Our Decade

Since this is the decade that I live in and know a little more about fashion within this decade, I think more of the fashion that we wear now comes from each of the decades before us, just with out own touch.

In the 1940s many women wore bandannas in their hair. At the time this was mostly a trend among women working in factories to keep their hair out of their face; but now women in our decade wear it as a fashion statement, and of course it looks just as cute, but is more for fashion than anything. 

In the 1950s oxford shoes were very popular for men and women, today oxfords are making a come back and are becoming more popular with women. More stores are selling oxfords and with a variety of many different styles, including colors, lace, and patterns. 

In the 1960s, patterned dresses and A-line forms were very popular. As I said previously Banana Republic released a line last year, named the Mad Men Collection after the television show, of 60s inspired fashion and the "retro" look is coming back among our decade. Also in the 60s, the bikini became a huge hit for the first time, and I think anyone would agree the bikini gets more popular each year.  

In the 1970s maxi dresses and skirts were introduced for the first time. The 70s was all about a "flowy" look, but now maxi skirts and dresses are extremely popular. Many women like to pair crop tops with maxi skirts.

In the 1980s Madonna started wearing jewelry and clothing with crosses on them, which has become a very popular trend within the last couple of months. 

Leggings also became a huge hit in the 1980s, and now I don't know a single women that doesn't have at least one pair of leggings in her wardrobe. 

Lastly, in the 80s, high waisted shorts and pants became a huge fad, in today's fashion countless women wear high waisted shorts, skirts, or pants. 

In the 1990s everything about denim was popular, now women wear "chambrays" which is a lighter denim material made into a button up shirt. Women pair these with just about everything, including skirts and leggings. 

The hair styles of today have pretty much combined a lot of different decades of style. There are women with long hair and short hair. Bobs are still popular, but so is hair that goes far down the back. Wavy, curly, and straight hair are all in style. Although when I think of a popular hair style, a big "donut bun" on the head comes to mind. 

Also a popular way to dye hair right now is "ombre" which is a dark color to a light color.

  

1990s

The 1990s produced one of my favorite movies and I always laugh about the fashion in the movie, but at the time it was perfect for the decade. "Clueless" is one of the best movies, in my opinion, and Alicia Silverstone's style is perfect for her part.

The 90s was all about the denim! Everyone was wearing high waisted and mostly light washed jeans. Girls were wearing high waisted denim skirts; and men and women alike were wearing denim button up shirts. Jean vests also became popular and no one would think to not own any denim.

 Another fad of clothing during the 1990s was exercise wear. Richard Simmons and aerobics became a huge hit and people would wear their exercise clothing to even run errands. Women would wear leggings with over-sized t-shirts, or with a leotard. These leotards had a high french cut on the legs and were usually paired with high top socks with athletic shorts.

After the 1980s, when "hair bands" were big a new form of music started to come into play. Hip-hop became a huge thing during the 1990s, with bands such as Salt-n-Pepa and Will Smith. With the music fad came the clothing to go along with it. Men were wearing baggy pants and crazy patterns in their shirt. The guys were wearing their hats tilted to a side. Neon colors became a huge hit among men and women. The women wearing a hip-hop style would wear colored leggings and baggy jackets. Both genders started wearing big jewelry and gold chains. 

Plaid became really popular in the 90s. Girls started wearing plaid shirts around their waist or over their high waisted jeans. Men started wearing patterned shirts with jeans or regular slacks. Girls started wearing floral patterns, and hair styles changed dramatically too. After the big hair of the 80s, women were wearing their hair flat, straight, and bobs started coming back. Women really wanted straight hair, and "relaxers" became a huge part of the decade. After Jennifer Aniston started playing her role on "Friends" women wanted lighter hair like her, so they started dying their hair lighter and highlighting their hair.   

  

1980s

Of course I cannot help think of the 1980s without my parent's stories of how they dressed and what they would do for fun when they were my age. I think of all the wonderful movies that John Hughes made in the 1980s about teen acceptance and high school. Molly Ringwald became one of the biggest teen stars of the 80s.

Madonna started many trends on her own in the 80s. She started wearing lace and fishnet gloves and a pile of rubber bracelets on her arms. Madonna started wearing huge headbands and bows in her hair, and many other girls followed her style. The most "bizarre" thing, at the time, was that Madonna started wearing bustiers and lingerie on the outside of her clothing. At the time this was scandalous, but now many people praise Madonna for being different and not caring what people would criticize her for.   

Also in the 1980s leg warmers and leggings became a huge hit. Women started wearing different color leg warmers over heels and pants or over leggings. Leggings became a big part of 80s fashion and women would wear different patterned leggings or just wear plain black leggings with tops.

High Waisted shorts that became popular in the 1970s, became even more popular in the 80s. Women would wear high waisted shorts that were frayed and cut-off. These shorts were usually paired with crop tops and accessories. 

As in the 1970s with band t-shirts becoming popular, After the band "Frankie Goes to Hollywood" released the single "Relax," the shirts "Frankie Says Relax" became a huge hit and everyone was sporting the shirt. 

Hairstyles in 80s was all about the volume. Women wanted big hair with feathered bangs. Women would put half their hair high up on their head in scrunchies. Men in rock bands were growing out their hair too, giving them the name "Hair Bands." 

  

   

1970s

When I think of the 1970s, I always think of the television show "That 70s Show." And all the stereotypes about hippies and wanting peace as the Vietnam War went on.

Bell- Bottom pants became big with men and women alike. High waisted shorts, skirts, and pants became a really big thing with women in the 70s. Tie Died shirts and Mexican peasent blouses became a huge thing from the late 60s to the early 70s for women to wear. And for the first time maxi dresses and skirts were introduced.

As the decade came closer to an end, discos and nightclubs became a huge fad. With these discos, came the go-go boots. Usually the boots were made out of a plastic- leather, came in very many different colors, and had a good size heel. Women would wear these boots with their high waisted skirts and a blouse. These boots would became one of the biggest items people associated with 70s fashion. 

Bright colors, whether a shirt, pants, or shoes became very common in wardrobes. Television shows started to popularize very bright colors, like hot pink, yellow, and orange. Men started wearing the "Three-Piece Suits" which consisted of pants, a button up shirt, with the "Wide Color" popularized by the first lady Pat Nixon, and a matching vest.  

Towards the end of the 1970s band t-shirts started to become popular, starting with the iconic Rolling Stones shirts. Men started wearing band shirts and rock and roll was getting bigger and bigger and would lead into the 80s fashion. 

  

1960s

Jackie Kennedy became the face for fashion in the beginning of the 1960s. She started wearing "pill-box hats" and suits. Jackie became a huge public figure for fashion, weather she was going to a ball or on the beach with her young children.

The 1960s became more about the A-line dresses and less about the hour-glass shape like in the 50s. Women started wearing geometrical patterns and different shapes on their dresses and outfits. Recently Banana Republic added a 60s collection and the 60s retro feel is starting to come back into our fashion now.

A really popular show "Mad Men," which I watch for the fashion is set in the 1960s New York and the women working and living in Manhattan. The women wore their hair short and curled or pinned back. Most women working in an office wore long pencil skirts and sweaters. Shoes at the time were small pumps.

As films became more and more popular in the 60s, more beach and surf films grew too. In 1963, for the first time, a bikini was featured in a movie and women were running out to buy a bikini just like the actresses wore. 

1950s

When I think of the 1950s fashion, I think of poodle skirted girls and the boys in leather jackets such as in the movie "Grease," or Marilyn Monroe who broke out in the fashion world during the 50s.

After the 40s with the shorter skirts and tighter silhouette, the 50s became all about the full skirt. The skirts were puffy and all about accentuating the waist. Women wore tight shirts and then had mid calf skirts that puffed out and made for an hour-glass shape. 

And for the first time in women's fashion, polka dots became a huge hit. Along with poodle skirts. I know when I think of the 1950s and dressing up for sock-hops or Halloween, I think of the poodle skirts and the button up shirt tucked into the skirt. In Arizona, we have a diner called Little Anthony's where the women wear poodle skirts and the men wear jeans, a black tee, and leather jackets. I used to love going there, sitting at the counter and ordering a milkshake.   

As the 1940s left and the 50s became a new era, the hair styles started to differ too. The women who wanted their hair to be long so bad in the 40s started to cut it off and the 50s called for shorter hair with curls at the end. 

  

1940s

1940s fashion is by far my favorite decade of fashion. This was happening during World War II, and for one of the first times in our history women started gaining some power.

With the "We Can Do It!" slogan, women became something more than just housewives. After watching the movie "The Notebook," I fell in love with the 40s. Everything about it, I wanted to be alive during that time! The way Allie Hamilton dressed was amazing and I fell in love with the look.

Because of the war, fabric was being rationalized and people had to start experimenting with different fabrics than what was the normal. Since there was less fabric available, women started shortening their skirts in an effort to make more out of the fabric that they did have. 

Hair styles changed too with the war. Short hair became a thing of the past and all the women wanted to have long hair. "Victory rolls," "pin curls" and "finger waves" were the popular hair styles and most women added headbands or small hats to their hair to add a new look.