The Evolution of American Women's Fashion
Throughout the centuries fashion has changed in almost everything except its name. What started off as a special preserve of the privileged few has become an area in which all people can enjoy no matter what their status is. The old time consuming traditions of hand craftsmanship, which used to put most people out of reach of fashion, has over the years gone through gradual change. But what has been responsible for this progressive change in American women's fashion over time? What influences have helped shape the way American women's fashion has panned out over the centuries? Most historians in this area agree that the change and progression in women's fashion can be credited to outside forces
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The Puritans were a group of people that had the advantage of wealth along with aristocratic connections. Although the fashion of the day tended to follow that of the French, Puritan women would leave all French extravagance out of the picture. The rich laces and feathers that were accustomed to French women's dresses were omitted, and some speculate that this was evidence of their revolt against the extremes of English court dress. Like the Pilgrim women, Puritan women developed a simple dress, sometimes being associated with the words "dull" and "drab." The material was heavier and more substantial. The colors used were warm tones that ranged from brown to orange. Durability above all was the focus of these women when it came to their fashion. As America began to grow, the colonies began to become more prosperous and women's fashion began to drift towards finer and costlier dress. This was soon put to a halt when laws were passed prohibiting such elaborate and costly dress. Laws were put into place as early as 1634 where the Massachusetts court forbade the purchase of any apparel either woolen, or silk, or linen, with any lace on it, silver, gold, or thread, under penalty of forfeiting of such clothes. Also that no person, either man or woman, shall make or buy any slashed clothes, other than one slash in each sleeve and another in back. Also that cut-workers, embroideries, or needlework caps, bands, or rails, are forbidden hereafter to be made and worn under
“In any era, fashion is a reflection of the time and what is going on in the culture politically, socially and economically.”1 The 1920’s witnessed a variety of dramatic changes for women; these changes, such as shorter dresses and stronger attitudes occurred primarily after World War I in spite of the prolonged development of women 's’ rights through 1914 and 1920. With their new hair, fashion styles, and attitudes, women had started what became known as the “Flapper Era”.
As said in the article Women’s Fashion in the 1800s London,”These were worn under the clothing, bodices with boning on either side and lacing to hold it together. More affluent
Modern day fashion is a more carefree approach. There aren’t usually any rules when it comes what to wear, and women are granted the freedom to choose what they would prefer to wear. Women generally enjoy this aspect of society, since many things are still controlled. Unlike the Elizabethan women, modern women prefer to wear jeans on an average day. T-shirts with fun, different sayings on them are often times paired with jeans. Some women even prefer to wear men’s clothing, such as jeans and loafers. Most women often wear shirts that show a little more cleavage than what would be seen as appropriate in Elizabethan times, as seen in Figure two. (Modern day 1) Commonly, women are classified by what sort of brands they wear, or what type of style they have, like the Elizabethans.
The 18th century, more precisely between 1715 and 1789, was a significant time period in the fashion sphere for women in France. The time period itself was a mark of great change for the history of France due to various political reasons as well as various art movements and often times fashion, despite being a branch of art, is overlooked by most viewers. However, fashion during this time excelled in France and was essentially the symbol of a new era in this domain; French fashion was now snowballing into something much greater that still echoes to this today. Ultimately, the goal of this essay is to describe women’s fashion during the period of 1715-1789 and the shifts it made through the analytical use of various sources including artwork, literature, museums’ online archives and internet sources.
Women’s fashion was a social controversy in the 1920’s. This controversy was influenced by women’s clothing, swimwear, hairstyles, makeup, and attitude alone. This attire and new found character traits added a certain attitude and confidence to these women, starting what would eventually be remembered as a revolution.
The 1920’s fashion was a period of liberation, change, and even more importantly a movement towards the modern era. Fashion in the 1920’s varied throughout the decade but one could see the noticeable change from the previous fashion statements and eras. At the start of the decade, women began emancipating themselves from the constricting fashions by wearing more comfortable apparel. As women gained more rights and World War I forced them to become more independent, flappers came to be, mass-produced garments became available, and artistic movements increased in popularity, one can see how the fashions from the roaring twenties characterized the time and redefined womanhood. (1920s clothing 1)
Let’s take a look at the women’s of the 1920’s, the changes that took place in fashion and the roles of women in society. Women’s fashion will be compared from early days up until the 1930’s, with a brief comparison of the roles of women before and after the 1920’s. A discussion of the different avenues that opened up for women after 1920 and the impact that it has had on modern day women will also be covered within this paper. you need a stronger introduction
Fashion has been a prominent aspect of a woman’s life throughout time. Women of different times and cultures have turned the routine of picking out clothes and putting together different ensembles into a sort of art, or a way to express and promote themselves. Many women also see fashion as part of their identity, or a way to manipulate the way people see them. What a woman wears can drastically change the way society views her - it can increase her chances of getting a job, or make her gain respect (or rejection) from her peers (Sika n.p.).
World War II started which transitioned to a short supply in raw material. By 1943 all woman were almost forced to work since their husbands were at battle. Woman wore what was already in there wardrobe because of how busy they were and how most stores were closed
A thorough and broadened knowledge of American clothing’s history opens wide, the opportunity to explore the American identity. Helen Sheumaker’s “American Fashion” discusses the relationship between political values and their influence on different clothing styles. The Reader’s Companion to U.S. Women’s History provides insight about how the clothing fashion was indicative of a person’s class. Certain clothing styles distinguished specific communities like the wealthy and the working class yet simultaneously gave a clear distinction of the liberal American style from the proper and trim of the
Throughout the 1920s through the 1950s Women’s clothing in America was affected by World War II, which lead to the exploration of different styles, the encounter of new trends and the exchange of ideas and new styles.
The 1920s was a pivotal era in women’s fashion—an era that saw Prohibition, Jazz and celebration of war’s end. Gone was the hourglass figure of the 19th Century, swept away by the World War I, and replaced by the figure of a modern, independent woman. This book covers fashions from 1920 to 1924, an often overlooked period of fashion which was a time of transition between the draped and layered fashions of the post World War I era and the free and easy gowns of the jazz age flapper.
Dress reform has played an integral part of the women’s movement, health reform and political agendas. This paper will explore the time period of 1850 to 1930 in the United States of America concerning dress reform for women. It is important to explore this topic because the eighty year span marks a time of rapid change for women concerning health, leisure, independence, political and gender constraints and liberties. A description of the social forces must be discussed in order to have a distinct grasp of the reform movement. Next, the problems caused by fashion will reveal why there was a strong reform movement for dress and
“The woman who does not require validation from anyone is the most feared individual on the planet” (Mohadesa Najumi). Essentially, femininity is the art of being a woman. Through fashion in the 1920’s, a new kind of femininity blossomed enthralling both men and women. As illustrated during the Jazz Age, a wave of women rejected the damsel in distress outlook and began channeling their inner Femme Fatale.
This paper compares the fashions of women in 17th century France to those of women living in New France. For the purposes of this paper, New France includes the Caribbean islands that France colonized as well as the Louisiana Purchase which spanned fifteen current U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Through the study of