Women's Fashion History

Victorian Era

Jan 1, 1837

Victorian EraQueen Victoria ruled England from 1837-1901. Before the rule of Queen Victoria, men were the focus of fashion. With a queen in power, women surged to the forefront. The new role of a wife became showing her husbands status and wealth to the public through fashion and appearance. Full skirts, petticoats, hoop skirts, and bustling made transition throughout this era.

The Hoop Skirt

Jan 1, 1850

Hoop SkirtIn the mid-1800’s (1850’s), the hoop skirt, also known as the caged crinoline, revolutionized women’s fashion. It became a staple for women’s ever-changing silhouette. The series of concentric hoops that made up the skirt lightened the weight of the multiple petticoats worn. It was also much cooler, since it meant that women only had to wear one petticoat instead of two or three.

The Bonnet

Oct 22, 1870

The bonnetIn 1830 the idea of the bonnet was vastly accepted throughout the womens fashion community. The brim on the bonnet hid the wearers profile from the side, and the veil protected her identity as well as the suns rays from her skin. During the 1870’s-1880’s hates and bonnets were a fashion must. Those who sought out a modest look often wore the bonnet.

Elsa Schiaparelli

Sep 10, 1890

ElsaElsa Schiaparelli was an italian fashion designer. Along with Coco Chanel, her greatest rival, she is considered one of the most prominent figures in fashion between the two World Wars. In 1927 she started her company with knitwear and her designs were heavily influenced by surrealists like her friends and collaborators Salvador Dali, and Alberto Giacometti. Her clients included heiress Daisy Fellowes and actress Mae West.

Coco Chanel

Nov 10, 1893

coco chanelCoco Chanel was a french fashion designer who is responsible for the modern day luxury Chanel brand. She is also credited for the 1920’s idea of the “little black dress” and her trademark was draping her models in pearls, which is still done in today’s fashion. She ruled the fashion world of Paris and was credit in the Time 100, for the most influential people of the century.

Women Start Wearing Pants

Jan 1, 1900

Women and PantsDuring World War 1 women started wearing their husbands pants while they took on jobs previously assigned to men. This then lead to more and more women wearing pants leisurely during the 1920’s and 30’s. However, trousers weren’t fashionable for women in the United States until the 1970’s when the Education Amendments of 1972 ruled that dresses could not be required for girls in public schools.

The Bra

May 13, 1914

The braIn 1914 Mary Phelps Jacob patents the invention of the modern bra. She creates the “backless Brassiere’ by using two handkerchiefs and a pink ribbon, and later sold her patent to the Warner brothers corset Company. In 1920 ida Rosenthal created a bandeau style bra, that had two cups and a piece of elastic and was sewn into dresses. Frederick Mellinger, a businessman was credit for introducing the first padded bra in 1947, Mellinger also is responsible for the front-hook bra, and colorful bustie

Flapper Era

Jan 1, 1920

Flapper EraThe word flapper was used to describe young women during the 1920’s. Flapper girls wore short skirts, bobbed their hair and listened to jazz music. They also piled on excessive makeup, drank, and treated sex in a casual manner. The style of flapper girls’ clothing was pioneered by Coco Chanel and designed to make girls look younger and more boyish (shorter hair and flattened chests).

The Hourglass figure

Aug 24, 1920

The hourglassIn the 1920s rubber material were stating to replace the corset. Waist clincher griddle were used to create flat silhouette body that was currently in style. The silhouette was used to symbolize the “modest” women of society. This idea was created in greece, where women wore laced body braces that gave them that hourglass figure, in hopes of getting down to a size 16 waist, and in some cases to a 14 inch waist. The contraption could shatter the ribcage as well as suffocate the wearer.

The Bra

Sep 14, 1920

the braIn 1914 Mary Phelps Jacob patents the invention of the modern bra. She creates the “backless Brassiere’ by using two handkerchiefs and a pink ribbon, and later sold her patent to the Warner brothers corset Company. In 1920 ida Rosenthal created a bandeau style bra, that had two cups and a piece of elastic and was sewn into dresses. Frederick Mellinger, a businessman was credit for introducing the first padded bra in 1947, Mellinger also is responsible for the front-hook bra, and colorful bustie

Adele Fendi

Aug 10, 1925

adele fendiAdele Fendi started her career in 1925 when she decided to open a leather goods shops and fur workshop. In a time of economic hardship, due to the skillful workmanship of the goods, her business still thrived. Her company is very well known for their “baguette” handbags, that are still worn by celebrities today.

Jackie Kennedy Onassis

Jul 28, 1929

Jackie KennedyFirst Lady and style icon Jackie Kennedy loved to wear designers such as Chanel, Givenchy, and Dior. Although she spent thousands of dollars filling her wardrobe with a-line dresses, pillbox hats and pastel suits, Jackie’s look was easily translated to American women; it was both affordable and attainable. Her style never stopped evolving. In the 70’s, she swapped her ladylike pastels for wide leg trousers, silk scarves, and oversized sunglasses. One of the most stylish women in America up until

Diane Von Furstenburg

Dec 31, 1936

Diane Von FurstenburgBelgian-born American fashion designer, iconically known for introducing her jersey wrap dress in 1974. Born in 1946, first rose to prominence after marrying a prince. After divorcing him, she kept the last name and launched her fashion company Diane Von Furstenburg (DvF) in 1997. She relaunched the wrap dress, and the company is now a global luxury lifestyle brand. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.

Fashion Week

Jul 20, 1943

Fashion WeekThe first New York fashion week took place in 1943 with one purpose: to distract attention from French Fashion during world war 2. Fashion week allows fashion designers, brands, or “houses” to display their latest collections in a runway show and buyers and media take a look at the latest trends. It is basically one week to let the world know what is “in” and what is “out.” The most prominent fashion weeks are held in the four fashion capitals of the world: New York, London, Milan, and Paris.

Donna Karan

Oct 2, 1948

Donna KaranBorn in 1948, in Forest hills, New York. She is one of the most influential fashion designers in the world, owning her own brand DKNY. She attended Parson’s School of Design in 1968. As she launched her brand, she tried to focus on designing modern clothes for modern people. At this same point in time, there was an increase of women entering the workforce. Her brand grew, and she launched DKNY Men’s line. She is the recipient of many awards and achievements

Muiccia Prada

May 10, 1949

Muiccia PradaMuiccia Prada (Me-Oo-Cha) is an Italian fashion designer who turned her family’s once-dusty luggage company into a luxury brand. She took the fashion world by storm with the minimal black nylon backpack that could be seen on the arm of every influential figure in the 90’s. She made her mark, and Prada-designed Oscar gowns were soon making their way down the red carpet. Born in 1949, takes over the company in 1977. By 2002, the company had revenues of about $1.9 million.

Vera Wang

Jun 27, 1949

Vera WangBorn in 1949. Vera Wang is known for her haute couture wedding gown collections, and bridesmaid gowns. As a former figure skater herself, she also designs for a clientele of elite female figure skaters. In 1970, Wang was a senior fashion editor for Vogue. She left Vogue and joined Ralph Lauren as a design director after being turned down for the editor-in-chief position. In 1990 she opened her own design salon for bridal gowns. She is the recipient of multiple fashion-related awards

Twiggy

Sep 19, 1949

TwiggyBorn in 1949 with the name Lesley Hornby, she became widely known by the nickname Twiggy. Remembered as one of the first international supermodels and a fashion icon, Twiggy was named “The Face of ‘66’.” She was known for her thin build and her androgynous look: large eyes, long eyelashes, and short hair.

Anna Wintour

Nov 3, 1949

Biography of Anna WintourBest known for being editor-in-chief of U.S. Vogue. She has held this position since 1988. Along with being editor she is also known for her trademark bob style hair and sunglasses. The book and movie Devil Wears Prada was loosely based after her life and career.

Iman

Jul 25, 1955

ImanBorn in 1955 in Somalia, Iman was discovered walking on the streets by photographer Peter Beard. She became one of the most sought-after models of the 1970’s and 80’s, and a favorite model in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. According to a writer for the Washington Post, Iman “broadened the definition of beauty.” She introduced earthiness into the fashion world, and made fashion a form of entertainment.

The miniskirt

Nov 13, 1960

the miniskirtMary Quant, the mother of the Miniskirt, was a British designer who create this fashion revolution. In 1955 she started to sell clothing that would appeal to the vastly changing youth of the fashion world. In 1965 she started raising the hemlines on skirt to many inches above the knee and created what would be known as the miniskirt. The name came from Mary’s favorite car, the Mini, and London became infatuated with this new fad.

Hippie Era

Jan 1, 1968

HippieThe word “hippies” derives from the word hipster and was used to describe young men and women of the time. During the hippie era women usually wore little to no makeup, wore sandals or barefoot, and many went braless. They also wore tie-dye or brightly colored clothing, bell-bottom pants, peasant blouses, and long skirts.

The Bra Burners

Sep 7, 1968

Bra BurnersIn 1968, feminists protested at the Miss America pageant. The protesters called bras “instruments of female torture.” Although these women meant to burn their bras, police force wouldn’t let them. They still threw their bras into garbage cans, and the name “Bra Burners” stuck.

Betsey Johnson

Nov 19, 1969

betsey johnsonBetsey Johnson is an American designer who is well known for her crazy, over-the-top, girly style. Her career started when she entered and won in a competition for a guest editor at Mademoiselle. in 1969 she opened her first boutique in New York, and by 1978 he started her own fashion line. Today Betsey Johnson has many stores that offer everything from watches, to over-the-top homecoming and prom dresses.

Naomi Campbell

May 20, 1970

Naomi CampbellNaomi Campbell began her modeling career at age 15, and made her big debut just before her 16 birthday in 1986 when she appeared on the cover of British Elle. Throughout her career Campbell walked the runway for famous designers including Gianni Versace, Azzedine Alaia, and Isaac Mizrahi. Campbell formed the “trinity” with Christy Turnlington and Linda Evangelista who became the most recognizable and in-demand models of their generation.

Heidi Klum

Jun 1, 1973

Heidi Klum Heidi Klum is a German-born model who became internationally famous when she appeared on the cover of sports illustrated in 1997. She also became the first German Victoria’s Secret Angel. After her modeling career ended Klum gained more fame by hosting and judging the reality TV show Project Runway.

Tyra Banks

Dec 4, 1973

Biography of Tyra BanksStarted modeling at age 15. She was on the cover of sports illustrated two times, and in 1997 she became one of the original Victoria’s Secret Angels. Tyra Banks is also the creator and host of the CW reality television show America’s Next Top Model.

Vivienne Westwood

Sep 14, 1978

viviVivienne Westwood a former primary school teacher, came to be known as the queen of punk, however her only prior knowledge of fashion came from a single term at the Harrow school of Art at the University of Westminster. Despite that, Vivienne used her creative mind to combine modern punk into the world of fashion.

Gisele Bundchen

Jul 20, 1980

GiseleIn the late 1990’s Bundchen became one of the first Brazilian fashion models to find international success. In 1999 Vogue labeled her as the “The Return of the Sexy Model.” Bundchen became a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2000 and pioneered the “horse walk,” a stomping movement created when a model lifts her knees up high and kicks her feet out in front.

Anna sui

Nov 11, 1981

anna suiAfter graduating from Parsons School of Design, Anna started her label in 1981. Sui worked out of her apartment located in New York. Anna Sui is known for her exquisite creations, playful runway designs, colors and crazy prints. Anna is inspiration for Many design students, and today her label is a well known luxury brand found on the international market.

Kate Spade

Dec 22, 1993

[kate spade](http:// https://www.katespade.com/THE-HISTORY/katespade-the-history,en_US,pg.html)In 1993, Kate Spade who was a recent accessories editor at magazine firm, decided to design a handbag that she would coin as perfect, using unique colors and a sleek shape to create it. Many editors loved the modern fresh feel of her design and in 1996 Kate spade opened her first shop in New York city. Today Kate Spade shops and items are found everywhere, and her unique colorful presentation is loved by most.