The twentieth century was marked by significant shifts in fashion. Its rapid development was conditional upon tremendous changes related to the place of women in society and the wars (“20th century,” 2018). They resulted in a completely new perception of clothing as well as in a greater diversity of available silhouettes and accessories throughout the century. Hence, this period’s fashion reflected fast-evolving views and corresponded to the emerging needs of people.
The first half of the century was notable for the development of artistic movements, which contributed to the emergence of new elements in clothes. Thus, laces and embroidery complemented the elegant silhouettes of women’s outfits defined by new S-line corsets (“20th century,” 2018). The feminine look changed twice – first, to boxy shapes of flappers with their feminist views in the 1920s, and later, to uniforms during World War II (“20th century,” 2018). The second half of the century, in turn, appeared to be more revolutionary.
The sophistication of women’s outfits remained a priority for fashion designers, but the change came in colors. They became brighter for both men and women, and this trend led to the emergence of casual clothing (“20th century,” 2018). Female fashion was subsequently mixed with hippies’ youthful styles, which complemented the elegance of outfits (“20th century,” 2018). As for male fashion, it was influenced by the clothing styles of Hollywood and rock stars while being casual.
The twentieth century’s importance for fashion is defined by its most rapid development in history. Modern clothes have all of the elements created at that time by fashion designers, and they occasionally reappear in the outfits of the twenty-first century. These elements reflect the societal shifts that cause a new perception of clothing and promote the development of fashion based on classic features.
Reference
20th century. (2018). Fashion History Timeline. Web.