A Timeline Of Fashion — And The Vintage Or Inspired Styles You’ll Love

There’s fashion, and there’s what is in fashion. And those are different things! Even though we might laugh at the style of the old days, you will be surprised to know that fashion is actually very circular. The high-waisted trouser fit popular right now? Very 1940s. Dreamy Reformation-style dresses? 1970s influence all over. Dive into our timeline of fashion to explore how these styles came about! You’ll be surprised at how many aspects are completely recognisable in Zara and H&M today.

1920s

Photo by Edward Steichen for Vogue (1927), via @thiswasfashion

The 1920s were a period of progress for women. With the ongoing World War I, women gained newfound social and financial independence as they began to work and keep their own money. Financial independence made women a consumer power, and fashion changed rapidly to meet this rising demographic. Shorter skirts, decoration, loose, free dresses perfect for dancing and jazz, were a physical symbol of female liberation.

Modern reproductions of the 20s flapper dress, $93 to $165 from Unique Vintage

The 1920s are probably best known for the flapper dresses: embellished, free and loose, straight-cut things of beauty. Donned by the flapper with her short hair and cigarettes, it was certainly a very unique decade and its own type of chic. The Roaring 20s focused on freedom in morals and in clothing, so fashion was comfortable, casual, bright and decorated. The 1920s saw a shift from the big skirts and tiny cinched waists of previous decades (think the extravagant Victorian silhouette) towards looser and freer clothing.

 

1930s

Via Boswell Vintage

Despite the Great Depression, women did not skimp on fashion in the 30s, and it was considered their duty to be looking beautiful and smart. The ideal silhouette was tall and thin, with a slender waist and hips. Bias cuts were very popular— a luxurious, flowing silk bias cut gown is iconic of the 30s. Shoulder pads and puff sleeves that exaggerated the shoulders (and made the waist smaller in comparison) were in fashion as well.

1930s Ava Tea Dress via House of Foxy, £135.00; ASOS Design Bias Cut Satin Dress, $54; Modcloth Daytime Dynamo Shirt Dress, $65

Cheaper fabrics like rayon and cotton were in fashion, and the 1930s saw a boom in mass-produced fashion as it was more affordable than custom, made-to-order pieces.

 

1940s

 

 

Photo via Period Vintage

As men were away fighting in the war, women began to fill up the spaces they left, working jobs in factories. Pants were of course practical and safe for working with machinery, and they slowly became part of women’s fashion. They remained masculine in cut, with high-waists.

1940s Floral Collared Dress via @littlereddotvintage

1940s fashion was defined largely by the restraints of the ongoing World War II. With fabric tightly rationed, clothes were practical and conservative. A-line, knee-length skirts were popular in order to conserve fabric (as opposed to longer, calf-length skirts and indulgent pleats). For a similar reason, necklines featured various cut-outs from sweetheart to square and v-necks, although they were kept modest.

 

1950s

1950s sewing patterns via @caseymauraxo

When the 1950s came about, everyone was ready for a change from the severity of the previous decade. This was the height of the “American Dream”, with the ideal of the perfect American family. With clear gender roles, there was a lot of pressure on women to be polished and pretty in the public eye. Women dressed casually in their own time, but had to dress-up when their husbands were home or when they headed out. The favoured silhouette was a cinched wasp waist and a full-bodied skirt for a dramatic hourglass shape. The dress above is a lovely example of a 1950s piece, with a very flattering cut and full skirt to accentuate the figure.

How To Get The Right Figure To Wear Christian Dior’s New Look (1948) from British Pathe, via @thiswasfashion

Christian Dior was largely responsible for catalysing this favoured silhouette, dubbed the “New Look”. Corsets and padding were used to achieve the ideal silhouette, with shoulder and hip pads adding structure and volume, and corset being pulled tight for a dramatically small waist.

ASOS DESIGN Mono Dot Wiggle Dress, $70.40; Little Red Dot Vintage Floral Wiggle Dress; Retro Stage 1950s Dress, US$32.77

Another popular silhouette was the wiggle dress, as shown above. Wiggle dresses got their names from the tight, midi-length skirts that restricted movement, hence “wiggle”! The 1950s style for women was glamorous and decorated to suit the social expectations of the “happy housewife” as an objectified symbol of affluence and modern success. While we are glad to leave that attitude in the past, we can certainly appreciate these 1950s garments for what they are.

 

1960s

1960s Youthquake Outfits, via Vintage Dancer

When you think 1960s, you get icons like Jackie Kennedy and Mary Quant. But, they definitely rocked very different styles! First Lady from 1961 to 1963, Jackie Kennedy was very put-together, clean and neat. She wore collarless jackets, matching pieces of clothing, low heels and pillbox hats.

Modcloth 1960s Inspired Dresses, $58 to $171

On the other hand, Mary Quant was playful and funky, driven by a more youthful style. Enter: the kitschy mod dresses and tall white boots that the 1960s is so remembered for.

Vintage 1960s Floral Mini Dress via @littlereddotvintage

Shift dresses were very popular, emphasising the natural body. It was a welcome change from the stiff, mature fashion of the 1950s and women embraced the youthful, liberating change. Mini-length dresses were a 60s mainstay; while they were not work-appropriate, they were just fine for days out and errands. Rising hemlines were a symbol of freedom, confidence and power.

 

1970s

Page from Vogue Italia (1979) via @documenting_fashion

The 1970s did not quite have a distinct look, with lots of different styles to pick from! The colourful 60s fashion was still in full swing, as was hippie culture. Older women were turning to the classic glamour of the 40s and 50s, and others were nostalgic for the 20s flapper.

Reformation Ports Dress in Adios, US$98; Kiss The Sky Embroidered Boho Dress, $41.69; Love, Bonito Casya Foldover Pants, $46.90

Generally however, 1970s fashion can be described as toned-down versions of its inspirations. Though that does not mean it was any less exciting; 70s renditions of earlier decades have their own special flair. In fact, 70s prints and cuts are all the rage now. In addition to the above dresses, check out these 70s pieces that may well be out of a contemporary lookbook.

 

1980s

Vintage 1988 Vogue via @onceavogue

The most memorable 80s fashion harks from mid-1980s to the end of the decade, where fashion was unrestrained and experimental. Icons like Cyndi Lauper were rocking anything loud and fun: neon clothes, clunky bangles, big, teased hair, coloured tights.

Vintage 1980s Neon Green Linen Dress via @littlereddotvintage

The perfect modern lingo to describe 80s style would have to be “extra”! Check out this show-stopping neon green dress with rhinestones on the bodice and symmetrical buckle detailing. And POCKETS. It certainly takes style and confidence to rock the 80s.

Pretty Little Thing Neon Lime Bodysuit; ASOS adidas Originals Three Stripe Track Jacket, $72.26; HOLZWEILER Neon Willow Fanny Pack, $189.78

 

1990s

UNITED STATES – MARCH 18: Spice Girls (Photo by The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Think, icons like the Spice Girls and Aaliyah. The 90s featured a range of styles but was generally colourful and unapologetic, with lots of form-fitting favourites like Posh Spice-esque LBDs and crop tops, bralets and bodysuits. There were lots of interesting materials at play too, like satin and velvet.

“R&B Princess” Aaliyah, via @thiswasfashion

Although there was diversity in 90s fashion, a few standout styles were grunge, popular especially in the early 1990s, and the preppy chic look inspired by iconic movies like Clueless. Hiphop culture was also huge in influencing fashion, with its tracksuits, bomber jackets and of course, the gold chains.

90s looks via @internetgirl and @loserthrift

Thanks to the throwback trend that’s still going strong, it’s not at all hard to find clothing with 90s inspo. Shop the following pieces below:

Delia*s by Dolls Kill CoolCrazyCute Denim Jacket, US$16.32; Lazy Oaf All My Heart Jeans, $148.22; Delia*s by Dollskill Rainbow Magic Skirt, US$19.20

 


Banner images credit to Little Red Dot Vintage, carousell.com/littlereddotvintage  and Stella Rose Cherry, @stella_rose_cherry