Personally, I enjoy the looks from the Roaring ’20s, as the styles from that era look simultaneously refreshing and old. I enjoy the fashion of this era for a multitude of reasons. First of all, the Roaring ’20s style is a product of the cultural boom that some historians even call “the cultural Civil War,” which was caused by the mix of previously completely segregated cultures (History.com Editors, 2010). Although I do like this style, I do not think that it is accessible to anyone. There are not many pieces available freely for purchase, and they tend to cost a significant sum of money, to the point where the shops that sell them partially turn into museums (Basin, 2018). Even a hundred years later, this style remains valid, especially with the uprise of the accompanying music genre — electro swing.
The second vintage style I come to like is the 1990s fashion. It only relatively recently became an authentic vintage, as vintage is clothing that is 20 or more years old (“Differences between retro & vintage clothing,” 2020). However, this style was accompanied by massive societal changes that made it possible for people to express themselves more freely. Due to these changes, clothes for both women and men became less visually separated, and fashion took a turn towards a unisex style. It is also worth noting that clothing became more utilitarian in many ways. Even among famous people, it became a norm to wear clothes that were less restricting and allowed significant freedom of movement. The 1990s attire often looks cozy and less constricting, and I find it very liberating. While there were many different trends in fashion during that time, this loose clothing is a major feature of the ’90s (See Figure 2).
References
1990s fashion: Styles, trends, history & pictures. (n.d.). RetroWaste. Web.
Basin, K. (2018). Inside New York’s most exclusive vintage shop. YouTube. Web.
Differences between retro & vintage clothing. (2020). The Fact Shop. Web.
History.com Editors. (2010). The Roaring Twenties history. HISTORY. Web.
Unique vintage 1920s Black sequin fringe del mar flapper dress. (n.d.). Unique Vintage. Web.