The Evolution of Fashion Styles

Who doesn't have a favourite fashion style? Surely everyone can look back to a time in history and just admire the style of clothes worn at that time. I know I do.

My personal favourite fashion styles are a throwback to the thirties when men's suits were evolved to create the perception of a large torso. The shoulders were squared using wadding or believe it or not, shoulder pads and the sleeves were tapered to the wrist. Smart peaked lapels framed the v-shaped chest and added additional breadth to the wide shoulders. This was a period that also saw the rise in popularity of the double breasted suit the suit that developed into the modern business suit.

This was a time when men's suits were masculine and elegant with jackets with long, broad lapels, two, four or six buttons, square shoulders and vent less tails. A generous cut, long pair of trousers completed the look.

Enough of my favourites.

Every decade has brought along new more adventurous fashion styles, usually on the heels of shift in the social climate of the day.

Probably my least favourite fashion style was during the 80's when the clothing styles mirrored the culture of the day in what for me was a very self centred decade. The attitude was one of bold aggression and clothes that didn't make a bold statement just didn't make the grade. It is absolutely no surprise that not only were the fashions bold and aggressive, the middle of the 80' also saw the launch of Dior's Poison, in itself a very bold and aggressive perfume favoured by the so called powerful power suited businesswomen at the time. For me a very forgettable decade.

You can't really talk about fashion style without mentioning the sixties. The sixties was probably the most revolutionary decade in living memory. The war in Vietnam brought about a sea change in public thinking with a whole generation turning its back on aggressive imperialism. The upshot was a wave of peace demonstrations where the notion of love and peace were embraced by a very enthusiastic and willing audience. The hippy styles of the sixties were a blatant snub to the conformity of the previous decade with flowers, colour and a return to basics.

Love them or loathe them, fashion styles change with the direction of the wind and long may that continue.