy major couture success
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The Malden Mills company invents Polarfleece
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Donna Karan launches line of versatile, casual knits; favors black
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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.
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The Council of Fashion Designers of America begins Fashion Week in New York City
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Alexander McQueen emerges as daring new designer; features cozy, romantic designs, dresses looking like quilt blankets, rabbit-skin dresses; favors highly theatrical fashion shows