A history of women’s fashion in America from 1900 to the present.
This paper looks at the different styles of fashion worn by American women in the past 100 years. It describes decade by decade of the twentieth century, styles, materials, influences and key designers of the main fashions of the time.
Outline
Introduction
Portrait of the American Woman as a Fashion Plate
Passage
The American Dress through the Years Evolution
1990-La Belle Epocque Era of the Beautiful
1910-The Eastern Touch and the Paul Poirot
1930-Despair and Fantasy
1940-Sporting the New Look
1950-Flamboyant and Ultra Feminine
1960-Gearing Up for a Revolution
1970-Hippies in Polyester
1980 to present
Fashion in Search of Identity
Fashion without Boundaries
The Academician Digs into a Woman’s Fashion
Ford Search for a Supermodel
A Media Prediction of a Fashion Event
Quotes from a Popular Press
Outline
Introduction
Portrait of the American Woman as a Fashion Plate
Passage
The American Dress through the Years Evolution
1990-La Belle Epocque Era of the Beautiful
1910-The Eastern Touch and the Paul Poirot
1930-Despair and Fantasy
1940-Sporting the New Look
1950-Flamboyant and Ultra Feminine
1960-Gearing Up for a Revolution
1970-Hippies in Polyester
1980 to present
Fashion in Search of Identity
Fashion without Boundaries
The Academician Digs into a Woman’s Fashion
Ford Search for a Supermodel
A Media Prediction of a Fashion Event
Quotes from a Popular Press
Day and evening clothes had unusual cuts with odd puffs and fitted sleeves. Evening dresses were bias-cut and high waisted. For day wear, 2-piece suits were popular with square pockets, large buttons and narrow, lean skirts done in thin materials. Fabrics used were of natural fibers sometimes linen but mostly cotton, wool or silk, acetate, rayon, light to medium weights in velvet, georgette, crepe, organdy, satin for both day and evening wear. Colors were often muted or of deeper hues; florals, geometric or abstract designs were used, quirky designs flourished. Because of the influence of Salvador Dali who designed textile for designers, surrealism thrived in prints.