Previous Fashion Trends, Revamped.

With each passing generation, one of the most symbolic aspects of every noteworthy era is its trademark in fashion. Each decade has contributed at least one unique item that we now distinguish as an individualistic part of that time. Fashion designers have honored these former trends with the glory of reincorporating a touched-up version of each item into our trends, so that the designs of years past are enjoyed by the new fashion-forwards nowadays. Here are a few of the most popular trends and their origins…

 Miniskirt


2nd Photo by Arjun Kartha                                      

 During the mid 1800s, women wore long, full skirts that reflected a time of male domination and female vulnerability (according to Random History). The tight corsets and bulky appearance were the norm of the women of those days. During the 1930s, however, with restrictions on fabric rationing in light of wartimes, women had to end their hemlines just below the knee. While the length of hemlines fluctuated for some time afterwards, a new culture developed when the youth of the 1960s were exasperated with looking like their parents, particularly daughters who were fed up with matching their mothers. A British designer named Mary Quant was the answer they looked for when, in 1965, she created a revolutionary skirt that ended a good deal above the knee. Thus, the miniskirt had been created and its deviations continue to represent as she intended – free, nontraditional, lively, and a celebration of long legs. Over the years, this trend has become popular to both teenage girls and older women, though continues to suffer a slightly smeared image from critics over its revealing nature.

   Bikini

  ♪♫ Itsy bitsy petit bikini

2nd Photo by Yai Sirichai

According to Bikini Industry, the bikini is a fairly modern invention. Since its beginning in 1946, the two-piece swimwear is another symbol of women stepping out of their confines and reaching for self-expression. The bikini was scandalous for its time and shocked the crowd at its debut at a fashion show in Paris. American critics present considered the article much too skimpy, yet the trend would be picked up by American designers soon after. In comparison to the bikinis of today, the former versions were far more reserved. The original models fully covered the bust and the bottoms resembled tight shorts that began above the belly button and completely hid the rear of the wearer. Bikinis were also part of the sexual revolution of the 1970s, when designers cut away from the style bit by bit, leaving an even more revealing look that exposed a great deal of skin to a shocked population. For the first time, there was a swimwear for women that showed the navel area. The modern bikini does not cover much of anything, yet still represents a woman’s right to break free of her previous, self-conscious attitude. Now, the widespread love for bikinis has contributed to an upset in women’s behavior, as societal pressures cruelly push for a need to have a “bikini body.” However, no such standards are needed to enjoy a good article of fashion that has made its way through generations of fixing.

Jeans
                                                  

2nd Photo By Esther Seijmonsbergen

One of the most widely used clothing styles of all time is the jean pant. According to Jeans and Accessories, jeans fuel a multi-million dollar denim industry. While exact origins are not too certain, it is believed the material came from Genoa, Italy, and was worn by sailors of the area. Eventually, the material would make its way around Europe, finally reaching America in the late 1800s. The blue jeans fad took off when Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis joined together and patented their idea for “waist overalls,” made from denim and cotton duck. From the beginning, the durability of the style was one of its selling points, making it ideal for labor. The cotton duck would later be removed in an effort to make the item more comfortable for wearers. Over the next few generations, these jeans would rise in popularity and finally be considered high fashion. Designers such a Calvin Klein and Jordache would pick up the trend and create a form-fitting version of the jeans. Support for the trend wavered in the 1990s, when khakis and combat designs took off, but would resume superiority in recent times, with the rise of skinny jeans. Even a late trend known as jeggings (leggings that closely resemble jeans) were modeled after the jeans design. Throughout the years, jeans have remained an adored closet favorite, though they have increased in tightness…