The History of Fashion- Lecture

​Fashion follows social contexts, everything that is happening in the world effects what we wear.

• Silhouettes
• Hemlines
• Fabrics
• Colours
• Styles
• Modesty

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Fashion begins in the 14th century
Invention of:

• Curved seaming
• Tailoring techniques
• Lacing and buttons
• Square and rectangular silhouettes

Embroideries and tapestry like wools were worn by the nobles.

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15th century
During the 15th century being 'out of date’ became a social concern. Fashion became very political, it showed your status and your allegiance and with more access to fabrics, rich embroideries became popular after king Charles the fifth of Spain. Slashed sleeves came into fashion, the slashes were symbolism of Switzerland defeating Burgundy. With peoples fashion becoming a lot more extravagant a lot of detailing in shirts becomes visible.
Sleeves had a fur lining, tight to the elbow, then flared into a trumpet sleeve. I was quite shocked to learn that men were as richly decorated as the women.

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18th Century
During the 18th century a distinction between day and evening wear became the normal, where before people would wear the same thing all day. which a very steep increase in the amount of cheaper fabrics becoming readily available and the invention of the sewing machine, people began to be able to afford more than one outfit, this lead to people using fashion to display one's identity.

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1950s
The 50s saw the invention of Dior's New Look and it saw a popularity increase of Levi's ad blue jeans. The term ‘teenager’ became popular and Elvis came to fame. Also in the 50s Nylon and Rayon were invented.

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Image from http://www.altra-citta.net/11-febbraio-1934-nasce-mary-quant-la-stilista-inglese-della-minigonna/

1960s
The 60s was the decade of the mini skirt, claimed to be designed by both Mary Quant and André Courrèges, it still hasn't been decided who designed the first. Shift Dresses also came into style and trumpet sleeves make a reappearance. Fashion had a large musical influence especially with The Beatles coming to fame. The 60s also saw the invention of the stiletto.

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1970s
The 70s saw the introduction of punk fashion, with people expressing themselves a lot more there were a lot of different styles coming into play including disco fashion, with the punks there were also the hippies who bought their own fashion (which included a lot of tie-dye), and life styles, yoga became increasingly popular, bell bottomed jeans and acid washed jeans were also popular. Vogue branded the 70s as the 'Decade of the Individual'

Image from http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/fashion-beauty/fashion/remembering-40-years-punk-fashion

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1980s
The 80s saw a social change with lives beginning to revolve all around money and finance, it also saw the invention of the first mobile phones.  Women's power dressing became very popular in the 80s and a lot of the clothes designed contained shoulder pads. Following on from the disco wear of the 70s, neon clothing.  Ready to wear fashion became readily available and sportswear turned into street wear