Before 1600’s
When the pilgrims landed in America, they brought their dress with them. Most just wore what they did before landing in America.
1700’s
Women wore a gown of strong material. With a full skirt over a wide underskirt, and over that a white linen apron. The richer dress was longer and made of finer material and often had sleeves made in strips showing the undershirt which were puffy and had strings of narrow ribbon splitting the sleeve into intervals. Men had stockings attached to equestrian-like pants. Both men and women had leather boots made of strong materials with medium heels. Both men and women wore hats made of felt or, for the richer, beaver.
1800’s
The men’s coat had the long tail in the back but instead of being long in the front it was cut short. They started wearing trousers or pants instead of knee breeches. Breeches were kept to be worn in court. The tall hat was eventually developed into the top hat and worn for formal dress. Hair was made to look windswept or short and curly. Women’s dress started to show the real shape of the womens body. The skirt became bell-shaped and fuller due to the bodice (top) having to be tighter. In the evening short puffed sleeves were usually worn, but in the day long sleeves were worn. Corsets continued from the 18th century. Layers of underskirts with frills, from time to time made of horsehair. Elaborate hairstyles were worn like raised top knots and hats or bonnets were worn with.
1900’s
Tops were loose but other clothing was mostly the same from the 19th century. They had bell skirts and corsets with ornamentation designed to attract. Later as the decade progressed the loose and unfitted wear became more skinny and tight. For men, not as much changed. Mostly just accessories and detail. Men usually wore long coats called frock coats during the day and coats with long tails in the evening. No varying colors were worn except for the neck tie which allowed a little color.
1910
This time period was divided into two sections for fashion, before and after the war. World War 1 had a crazy impact on culture so fashion was affected too. The hobble skirt was invented which was a skirt that got skinnier at the bottom. Most corsets in designs were gone. Before the war men continued to wear three piece suits. After the war tunics started to be worn over the skirts. The women’s fashion was influenced by the military uniforms which basically was a long skirt and a tunic or jacket worn over top. Later skirts were made to try to make the body look like a circle using barrel-like skirts. Men were seen wearing military uniforms even though it eventually returned to the three piece suit. The trench coat was made from the horrible conditions in the trenches.
1920
The women started wearing dresses with dropped waists and hemlines. Evening dresses might reach the ground while day dresses had hemlines and were shorter. The simple creation of the dresses lead to the glamorous night time look using sequins, embroidery and bead work. Another look that women wore had long, full skirts and sometimes panniers. They were classified as “femine and romantic” some with pastel colors. The men moved away from the three piece suit and instead have soft collars and 1-2 button suits usually worn with a waistcoat. Men started wearing trousers that had up to 22 inch wide bottom and eventually 44 inch and were colorful and made out of flannel. But other men's trousers were baggy and were short, about to the knees also often worn with a sweater.
1930
Women’s dresses started to go back to normal, with waists and hemlines at their original place. Dresses started flaring out at the ankles. Hair was worn short and wavy. Evening dresses had low backs and day dresses started having patterns like zebra stripes, dots, etc. Suits were more worn for formal attire while soft collared shirts and knitted sweaters were more common.
1940
As World War 11 came around another big change in clothing occured. During the war mostly uniform and utility clothing were worn. The outfits had nipped in waists, padded shoulders, and a hem at the knees. Suits had rounded collars and were boxy and also had patterns and lots of colors. Denim seersucked and jersey were made into outfits and some added that sparkle to the gray feeling of the war. Later the “New Look” came out which had a cinched waist, and a long, full skirt. Another style that came with that was the “Bar Suit” which had a white, full jacket, and a full pleated skirt. Of course for men the utility suits were made for them too. Besides the utility wear men also stuck to the suits they already had. The “zoot suit” was often worn on the dance floor. It had an oversized jacket, loose trousers and was worn with an oversized tie. Wide shoulders, high waists, wide legs, and wide ties were popular. Servicemen who traveled started bringing back Hawaiian shirts which started being worn more often.
1950
Men and Women’s attire went opposite ways during this time period. While men liked casual, normal clothing styles, women had beauty, formality, and perfectly matched accessories. Women’s high waisted chemise dresses became popular. Women started wanting more sportswear and swimsuits. One designer created the wrap over dress. What you are likely to see in fifties fashion is the “poodle skirt” which are simple skirts cut in a circle and matched with tight knitted twinsets. These skirts were full and had a defined waist. Sheaths, form fitting dresses, and the full skirted, “cocktail dress” became popular. No sleeved tops also became popular. Spotless makeup, groomed hair, and matching accessories were worn with. Men's clothing moved towards not formal attire being created. Some styles introduced were slim cut suits and velvet collared suits and worn with tight trousers for formal wear. Young men were seen starting to wear really tight trousers, velvet collared jackets, and greased hair in quiffs. The leather jacket was eventually introduced.
1960
Women’s attire was split into three main categories, hippie style, lady-like style, and youthful designs. Skirt suits and matching accessories were emphasized. The lady-like style was made up of boxy skirt suits, sheath dresses, A-line dresses, and luxurious coats, all of which were paired with,white gloves, pearls, and a matching hat. Simple, colorful designs attracted the attention of teenagers and younger people. Some designs that were revolutionary were the miniskirt and minidress. Women started wearing skirts and dresses that ended on the upper thigh instead of below the knee. Designers started experimenting with new kinds of fabric, while using pop art and space to create designs. Some designers created the “Space Age” collection which included, white and silver PVC “moon girl” loon trousers, white patent or kid leather mid-calf boots, catsuits, and “astronaut” hat and goggles. For menswear the clothing started becoming more colorful and printed. It had been over one hundred years since the last major men’s style change. At first ties were narrow and striped but as the decade moved along the ties became wide again. Military uniforms influenced some fashion changes for men and major rock musicians wore military style outfits for their shows. Like women, men’s fashion also had some designers making space-like and futuristic styles of clothing. Some men also started wearing more vintage clothing, from the 1940-30’s, like suits but with colorful patterns.
1970
Some popular womenswear styles included flashy party wear, prairie dresses, and athletic wear. Emphasis on handmade fabric and decorations influenced designers to look to the past for inspiration. Daywear looked to the past with flirty crepe dresses, dyed fur boxy jackets, and turbans, while eveningwear had modern looks with satin, velvet, and sequins. The sparkle continued throughout the decade with hot pants and short minidress early and later swirling dresses and skirts. Shoes also changed from chunky heels to strappy sandals. Mid-length dresses with floral patterns and ruffles became popular. Women were getting sexuality freedoms so more womenswear was starting to reflect menswear. Less form-fitting and feminine trouser suits became. To add more glamor, new patterns, like animal prints were being used and accessories like fur coats were made. As athletic wear became more popular clothing such as, sweat shirting, ra-ra skirts, leggings, jumpsuits, bandeau tops, and leotards were introduced. Men started having bolder prints, brighter colors, and longer hair. The fashion tried to show a tall lean figure. To popularize the shape, turtlenecks, slim fitting shirts, and tight fitting flared pants were used. Shirts and trousers were very tight and long hair was popular. Tight t-shirts, jeans, shirts and sweaters were worn by both men and women. The Punk style was formed and was made up of tight black pants, leather jackets, and Doctor Marten boots. People ripped and tore their clothes, attached different things like safety pins and studs, and wrote slogans on their clothes to be more “Punk”.
1980
Athletic wear was very common for women and off the shoulder shirts, and leggings were made. “Power Dressing” became more popular which was dressing for a high powered position in work and the fashion had more padded shoulders and bold accessories. Blazers, button downs, and knitted sweaters were made to reflect menswear and make womenswear more elegant and eventually known as “preppy”. Designers started changing how the clothing interacted with the body and the use of black started to increase. As with womenswear, mens activewear became popular with tracksuits and sports jerseys. Clothing designers experimented with men's skirts. Men also had the “preppy” style with knit sweaters, polo shirts with popped collars, and seersucker suits. Pin striped, double breasted with wide lapels were used to create the “power” suit for men. To perfect the look large overcoats, bright colored ties and patterned shirts were used. Goth style was created from Punk and hip-hop and rap gave their own styles later in the decade.
1990
Sportswear of the last decade continued with biker shorts, Keds, oversized sweatshirts and leggings. A widespread look with baggy, worn out jeans, flannel shirts, and Doc Marten boots was made. Baby doll t-shirts, oversized sweatshirts, and knee high socks was a popular style worn by young women. Cargo pants and Gap sweatshirts made the Utilitarian style were worn for day wear. Outdoor wear was becoming more elaborate with things such as parkas and combat trousers. Hip-hop, Britpop, grunge influenced men’s dress and untucked shirts and jeans were worn as casual clothing. Some grunge styles included beanies, band t-shirts, knitted sweaters with patterns, and converse shoes. Sometimes holes in the pants or sweater. The sportswear continued with baseball caps, jackets, hoodies, tracksuits, and basketball shorts.
2000
Innovation and technology inspire new and improved clothing. Tiny mini skirts, usually denim, worn with Ugg boots were made to show skin. Also low rise jeans and cropped shirts were made to show skin. The hugging dress with a square neckline, under the knee pencil skirt, and cinched in waist was a hit and became popular on the high street. Like women’s clothing, men’s clothing looked to the future for inspiration and trench coats and thin square sunglasses were used. Tracksuits, polo shirts, rugby shirts, and cargo pants made up the activewear clothing which many wore and regular day clothing. Rap inspired gangster style and Indie inspired scene or emo style were the two main music genres that influenced men’s fashion. Gangster style included baggie, wide legged jeans, basketball jerseys, “stunna” shades, Air Jordans, puffer jackets, and vests. On the other side indie rock had men having skinny jeans, black fingernails, side swept bangs covering part of the face, skinny ties, and t-shirts with blazers.
“Fashion History Timeline | a Hub for Fashion Research.” Fitnyc.edu, 2018, fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/.
