Fashion in the Contemporary Times- Fashion Unlocked

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street. Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”

                                                                                                          Coco Chanel

Fashion is a perspective; it means different things to different people. You can find bliss in casual clothing, or you would have a taste and preference for dressing up stylishly for every single occasion. Right from the runway shows to attractive pictures of the models in fashion magazines we see fashion in various forms on a daily basis. Fashion is what you think looks best on you and not what others think you should wear to be presentable in front of others. Fashion should connect with the image you want to create for yourself in the eyes of others and that image should give you the self- confidence to carry yourself with grace and charm in any sphere of life.

Why is Fashion Important?

Fashion helps people to create positive perceptions about your image and this eventually helps in building up your self- confidence. Dressing up appropriately is an art and you should learn to dress up immaculately according to the occasion. You have to work towards discovering your ‘own personal style’ and find out what suits you best. There are a lot of technical things involved with dressing up like the lines of your silhouette, the lines of your body, your facial shape and your body shape, but in the end the thing that gives you your perfect look is you own personal style. Your personal gives you the right confidence, happiness and your much desired look.

 Like Katherine Hepburn once said, “I wear my sort of clothes to save me the trouble of deciding which clothes to wear.”

We all completely adore Hollywood stars like Meg Ryan and Sandra Bullocks who have made it to the top in the fashion world. It is amazing to see Meg Ryan dress up like a common girl in the movie “French Kiss’” and her entire wardrobe in the movie speaks volumes about the simplicity of dressing up. Dressing up doesn’t mean you have to dress up in jazzy clothes all the time to make an impression on others, instead it relates to dressing up appropriately in your own personal style.

What is Fashion

A Brief History of Fashion- Fashion Trends Through the Ages

The Noughties Fashion Trend

Fashionable Women

The noughties were quite similar in fashion to the old conservative times. Dressing styles for men, women and children were extremely restrictive and for women hourglass body shape was considered to be an ideal body shape. Women changed clothes several times in a day and their clothing covered their full body from top to bottom. Popular styles in women’s clothing were high- collars, puffed out bodices and full-length skirts worn over layers of rustling petticoats. Clothes were mostly handmade and rich people got their clothes embroidered to make them look classy and stylish.

The Teens (1910-1919) Fashion Trend

This era broke the rule that outlined an hourglass body shape as a perfect shape for women and this led to the introduction of straighter silhouettes for dressing up. High- waited dresses became popular and less emphasis was given on tight- fitted dresses for acquiring a fashionable look. The styles most popular in this era were: hobble skirts, silk pajamas, baggy harem pants, tunic dresses and colourful turbans. Bold and exotic prints were the trend of this particular era.

The Roaring Twenties Fashion Trend

This era bought more freedom for women, and the dressing for women became more comfortable. Fun- loving young women in the era were known as ‘Flappers’ and they wore really short skirts. Dresses had pleats and were adorned with beads. Comfortable knitted tops like those designed by Coco Chanel became a fashion symbol for most of the women.

The Thirties Fashion Trend

This era saw a more sober times because of the factor like ‘The Great Big Depression’, where loads of people lost their jobs and went unemployed. More subdued colours like Blue, Black, Navy, and Brown came into practice and the fabrics used were less expensive and easily affordable for a common man.

The Forties Fashion Trend

Forties came with some hope where things smoothened out in terms of job and stability. This was the era of baby boomers and was symbolized by an optimistic, extravagant “New Look” in fashion. Women changed their look and adapted themselves to more practical fashion. Trousers as a dress became more popular as they were considered to be more comfortable and affordable option for fashion.

The Fifties Fashion Trend

Fifties in the US saw the birth of rock and roll music and the fashion moved from being restrictive to being expressive. United States saw teenagers creating their own style and fashion as per their choice. Mix and matching of outfits became a very popular practice. A continuation of Dior’s new look, full length skirts worn with high heels became a very popular fashion symbol. Sack dress and knee length dresses became a craze for the youth of the nation.

The Sixties Fashion Trend

Women in corporate came up with a new sense of fashion in the sixty’s era. Older women wore elegant Chanel suits. Knee- length skirts and miniskirts topped with collarless jackets became a fashion symbol in the era.

The Seventies Fashion Trend

This was an era of political unrest and economic crisis and fashion styles like ‘punk’ expressed people’s frustration with the society. Fashion designers all across the world traced back their steps to nostalgic and glamorous fashion of the olden eras. Haute Couture designers like Yves Saint Laurent used the fashion concepts from the thirties and the forties era to tailor their suits and flowing evening gowns. Mix and matching of various outfits became a common practice in the era.

The Eighties Fashion Trend

Youth in the eighties’ era had more spending power because of high- paying jobs and this paved way for their taste and preferences in luxury fashion. Corporate and evening dressing became more powerful with the rise of big fashion houses like Ralph Lauren, Armani, Gucci and Calvin Klein. Their popularity gained global access, and this helped them to become global fashion brands. Suits for women widened at the shoulders and it was usually accompanied with shortened skirts for a fashionable dressing in the era. Evening dressing for the era included more flowy or draping fabrics and the rise of premium designers like Oscar De La Renta and Karl Lagerfield.

The Nineties Fashion Trend

The nineties era was an era of chaos and disintegration and the fashion represented itself in ‘grunge styles’. This meant wearing clothes that looked dirty and scruffy. Teenagers turned to economical stores to create their own retro look. Clothing was designed to make the wearer feel that he or she could make a difference to the society with their look. Denims with revealing holes became a popular trend in the era.

Contemporary Fashion

Dress the Way You Love

Fashion in the contemporary times is more accessible to everyone because of factors like globalization and increase in income levels of an individual. Gradually traditional costumes lost their relevance and dressing according to the occasion became a norm for the people of the society. Fashion has always followed the trends of the society and is largely influenced by the thinking of the people belonging to that particular era. In contemporary times women are more confident and independent and this reflects in the way they dress for any particular occasion. Women today know what to wear to office or what to wear while attending a formal evening.

What Makes up the Fashion Trend in Contemporary Times?

Contemporary Fashion

Fashion today is just a reflection of your thoughts. You can choose to wear comfortable clothes or fashionable clothes or trendy clothes. The clothes should reflect your personality and they should be a mix of your personal style and the latest trends. Know your body shape and your body lines and merge this knowledge with the latest fashion trends to dress beautifully for any occasion. Style your wardrobe for different segments like formal wear, casual wear and evening wear and get the most out of the money you spend on buying these clothes.