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Period: 85,000 BCE to 3000 BCE
Stone Age
Due to the intense climates, most wore clothing to fit their environments. Those in colder climates wore furs and thicker garments. While those in warmer climates wore loincloths or nothing at all. Several important discoveries tell us that early humans painted their bodies with mud, charcoal, and ocher. Once dried, these coatings would protect from winds, scratches, thorns, and sun. -
15,000 BCE
Invention of the Sewing Needle
During the Stone Age, humans used various elements to make tools, such as stone and bone. Sewing needles are used to make clothing. Nowadays they are created out of metal. The picture depicts some of the earliest forms of sewing needles, showing just how smart humans were at that time. -
Period: 11,700 BCE to 651 BCE
Ancient Mesopotamia
Fashion and dress in Mesopotamia – clothing, footwear, and accessories – was not only functional but defined one's social status and developed from a simple loincloth (...) to brightly colored robes and dresses (...). Styles changed, but essential form and function remained the same. They took the loincloths of the Stone Age and transformed them into beautiful jewelry and perfumes. -
3100 BCE
Ancient Egypt and its Practicality
Unlike the Ancient Mesopotamians, the Ancient Egyptians dressed for practicality. The working class often wore a plain colored kilt or tunic. Before the development of linen, people wore clothes made of animal hide or woven papyrus reeds. -
Period: 3100 BCE to 1213 BCE
Ancient Makeup
Used as a form of expression and a way to protect ones self, Egyptians used kohl to protect their eyes from the sun and regularly wore lipstick and eyeshadow.
The makeup, along with footwear were worn to protect the body from the vicious environment around it. -
Period: 3100 BCE to 1213 BCE
Ancient Egypt (footwear)
sandals suddenly began to appear on the hieroglyphs depicting scenes of Egyptian life. Egyptians had developed advanced shoemaking skills for their time, and they created sandals woven of reeds or leather that were quite similar in design to many modern sandals.
Not only did they wear practical clothes, but Ancient Egyptians footwear was practical as well. -
794 BCE
Samurai Armor
Samurai and samurai culture may have been excessively romanticised since the 18th century as the epitome of chivalry and honour but there are many examples of them displaying great courage and loyalty to their masters, in particular, even committing ritual suicide in the event of the defeat or death of their lord. The Samauri Amor, like the makeup worn by the Ancient Egyptians was worn to protect the body from harm. -
753 BCE
Jewelry as a Sign of Status
The gold ring, which under the republic had been a sign of distinction worn by ambassadors, noblemen, and senators, gradually began to appear on the fingers of persons of lower social rank until it became common even among soldiers. Jewelry is often worn as a sign of status or decoration. Like the toga, Senators often wore rings and other garments to show their wealth and social rank. -
476 BCE
Toga
[The toga was an item of clothing worn by men who were citizens of Rome. The toga consisted of a single length of wool cloth cut in a semicircle and wrapped around the body of the wearer without any fastenings. The Roman toga was a clearly identifiable status symbol.]
https://www.worldhistory.org/article/48/the-roman-toga
Like the Samauri Armor, the toga is recognized for its status in Ancient Rome. The wearer was usually part of the Roman Senate, having great status in the state. -
Period: 1300 to 1500
The Renaissance
In the Renaissance times minstrels put on Greek plays where they often wore togas.
Clothes in the Elizabethan era (1558-1603 CE) became much more colourful, elaborate, and flamboyant than in previous periods. -
1492
Native American's at the time of Christopher Columbus' Arrival
The clothing of Native Americans was closely related to the environment in which they lived and their religious beliefs.
Native Americans are very connected to their beliefs. Like the renaissance which was a time of massive religious movements and discoveries. -
1500
Corset
Used to "beautify" women, made out of cotton and whale bone.
Like the Native American clothing, corsets often have beading and other intricate designs. -
Invention of the Sewing Machine
Corsets were invented to help women. they were created to waist train and expose the breasts.
Sewing machines were also invented to help us.
The invention and proliferation of the sewing machine freed women of this chore, liberated workers from poorly paid long hours in factories, and produced a wide variety of less expensive clothing -
Creation of the Bustle
Like the corset, the bustle was created to add fullness or shape to the skirt. -
Invention of the Mannequin
Mannequins were created to model clothing in department stores
https://www.encyclopedia.com/fashion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/mannequins Both mannequins and bustles were created for women's clothing. -
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Creation of Department Stores (Macy's)
[Macy’s, formerly R.H. Macy and Company, Inc., major American department store chain. Its principal outlet, the 11-story department store that occupies a city block at New York City’s Herald Square (34th Street and Broadway), was for many years physically the largest single store in the country. Since 1924 Macy’s has held an annual Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City; first televised nationally in 1947, it is one of the country’s most popular parades.]
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Macys -
textiles
There were severe cloth shortages during the war. Due to a diversion of manpower and resources, cotton production slowed in the South, and the naval blockade of southern ports made it almost impossible to export or trade what was produced.
Macy's used to sell textiles so people can make their own clothing. -
Roaring '20s
Women went from being reserved to being free to do whatever they wanted, with some backlash. "Flappers were seen as brash for wearing excessive makeup, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes in public, driving automobiles, treating sex in a casual manner, and otherwise flouting social and sexual norms." Women when from wearing textiles to wearing silk and chiffon with sequins and beading. -
WWII and its Effects on Women
WWII changed women's roles in society. They were no longer expected to run households but were expected to work and support the cause. Women wore pants in factories. They were no longer able to go out and party like they were in the '20s -
First bathing suits
Wartime production during World War II required vast amounts of cotton, silk, nylon, wool, leather, and rubber. This shows how affected people at that time were by the war. -
Women's roles after the war
expected to be at home
lost their factory jobs
nurse, teacher, secretary, MOTHER -
Burning of the Bras
Women burned bras in the 1960s as an act of protest against societal norms. They were sick of being expected to remain at home like before the war. -
Transition to Online Shopping
Nowadays we do most of our shopping online. Malls and department stores are getting shut down due to lack of shoppers. popular sites like Shein and Amazon are experiencing an increase in sales. -
Modern times
In 2023 there are little to no restraints when it comes to fashion. People can wear whatever they want to wear with no backlash. So many styles are currently circulating the industry. Apps like tiktok and instagram are helping in the spread of trends.
