Where Do We Go From Here?
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2020 5:28 pm
Got to thinking back over my life the other day. Not sure how I got there but I started thinking of all the different fashion trends I have seen. How some were just evolutions of the previous one but some unique.
The 50s and early 60s were the era of the housewife. Shirt dresses, pearls, spike heels, the pill box hat, soft feminine clothes were the look of the times. Under it all most women wore uncomfortable constricting girdles and bras. It was not about comfort but rather conforming to the image.
The later 60s and early 70s was when most of the Baby Boomers came of age. It was the era of the hippies and free love and with it came mod fashions, the mini skirt, go go boots, hot pants, wild prints, tie dye, even the original "granny" dresses. Even undergarments evolved to fit the new looks and lifestyle. Wild print bras, panties, even slips replaced the plain old white underpinnings of the previous generation. The shorter hems brought forth pantyhose replacing the old girdle and stocking combination. Bikini panties replaced the old brief style panties in many younger women's lingerie chest.
Then came the later 70s and longer hems but with it came its own styles. Disco fashions, slit skirts, gaucho pants, the return of high heels, colorful polyester dresses, ruffled or bow blouses. The wild print lingerie was replaced with soft pastel lingerie in a variety of colors, It was not unusual for a woman to own half dozen or more matching sets and not a single one of them in white.
Soon these evolved as the 80s were upon us and women became a serious part of the workforce. Power suits, shoulder pads, the return of the jumpsuit, matching shoes for your outfit but also the Gunnie Sax style dress with its frills and soft feminine look. With it came a return of more utilitarian lingerie. Yes there were still colorful bras and panties but slips were generally only available in white, beige, or black. Many women even abandoned wearing full slips opting just to pull a half slip on under a dress for comfort and keeping cooler. Around 1983 or so colorful sheer hosiery made a reappearance for a couple of years. No longer did one only wear skin toned hosiery but could match or coordinate their hosiery to their outfit. One saw many combinations even in professional settings.
As the 80s progressed shorter hemlines returned. First just above the knee but eventually almost to mini lengths for even the skirted suit. The major difference from the 60s it was now acceptable for women in their 40s and even 50s to wear the shorter hems. Ruffled and bow blouses gave way to the simple shell and even no blouse at all under a suit jacket though sometimes a colorful scarf was added to maintain decency as well as add a feminine flair. Also the power suit became softer in color and tone. No longer had the jacket to mimic a man's suit coat with 3 buttons and lapels and pastel colors and even two toned suits or those with piping or contrasting details became acceptable. Stirrup pants returned and leggings made their first appearance. Stirrup pants even went "formal" in rayon or velvet and acceptable as dressier outfits.
The 90s began as a continuation of the 80s though slowly the pants suit became acceptable business attire for professional women. The late 80s and early 90s saw the rise of the skort which depending on material and how it was matched and accessorized was appropriate for casual to formal. Then around mid decade first just as "casual" Friday but slowly "corporate casual" became more prevalent. As far as business attire it was a confusing time. One would walk into a meeting and never know what to expect. One could find a business woman in khakis and a simple button down blouse, a pants suit, or a skirted suit and heels. It was also in the 90s that the return on control undergarments saw their rise. these were unlike the girdles of yore with new fabrics and far more comfortable. They weren't even called girdles anymore rather simply control panties or shapewear.
The new millennium debuted as a continuation of the latter 90s but slowly corporate casual became more prevalent. Unlike the khakis and button down blouses of before women started mixing in slacks and sweater combos even jeans into their work wardrobe. The dress became just as acceptable as "formal" business attire as the power suit, at first worn with a blazer but soon many abandoned that.
The 2010s saw a continuation and growth of corporate casual. Perhaps as an outgrowth of corporate casual women began to abandon wearing sheer hose with skirts and dresses. First in casual settings then at work and eventually in even more formal settings. Tights saw a comeback first as a fashion accessory but also for warmth in the fall and winter.
Well there is a mini fashion history of the last 70 years or so as I saw it and remembered it. I guess the question is where do we go from here? Something new and cutting edge or a resurrection of an old style or fad either as it was or in an updated form? Curious how you girls see things as they were or where they are going or both.
The 50s and early 60s were the era of the housewife. Shirt dresses, pearls, spike heels, the pill box hat, soft feminine clothes were the look of the times. Under it all most women wore uncomfortable constricting girdles and bras. It was not about comfort but rather conforming to the image.
The later 60s and early 70s was when most of the Baby Boomers came of age. It was the era of the hippies and free love and with it came mod fashions, the mini skirt, go go boots, hot pants, wild prints, tie dye, even the original "granny" dresses. Even undergarments evolved to fit the new looks and lifestyle. Wild print bras, panties, even slips replaced the plain old white underpinnings of the previous generation. The shorter hems brought forth pantyhose replacing the old girdle and stocking combination. Bikini panties replaced the old brief style panties in many younger women's lingerie chest.
Then came the later 70s and longer hems but with it came its own styles. Disco fashions, slit skirts, gaucho pants, the return of high heels, colorful polyester dresses, ruffled or bow blouses. The wild print lingerie was replaced with soft pastel lingerie in a variety of colors, It was not unusual for a woman to own half dozen or more matching sets and not a single one of them in white.
Soon these evolved as the 80s were upon us and women became a serious part of the workforce. Power suits, shoulder pads, the return of the jumpsuit, matching shoes for your outfit but also the Gunnie Sax style dress with its frills and soft feminine look. With it came a return of more utilitarian lingerie. Yes there were still colorful bras and panties but slips were generally only available in white, beige, or black. Many women even abandoned wearing full slips opting just to pull a half slip on under a dress for comfort and keeping cooler. Around 1983 or so colorful sheer hosiery made a reappearance for a couple of years. No longer did one only wear skin toned hosiery but could match or coordinate their hosiery to their outfit. One saw many combinations even in professional settings.
As the 80s progressed shorter hemlines returned. First just above the knee but eventually almost to mini lengths for even the skirted suit. The major difference from the 60s it was now acceptable for women in their 40s and even 50s to wear the shorter hems. Ruffled and bow blouses gave way to the simple shell and even no blouse at all under a suit jacket though sometimes a colorful scarf was added to maintain decency as well as add a feminine flair. Also the power suit became softer in color and tone. No longer had the jacket to mimic a man's suit coat with 3 buttons and lapels and pastel colors and even two toned suits or those with piping or contrasting details became acceptable. Stirrup pants returned and leggings made their first appearance. Stirrup pants even went "formal" in rayon or velvet and acceptable as dressier outfits.
The 90s began as a continuation of the 80s though slowly the pants suit became acceptable business attire for professional women. The late 80s and early 90s saw the rise of the skort which depending on material and how it was matched and accessorized was appropriate for casual to formal. Then around mid decade first just as "casual" Friday but slowly "corporate casual" became more prevalent. As far as business attire it was a confusing time. One would walk into a meeting and never know what to expect. One could find a business woman in khakis and a simple button down blouse, a pants suit, or a skirted suit and heels. It was also in the 90s that the return on control undergarments saw their rise. these were unlike the girdles of yore with new fabrics and far more comfortable. They weren't even called girdles anymore rather simply control panties or shapewear.
The new millennium debuted as a continuation of the latter 90s but slowly corporate casual became more prevalent. Unlike the khakis and button down blouses of before women started mixing in slacks and sweater combos even jeans into their work wardrobe. The dress became just as acceptable as "formal" business attire as the power suit, at first worn with a blazer but soon many abandoned that.
The 2010s saw a continuation and growth of corporate casual. Perhaps as an outgrowth of corporate casual women began to abandon wearing sheer hose with skirts and dresses. First in casual settings then at work and eventually in even more formal settings. Tights saw a comeback first as a fashion accessory but also for warmth in the fall and winter.
Well there is a mini fashion history of the last 70 years or so as I saw it and remembered it. I guess the question is where do we go from here? Something new and cutting edge or a resurrection of an old style or fad either as it was or in an updated form? Curious how you girls see things as they were or where they are going or both.