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Crossover Fashion

Decent Essays

Men’s Fashion for Women and Vice Versa

Civilizations as ancient as Jericho and as widespread as the Roman Empire have used clothing and jewelry as a form of nonverbal communication to indicate specific occupation, rank, gender, class, wealth, and group affiliation. These same material goods are used today for similar modes of communication. While some modern societies like the Taliban in Afghanistan make such distinctions with utmost conformity (the Taliban of Afghanistan) others like America have proven to be more dynamic. This dynamic nature can be seen in the emergence of crossover fashion within the last 80 years which has correlated with the changing role and social status of women in society. The effect of the gradual increase of …show more content…

Fashion changes reflected this gradual success and acquisition of rights--- fashion was beginning to emerge as women wanted more social status in society. Females were willing to sacrifice themselves and their reputation to be able to dress and express themselves to the same degree as their male counterparts. Even as women joined the industrial workplace by working in factories, fashion was used not only for comfort but also to get the principle idea of equality heard: “A change is demanded and if I have been the means of calling the attention of the public to it and of leading only a few to disregard old customs and for once to think and act for themselves, I shall not trouble myself about the false imputations that may be cast upon me (100).” This shows that women were franticly attempting to be masculine instead of striving to perfect their femininity. This kind of wrong and radical way of thinking naturally found expression in clothing.
Early in the 20th century, women became more active outside the home, and their attire began to reflect their ventures into the society and workplace. The start of WWII encouraged this transition, as can be seen in political cartoons such as Rosie the Riveter, a masculine depiction of women and a staple for fashion. Explicit magazines of the 60’s and 70’s such as Playgirl portrayed women independence by exploiting their male

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