| By the 1960's there
were many social changes that influenced fashion like, the Vietnam war,
art, film, and music. Huge production plants for synthetic fibers were
built around the world and new man-made fabrics were being developed
everyday. The hippie style of the 1960's consisted of clothing from the
middle east, and far east. The use of bright colors were used.
The 1970's brought us the disco dance
scene with new clothing being popular like double knit stretchable fabric
with reflecting lights. The disco style consisted of gold lame' leopard
print, stretch halter jumpsuits, and white clothing that glowed. Punk
fashion was also introduced in the 70's. Intentionally torn clothing like
frayed pants, and clothing with safety pins and chains were worn. The
feminist movement played a part in fashion also during this time. There
was an organized effort to establish equal economic and political right
and opportunities for women. Shorter skirts and pantsuits were worn.
In the 1980's fashion moved in many
different directions. Professional women moved up in the workplace
adopting "The Power Look" which was a style of blazers and shoulder pads.
For men a more casual style came about. Values changed; people no longer
felt that high prices determined fashion. Lower prices began to appear in
fashion. People in the 80's began to get fitness conscious and fabrics
that were easy to care for and were stretchy became fashion.
By the 1990's people began dressing
down, and more comfortably athletic clothing became a big part of one's
wardrobe. The "Grunge" style became popular in the youth culture in the
U.S.. It was messy and ugly and died out very quickly. By the mid 1990's
trends were no longer dictated. Oscar de la Renta quotes, "Today, there is
no fashion, really." People now were dressing by their own style
instead of designers.
Today's fashion is ruled by the
consumers who are well informed and have plenty of choices about what they
want to wear, where they want to shop, and how much they want to spend.
This leaves the fashion makers and fashion marketers to know what the
consumers want and need. |
