Fashion is an ever changing phenomenon – and that’s why it’s so exciting and interesting! Trends emerge every single year and often combine the old with the new – but if you truly love fashion, it’s great to learn about where these trends came from and how they began. Here are seven of the most disruptive changes in the world of fashion that have influenced how we dress today!
The Little Black Dress
How could we put this list together without including the LBD – aka Little Black Dress. This simple and effective trend was launched by the one and only Coco Chanel, who transformed black from being worn for mourning into a high fashion trend. The dress was designed to be loose, simple and practical, empowering women with the simplicity inspired from menswear. The trend is always in style and you will find a version of this in almost every woman’s wardrobe today!
Affordable colour dyes
Prior to the late 1800s, colour dye was expensive and hard to get hold of, meaning bright colours were limited to elite classes. In 1856, an 18-year-old English chemist, William Henry Perkin, stumbled upon the invention accidentally whilst searching for a cure for malaria! Once synthetic colour dyes were invented in the 19th century, it meant that there was a diversification of textiles, bright colours and clothing for all to wear, making these fun styles accessible for all. This truly came to its peak in the swinging sixties, when everything was about fun colours and prints.
Fashion conscious, sustainable fashion
This is a more modern shift in the fashion world, but has changed the industry for the better. As environmental awareness has increased, the cost of fashion – not just to our purses but to our planet has become known. In response to this, designers like Orsola de Castro have looked at alternative ways to make fashion more environmentally friendly, using techniques like upcycling and sourcing from more sustainable factories.
Women’s Tuxedos
The first ever women’s tuxedo was introduced by Yves Saint Laurent in 1966, creating a wave of change for women’s fashion and encouraging feminist power! Gender roles in fashion have since become blurred and ever transitional, with men’s skirts and crop tops and women’s suits and blazers. This trouser suit was made by Dolce and Gabbana in 2004, mixing traditional masculine and feminine sihoulettes.
Fashion rental
Clothes rental is another genius answer to the ongoing problem of the environmental impact of fast fashion. Businesses like ByRotation and Hurr have started to reduce the cost of buying designer clothes by enabling people to rent out outfits for a fraction of the price. This also means less clothes are bought and sold so encourages less production of clothing! Win, win and a strong change for the better!
The mini-skirt
The mini-skirt was life-changing! Invented by Mary Quant in 1963, these skirts were a symbol of change for women, empowering them to be liberated in fashion without prudish constraints. It became a staple in the swinging sixties, usually in bright colours and was pictured on famous supermodels of the time like Twiggy. It represented fun, youthful playfulness, and is still a staple in wardrobes today.
The revolution of denim
Denim jeans are a core staple of every fashion today – and have been for decades! But they began as workwear, designed purely with practicality in mind. Originally made for miners, they were associated with the working class. However, in the mid 1950s denim jeans moved from durable clothing to a fashion accessory that represented rebellion of old stereotypes and a rejection of propriety. Popularised by huge movie stars of the time like James Dean, they became a symbol of cool and have been in fashion ever since.
