So who gives a “Chanel” about fashion anyway? What difference does it make what the heck people wear and who designed it? Caring about fashion and style is only for the wealthy, self involved and shallow, right? These statements are not only untrue but also should be seen much the same as a cliché.
Fashion has its roots in practicality; cavemen wore skin not so much to impress one another but to simply ward off the cold. From there it would be logical to assume that as societies emerged, clothing became more symbolic as to an individual’s station in life and position in the community. The industrial revolution and mass production created a certain form of democracy, where clothing and fashion were concerned, and pushed it into international territory. Soon after, the age of steamship travel brought exotic goods from foreign lands to the main street emporiums of small towns throughout the United States. Fast forward another 100 years, and we arrive at today! Simple, right? Kind of.
The 20th century saw the greatest innovation in women’s apparel. It was based on the influence that urban living, cultural diversity and technology had on people. How the general population viewed its role in society dictated the way people dressed. Looking back I have found, is also the way to look forward. Seeing what worked in the past and tweaking it to fit today is what good style is always about. With that, I give you my unofficial list of top trends in history and fashion.
I’ve illustrated the references to these fashion eras’ past with looks from NYC runways for spring 2010. See if you can spot the influences.
’20s: Short and Brassy
The bob haircut, short skirts and public dancing with abandon showed us that women were moving out of the repressed Victorian Era.
’30s: Feminine Attributes
Bias draping, outrageous ruffles, feminine hairstyles and no under garments ushered in the Jean Harlow-type glamour queen. This played out as an antidote to the Great Depression, as escapism took the country by storm.
’40s: Working Gal
With the world at war and frills frowned upon, the man tailored look of shoulder pads, simple silhouettes and women joining the workforce teamed to create the Joan Crawford look.
’50s: Suzy Homemaker
With the men returning home, the term domestic goddess became the norm. Dior introduced an ultra-feminine silhouette of tiny waist and voluminous skirt with crinolines. This look was quite the departure from the preceding decade.
’60s: Modern Thinking
Space travel, innovative fabrics and clean lines ushered in the mod look. Jackie Kennedy epitomized the chic simplicity of this era.
’70s: Country Revival 
With the world at war again and a back-to-the-earth movement underway, maxi dresses, patchwork, macramé and other wonderful things like the polyester pant suit arrived.
’80s: Power Decade
With the economy in flux, women returned to the work force wearing shoulder pads once again – though larger and boxier than their ’40s counterparts.
’90s: Austerity Bites
The black-is-the-new-black ethos of this decade was rooted in the anti-grunge sentiment of the time period. Knits and minimalism reigned.
’00s: Expressive Outlets
Today it’s all about exploration as women keep veering among the looks in all of the eras previously 
mentioned. The romance of the vintage look, the clean lines of the ’60s and the longer, almost hippie-inspired fashions all converge to create a social cosmopolis of sorts.
Fashion matters because it has always been an indicator of where societies have been and where they hope to be in the future. With the advent of technology, the worldview of fashion has become bigger, and access to the latest trends easier to decipher by the public who buys into them. Somewhere between lies you and I and all the stores, boutiques and big-box outlets from which we choose our sartorial splendor. Talk among yourselves until next week.
