The Full Circle of Fashion Flipping through the latest issue of Vogue, one may pick up on the fact that almost all fashions today are influenced by a certain trend or subculture from the past and remade into a more modern version of it’s former self. What was once old has become hip and trendy again. Fashion plays a huge part in defining a generation, yet we dig up ideas from the past in an effort to define ourselves today... www.wmagazine.com http://girldir.com/files/images/stella-mccartney-10.jpg www.retrowow.co.uk/retro_style/50s/a_line.gif www.polishedprofessionalimage.com

Fifties Fashion The fifties were a time where poodle skirts and preppies met leather jackets and greasers. The preppy styles for women show the values of the time. Women rarely worked outside the home and were constantly bombarded by societies ideal of “the perfect housewife.” Girls wore full skirts or dresses. The silhouette of the times was very feminine with a large emphasis on the waist. The illusion of a small waist was very important and ties in again with the stereotype of “the perfect housewife.” Other preppy staples such as cardigans, blouses and polo shirts were popular. Chiffon scarves were a staple in most wardrobes and worn knotted around the neck. In a drastic contrast to the preppy women’s styles there was the subculture of greasers. Defined by their leather jackets and denim jeans they were considered shocking and rebellious for the times. The fifties gave birth to rock and roll, a lot of the music reflected the feel-good optimism of the times. http://www.fiftiesweb.com/fashion/girls3.jpg http://www.vintage-clipart.com/large/fifties-fashions2.png http://www.poodleskirts.us/fabulous_fifties.htm

Sixties Then and Now http://www.ballyhoovintage.com/miva/images/170521.jpg http://newyorkmetro.com/news/features/2007/hedge-funds/marrymillions07046_560.jpg http://www.lombard.com.au/store/upload/catalog/6930_S.jpg www.retrotogo.com , ftalphaville.ft.com, www.catwalkqueen.tv

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Seventies Fashion A lot of the trends in the seventies remained similar to the sixties. The hippie and disco culture merged to form a type of counterculture. Long natural flowing hair remained popular as it was in the sixties. Also a new style of hair pioneered by Farrah Faucet became a must have among young women in the seventies. This heavily curled style of hair can be seen making a comeback among today’s fashions. Maxi skirts and mini skirts also become popular during the seventies, they were worn in a wide variety of colours and patterns. Today, seventy inspired patterns have made a comeback among young girls. Clogs, which are a staple in many a wardrobe today were often worn , as were platform shoes. High-waisted and bell bottom jeans were popular. Feminism got it’s start in the 1960’s, but really took flight in the 70’s. Thus, women were more daring with their fashions and began to wear more form-fitting clothes. In the 1970’s, art rock, progressive rock and punk rock rose to the forefront of popular culture. The rise of rock music influenced fashion, some men would wear platform shoes reminiscent of those that the band KISS wore. www.elleuk.com Img.photobucker.com/..geri_highwaist.jpg Modculture.typepacd.com/../2008/03/04/index.jpg www.wmagazine.com

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http://www.fashionin2008.com/80s-fashion.jph http://farm1static.flickr.com/237/456/29373-acb3698966.jpg http://media.trendmill.com/static/455/80ssunglasses.jpg http://www.tripletsandus.com/80s/fashion.htm Fashion in the eighties was crazy and colourful. Feathered hair with stick-up bangs was a popular hairstyle among women in the eighties. Girls often crimped their hair and wore it in side-ponytails. Essentially, the bigger the better was the motto women in the eighties followed regarding their hairstyles. Following the wild and colourful fashion of the eighties, makeup for women was also distinct and colourful. Light pink lips and blue eye shadow were a staple in a women’s makeup bag. Glitter was a must. Regarding fashion, tight and bright could best describe eighties fashion. Off the shoulder shirts, ¾ sleeves, crop tops, leg warmers, tights, mini skirts, long t-shirts, tight stonewashed jeans, exercise gear, super tight minis, coloured panty hose and spandex were all popular in women’s fashion in the eighties. The 80’s moved away from the disco music of the seventies and moved towards hard rock, heavy metal, big hair bands and glam metal. The hip hop scene also began to become a powerful force. The rebellious attitude that game with these genres of music can be seen through eighties fashion. Much of eighties fashion was influenced by the type of music that was popular.

90’s Fashions 142.photobucket.nestdecorating.typepad.com Peaches.blogspot.com www.decadande.ca/nina90s/50dpi.jpg www.nytimes.com Madapolam.wordpress.com Closetbug.blogspot.com

Sexy-oh-sexy.blogspot.com/2008/07/lauren_conrad.jpg www.celebritywonder.com/picture/sienna_miller Chic_girls.blogspot.com Today, there is more versatility and differing fashion trends than ever. It seems as if popular fashion today has been influenced by almost every single decade. We are more than ever looking to the past and reinventing old trends in order to come up with the next big thing. Unlike decades before us we are not pioneering and creating new trends, we are bringing life back into trends of the past. Big skirts and a defined waistline echo fifties fashion. Long flowing dresses, floral patterns and bohemian touches bring back memories of the sixties. Tights, converse sneakers, funky colourful sunglasses and big t-shirts paired with tights or skinny jeans have come to us straight from the eighties. High-waisted pants, plaid blouses, clog shoes, wedge sandals and vibrant colourful patterns. All of these trends have been re-born from the seventies. Our fashion trends today are an eclectic mix of many different decades in fashion, reborn and reinvented in a way that is truly modern. More so than ever, fashion today is playing on the notion that every fashion trend eventually comes full circle.

In Conclusion... Fashion is one of the most easily visible forms of self-expression. Through fashion we portray the image of ourselves that we want the world to see. Different fashions have different stereotypes and attitudes associated with them, as is seen easily in following fashion trends through the decades. From the innocent good girl image of the fifties to the funky rebellious girl of the eighties, fashion is always associated with a certain persona. The type of music a person listens to is sometimes visible through their sense of style. Whether it be the laid-back, peace-loving attitude associated with popular fashion in the sixties or the eclectic mix of fashions we encounter today, fashion trends play a big role in defining a generation.