Shopping and Fashion | Lipstick and Make-up | Jewelry | Clothing

Posts Tagged ‘fashions’

Shifting Fashions: The History of Shorts

Historical fashion photos can create a mixed reaction depending on the individual. For those who are in the photos, they may feel a slight tinge of embarrassment if they were subjected to a trend that later became a major fashion faux-pas.

However, for those who weren’t even born when the offending photos were taken, images of shoulder pads, flared dungarees with flowery shirts or any number of other fashion frights can cause many people to burst into fits of laughter. Of course, that is the nature of fashion. What is acceptable one day can quickly become yesterday’s news, leaving wardrobes of unworn clothes the length and breadth of the country.

It can be very interesting to look back at how certain items of clothing have changed over the years. This is especially true in terms of how they were worn, who wore them and the wider cultural implications of anyone inadvertently ‘getting it wrong’.

Shorts provide a good example of how fashion attitudes can change significantly over a relatively short period of time. Historically speaking, in the late 19th and early 20th century, shorts were almost exclusively worn by young boys until they were deemed old enough to wear trousers. And because of this, many men would refuse to wear shorts, even when it was more practical to do so, in case they were perceived to be immature for their age.

With soldiers being sent to tropical regions during the Second World War, shorts became a more popular item of clothing for reasons of necessity. Although it did take a number of decades for them to be fully accepted within wider society, shorts are now worn by people from all backgrounds and every conceivable demographic within the western world.

Over the

Over the last 50 years we’ve seen a huge change in fashion. The swinging 60’s with the punk and peace influences, the 70’s with the miniskirts and outrageous flares. And now it appears our fashion designers have come in big circle bringing back many of the statement fashions from the last few decades.

One statement fashion item that seems to be sneaking back onto the shelves is shoulder pads. Shoulder pads are a type of fabric covered padding used in women’s clothing to give the illusion of having broader and less sloping shoulders. They were a big fashion hit in the 1940’s and again in the 1980’s, and their back again with a vengeance. Big shoulders edged onto the runways of Miss Sixty, Diane von Furstenberg, Herve Leger, BCBG, Jason Wu, Nicole Miller and Alexander Wang at this year’s Paris Fashion week, and it looks like they are here to stay.

Another fashion déjà vu we’ve seen emerging over the last few seasons is the return of big bold prints and floral patterns. These were very popular back in the 70’s and they are fast becoming even popular now for dresses, tee’s and vests.

Cat suits and power suits are another aspect of 1920’s fashion which has been welcomed back with open arms, though we are glad to say mostly without the shoulder pads. Cat suits now seem to be available for every occasion whether it be work related or hitting the town in party mode. They have taken the high street by storm with nearly every shop stocking some version of the cat or power suit.

Although we glad to welcome back the florals, cat suits and shoulder pads, we should remain grateful that no design has yet taken it upon themselves to attempt to bring back the flares and oversized collars, but are at present leaving them in the past where they belong and should stay.

t’s never ending Jessica Simpson totes a Vuitton bag, Courtney Cox is seen in Instyle wearing a beautiful Prada dress, Hilary Swank heads down the runway wearing Calvin Klein.  If that’s not enough Paris Hilton arrives on the scene with Chanel sunglasses while Jennifer Lopez is seen with Fendi.

Whether it’s Versace, Chanel, Vuitton, Gucci, Dior, Calvin Klein, Prada or Fendi, how the heck is the average woman going to be able to stay in style like the stars.

Let’s face it.  Although we dream about owning that beautiful Vuitton handbag or that Prada dress.  For most of us that’s about as far as it goes.  Most of these items start in the mid hundreds of dollars and easily climb to a value of over $5000, for just one piece. Read the rest of this entry »