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Arts and Crafts Movement Begins: Design Reform
In the1850s at the onset of the Design Reform movement women's fashion focused on dresses with large, voluminous skirts. Men wore suits with dark coats and light trousers. Women's skirts became increasingly large throughout the decade, a trend supported by the introduction of the crinoline, a structured undergarment created with hoops. -
Design Reform Era
1850s Men's shirt and Vest -
Design Reform Era
1850s Hoop skirt -
The Civil War
Taking place when the arts and crafts movement was just underway, the war greatly affected the face of design. In fashion, the access to cotton provided by America was greatly affected by the war. Also, the architectural design that was embraced by American designers was forever changed after the fall of the south. -
Design Reform Era
Example of Wiliam Morris wallpaper design -
The Glided Age
In history, the Gilded Age was an era extending roughly from 1877 to 1896, which was sandwiched between the Reconstruction era and the Progressive Era. It was a time of rapid economic growth in America. -
Art Nouveau Movement
During the time of the Art Nouveau movement, tight, boned corsets completed the ensemble featuring a strong silhouette with a thin bodice and large, decorative skirts. Necklines were high and sleeves were form-fitting and tight. To top it all off, women's fashion in the 1880s was highly decorative. -
Art Nouveau
Example of 1880s men's fashion -
Art Nouveau
Examples of Art Nouveau Design -
Art Nouveau
Black women in typical fashion for the1880s -
Deutscher Werkbund
While the design influence was making way in Europe, fashion of the 1910's was characterized by fluid, soft silhouettes, big hats, and short hair. Dress length came up from the floor to above the ankle. Often times, women wore a tunic over long skirt. Skirts were widest at the hips and became narrow at the ankle. -
Deutscher Werkbund
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Deutscher Werkbund
Example of a typical turn of century women's dress -
Deutscher Werkbund
Turn of century fashionable couple -
World War I
The first world war changed the face of everything. During the war the way most things were produced, including clothes and furniture were produced, was greatly changed. Fashion took on a more structured military look with jobs often requiring uniform or trousers. Dresses were simplified and skirts shortened to make them more practical to wear. Around this time in France, designer Coco Chanel was influenced by this trend towards looser fitted clothes. -
Constructivism
Girdles replaced corsets giving freedom of movement for factory workers. Garters held up stockings. Hats became simpler, veils and plumage no longer popular. Darker colors and simpler cuts became the norm, and a new monochromatic look emerged. -
Constructivism
Example of Constructivism interior decor design -
Constructivism
Examples of typical women's fashion of early 20th century -
Constructivism
Well-dressed men from early part of the 20th century -
Bauhaus
When the design movement turned towards the German influence of Bauhaus, the lounge suit enjoyed popularity on a day-to-day basis. The frock coat and morning coat continued to have prominence for formal day events. Evening wear was dominated by dark tailcoats, worn with waistcoat and trousers. However, the less formal tuxedo was also an acceptable form of evening wear. -
Bauhaus
Bauhaus Image -
Bauhaus
Example of popular women's fashion in early part of 20th century -
Art Deco
The European and American Art deco aesthetic took over the reins of art and crafts movement in the 20s. In the 1920's, fashion trends were focused on shorter, low-waisted dresses and revealing styles worn by the Flappers, the 'bobbed' hairstyles, cloche hats, the casual, haphazard fashion of a mixture of brightly colored clothes, scarves and stockings with bold, striking Art Deco geometric designs of the era. -
Art Deco
Example of 1920s fashionable couple -
Art Deco
Typical flapper style dress of 1920s -
Art Deco
Example of Art Deco interior design -
Frank Lloyd Wright and Modernism
Art and fashion have long gone hand in hand, but it was during the modernist period that fashion first gained equal value to – and took on the same aesthetic ideals as – painting, film, photography, dance, and literature. Combining high and low art forms, modernism turned fashion designers into artists and vice versa. -
Frank Lloyd Wright and Modernism
Example of a trendy 1920s women's fashion -
Frank Lloyd Wright and Modernism
Frank Lloyd Wright art work -
Frank Lloyd Wright and Modernism
Working Class men of the 1920s -
Great Depression
The Great Depression caused woman to want to save money and not spend much on clothing. All over people were struggling to keep money in their pockets, so no one would spend big bucks on designer outfits. Women tended to make their own new clothes from other clothes they already had. Knee-length, pleated skirts and dropped waists were still popular as everyday clothes in 1929, though Paris designers were already showing longer skirts and higher waistlines. -
Post War- Organic Modern
Women often accessorized with inexpensive costume jewelry, gloves, silk scarves, and furs. Smaller hats were popular, such as berets, Greta Garbo-style slouch hats, or knit caps. Turbans topped fancier looks. Two-tone oxford shoes and strappy dress shoes with high, chunky heels were the shoes of choice. -
Post War- Organic Modern
Simple black dress that was popular in 1930s -
Post War- Organic Modern
Examples of working men's attire from1930s -
Post War- Organic Modern
Post War architecture design -
Industrial Design and Streamlining
Popular fabrics of the time include rayon, silk crepe, satin, wool, and cotton all in various colors and patterns. More luxurious fabrics like silk and velvet were worn mainly for formal occasions. Day dresses in the 1930s were much more streamlined than those of previous decades, even centuries. -
Industrial Design and Streamlining
Examples of 1930s women's popular styles -
Industrial Design and Streamlining
Typical 1930s middle class couple -
Industrial Design and Streamlining
Example of industrial interior design -
World War II
Wool and silk were in high demand for uniforms and parachutes; most civilians wore clothes made from rayon or viscose instead. To conserve fabric, dressmakers and manufacturers began designing shorter skirts and slimmer silhouettes. The cut and color of clothes worn on the home front often mirrored what was worn by soldiers. Blouses and jackets became militarized and masculine with shoulder pads, and hats were fashioned berets berets. -
The Vietnam War
Such an inspiring period of fashion, the 1950s brought exciting trends like tailored dresses with full skirts, large overcoats with fur trim, polka dot prints, poodle skirts, saddle shoes, padded suit coats, double-breasted suits, and much more. We still see many nods to 50's fashion today. The Vietnam war and the public reaction to it would eventually influence the 'hippie' movement with clothing. Women wore more casual clothing graphic tees and miniskirts. -
Pop Art
Like the Pop Art movement that aimed to blur the boundaries between "high" art and "low" culture, 1950's fashion was a blend of opposing terms. It was casual yet formal and elegant. Shoulder lines became more softened, corset waists became smaller, and rounded hips with long skirts became popular. Fashion saw a clear gender divide. Men's fashion moved towards a more casual day-to-day style, women fashion prioritized elegance, formality, and perfectly matched accessories. -
Pop Art
Timeline of women's dress through the decade -
Pop Art
Examples of mens fashion in 1950s -
Pop Art
Example of Pop Art Design -
Post Modernism
The Post Modernist movement took over the design world during the 1960s. At the same time, fashion in the 1960s became progressively more casual across all genders and ages. Womenswear followed three broad trends: a continuation of the previous decade's ladylike elegance, the youthful styles of Mary Quant and the Space Age influence, and the late 1960s “hippie” style. -
Post Modernism
Examples of a women's suit in the 1960s -
Post Modernism
Example of men's fashion style in 1960s -
Post Modernism
Example of Post-modern interior design -
Post/ Mid Century Modernism
Postmodernism is an eclectic, colorful style of architecture and the decorative arts that appeared during 1970s. In the world of fashion, the seventies were known as the “Polyester Decade.” The decade saw a wide range of popular styles: from the early prairie dresses influenced by hippie fashion, to the flashy party wear worn to disco nightclubs, to the rise of athletic wear as the decade looked towards the 1980s. -
Post/ Mid Century Modernism
Example of mid-century interior decor design -
Post/ Mid Century Modernism
Example of couple fashion during 1970s -
Post/ Mid Century Modernism
Example of bell bottom and crop trop popular trend -
Memphis
Memphis was well-known for their use of bright colors, geometric shapes and bold patterns. in the world of fashion, this decade typified by its “power dressing,” the 1980s actually opened with stylish sportswear. This was encouraged by a fitness craze of the time; women increasingly wore stylish gym wear in their day-to-day life. Looser pants remained popular, being fairly wide but straight, and tighter shirts were especially popular, sometimes in a cropped athletic style. -
Memphis
Example of Memphis interior design -
Memphis
Popular 80s women's fashion -
Memphis
Popular Hip Hop style of the 80s
