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1860's Fashion
Women were taught to sit quietly and observe as men did all the work, and their clothes were designed to reflect such viewpoints. Dresses were long-sleeved, lace-cuffed and collared with a fuller back. Hair was worn up and tight with a few ringlets hanging by the ears. -
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Restricted Access
Fashion during this time shows the restrictions women were given in their everyday lives. -
1870's Fashion
Women became a little more bold, but not by much. Sleeves were elbow-length with emphasis on the back of the skirts in reference to the previous decade. Hair was drawn up tight, but a few more curls fell down to the shoulders and were decorated with ribbons and feathers. -
1880's Fashion
To emphasize the role of woman being nothing but a wife and property of a man, the bodices of the dresses worn were tight with long sleeves much like during the 1860's. The hair was still proper with a tight up-do close to the head with wide waves. -
1890's Fashion
Women still wanted to remain classy but also wanted to show their strength and resilience. Their sleeves were still long and narrow until about their elbows when they puffed out big up to their shoulders. High necklines were still a thing to show modesty, but athletic dresses involved ties and sometimes collars. -
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From Silence to Whispers
Women's voices intensify as the fight for women's suffrage and the right to vote comes to the limelight. With the boldness of their actions, it reflects in what they wore. -
1900's Fashion
Three-piece ensembles became popular consisting of a skirt, blouse, and long-sleeved jackets. S-shape corsets were worn underneath dresses in order to emphasize a pigeon-shaped bust. Hats were bigger than in the previous decades and were often decorated with flowers, lace, and feathers. -
1920's Fashion
As more women were being put in the workforce and were given the right to vote in 1920, their styles reflected their celebratory attitudes towards their achievements which some may have deemed "rebellious" and "improper" due to the loose fitting dresses of the "Flappers" which came above the knee. The waistlines were high and the tops were tunic-style. Long pearls, shiny jewelry, and bobbed hair styles were a wonder to behold. -
1930's Fashion
As the age of the Flapper came to an end and America reverted back to a more refined atmosphere, the dresses became long again, but kept the simplicity of the 1920's style and still slung to the hips. The fabric of choice was satin, and the backs were scooped low below the shoulder blades. Fox fur became a trend for stoles and coat collars. The bob hairstyle grew a little longer, but remained short and close to the hairline with gentle waves. -
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Queens Don't Whisper, They Shout.
The duration of time between 1930 and 1950 saw women stepping up in many ways including working, helping with the war, and standing up for other women. This time saw Rosie the Riveter become a WW2 icon, and Eleanor Roosevelt support Marion Anderson against the D.A.R. -
1940's Fashion
As America was working to bring itself back from the Great Depression and entered WW2, fewer fabric had to be used. This led to less pleats and no trimmings at all. Skirts were a straight style paired with a boxy jacket with wide shoulders. As more women became involved in the war, female uniforms became popular resembling that of a male's, but were given skirts and a tighter fit. Models such as Veronica Lakes and Bettie Page reflected the long, wavy hairstyle that became popular. -
1950's Fashion
Full, fluffy skirts, or "poodle skirts", cinched waists, and sloping shoulders were the dress style. Pencil skirts became popular as well. Many patterns included plain colors such as green, blue, and pink, as well as floral prints were used on fabrics. Hair was either cropped short, rested in long , or was put in a high ponytail. Pearls and unique broaches were worn. -
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Cries for Peace
The 50's saw the beginning of women becoming domesticated again, but comfortable in their own skin. The 60's gave rise to the Civil Rights and Hippy Movements, and the 70's was all about a woman's right to her own body. Women like Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy, Rosa Parks, and Stevie Nicks became the voices of many women all over the nation as well as fashion icons for decades to remember. -
1960's Fashion
The mini-skirt came into the fashion world as well as short skirts on dresses that cut as high as the mid-thigh became the new fashion stamp. Wide stripes and bright, confusing patterns were a thing. The Hippy movement was seen as an act of rebellion to some instead of a fight for peace as many of them often let their hair grow long and straight. More conservative women wore their hair bobbed or wedged. Knee-high boots were in style. -
1970's Fashion
Bell Bottom pants, baby! Bright colors and patterns along with flimsy, thin blouses. Platform heel shoes were wonderful and the hair was long and straight. The African-American girls started to embrace their natural hair as the Civil Rights Movement drew to a close. -
1980's Fashion
A decade full of neon, lace, and denim! High-waist shorts, jeans, and skirts were a thing as well as short tutu-skirts, leggings, and leg warmers. Big bows were worn on a head of long, frizzy curls or a pixie cut with a few colors thrown off in it. Shoulder pads and bright makeup were extremely popular for women in the workforce which had come a long way since the pink-collared jobs in the early 1900's. -
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Voices of Resilience
The 80's, 90's, 2000's, and beyond see women embrace every part of themselves through fashion. Beauty, brains, sexuality, it was all there. Powerhouses like Madonna, Janet Jackson, Courtney Love, Kelly Clarkson, Lady Gaga, and Michelle Obama started to become icons for fashion and women alike. -
1990's Fashion
Neon was still around as well as oversized sweaters and jackets. Denim was not going anywhere as the 90's gave birth to the "mom jeans". Crew socks were high around the ankles as well as geometric patterns on clothes. Let's not forget the discovery of flannel with it being Kurt Cobain's fashion of choice as the grunge icon of the decade. -
2000's Fashion
The 2000's was more about low-cut jeans rather than high waistbands, crop-tops, and mini-dresses. Hair had a variety of styles, but was often decorated with beads and even separated into smaller buns all over the head. -
2010's Fashion
The 2010's is all over the place with little flecks of each decade in everything you see. Yoga pants are in, knee-high socks are a must-have, and the 90's is making a comeback!
