Western Fashion History – All You Need To Know

 

Clothing evolved from being used only to cover oneself into an aspect of fashion thousands of years ago, according to Western fashion history. This essay will go through the history of western fashion in order to acquire a thorough understanding of its evolution.

Western Fashion History: 5th – 15th century

Humans wore Anglo-Saxon clothing from the mid-fifth century until the eleventh century. Religious art and iconography affected garment fashion when Anglo-Saxon countries converted to Christianity in the seventh century.

Clothing and accessories for the soldiers and other organizations arose as Christianity spread and Anglo-Saxon England prospered. England enhanced the number and diversity of textiles, apparel, and accessories available to the people throughout the 10 and eleventh centuries.

When blue became a color used to dye clothing in the thirteenth century, the monarchs of France adopted it as their heraldic color.

Western fashion in the fourteenth century saw the birth of "Tailoring," or the creation of clothes that are fitted to the human shape rather than draped. Lacing and buttons were also used to improve the fit. Men's western dress progressed from a tunic (or kirtle) to a tailored top a little below the waist by the end of the fourteenth century.

Western fashion in the fourteenth century included garments with sweeping floor-length sleeves. Hats and hoods gained popularity as well. In Western fashion history, the fifteenth century saw the development of regional variances in clothes, textiles, and increasingly more intricate clothing styles.

Western Fashion History: 16t Century (1500-1600)

Dresses with wide sleeves that were puffed, folded backwards, and clipped to reveal contrasting linings dominated western fashion in the first half of the twentieth century.

Western fashion in the twentieth century adopted a new direction, distinguished by the luxury of fashion and apparel. The gold fabric was fashioned from gold and silver threads that were spun into delicate threads.

Western fashion in the second part of the twentieth century was marked by growing opulence. Embroidery and surface embellishment gained importance, were utilized more lavishly, and were more prominent in twentieth-century fashion.

Women's dresses exhibited a thin v-lined waist design, with greater width and volume in the sleeves and skirts. Men's clothing was typically knee-length breeches with broad shoulders.

The ruff is a distinctive feature of western fashion history, dating from the second part of the sixteenth century. The ruff, which was originally a basic ruffle tied to the neckline of a dress's bodice, gradually evolved into an ornate independent piece of clothing worn on gowns. It was cut, carefully starched, and pressed to create crisp, exact folds before being elaborately embroidered or lined with lace.

Western fashion in the twentieth century was also distinguished by an expansion in the variety of materials, stitched garments, and general intricacy.

Western fashion history: 17th century (1600-1700)

Western fashion in the early 1600s comprised of late sixteenth-century fashion. Men still wore knee-length tops known as breeches. The tops were embroidered or embellished with colorful fabrics, and they had buttons to keep them in place.

Women's gowns were fashioned with care and taste, although they were odd. The costumes were mostly simple and lovely. They were unusual because they contrasted with the extremely complex style of the previous century's clothing.

The wearing of wigs by notable personalities and men and women of substance in society is a distinguishing feature of this century in Western fashion history. These wigs were frequently white. To accomplish the look, males wore white wigs, and women either wore them or powdered their hair white. Wearing white wigs was required to demonstrate a high social status.

Another distinguishing feature of western fashion in the twenty-first century is the distinction between formal and casual attire. Full dress was worn to official locations such as the court and other proper occasions, whereas simpler garments were worn for everyday or daytime wear.

People eager to dress in the current trends or fashions marked Western fashion history in this century. Nobody wanted to be seen in out-of-date or out-of-style clothing. As a result, trends became one of the primary reasons individuals wore clothes.

Western Fashion History: 18th century (1700-1800)

The late-seventeenth-century western fashion continued into the early-eighteenth-century fashion. Men still wore breeches, while women wore simple, attractive gowns.

The distinctions between French and English styles had become increasingly noticeable by the mid-eighteenth century. The French style was formal, elegant, and colorful and artistic. English dresses were less formal, with basic fabrics manufactured from long-lasting and low-cost materials. The French also seemed to favor inside photos where they could show off their wealth, whilst the English liked outdoor portraits.

Western fashion advanced as machinery for spinning and weaving, which produced more materials, were invented. This made fashionable clothing more accessible to the general populace, barring enslaved people and the very poor.

Throughout the eighteenth century in Western fashion history, males wore knee-length breeches with a waistcoat and an outer coat. Over the course of a century, the length and size of these garments changed. Coats were large and full early in the century, but became thinner as the century continued. Formal jackets and vests were extensively embroidered or embellished with intricate and fashionable fabrics. Simultaneously, women's skirts developed during the century from long skirts with sheer volume to something simpler.

Western Fashion History: 19th century (1800-1900)

The employment of corset-pinched waistlines in the bodice of women's gowns distinguished nineteenth-century Western fashion. These gowns emphasized small waists, which led to voluminous skirts. As formal dress, men began to wear three-piece suits with waistcoats and outer coats.

Because of the demand for less priced and mass production of materials and garments, industrialization brought more women into the textile workforce. This satisfied the market demand for low-cost ready-to-wear apparel.

This century's Western fashion was characterized by a widespread high standing collar and broad cone-shaped skirts that were wide at the bottom. Men's apparel transitioned from elaborately and colorfully made three-piece suits to darker hues.

When haute couture was launched halfway through the nineteenth century, Western fashion history took a new course.

Charles Frederick Worth

Many fashion historians believe Charles Frederick Worth, an English fashion designer, to be the father of haute couture. The introduction of haute couture was claimed to have caused a revolution in the history of western fashion.

Charles Worth's unusual fashion style drew nobility and well-to-do people from all around Europe and England. He made nineteenth-century clothing more wearable in ordinary situations.

Charles Worth altered western fashion history once more by being the first to utilize live models to show off items to buyers (dolls were generally used), thereby developing the fashion show. In addition, he was the first to sew trademarked labels into his garments. His fashion company, the house of worth, became a gathering place for people from far and wide to have consultations and tailored stylish outfits.

Western Fashion History: 20th Century – Present (1900-present)

The twentieth century's western fashion history began with the gradual removal of the corset in the early years. Many of the fashion labels we know now were founded in the twentieth century. Branded clothing and other fashion items grew more popular and, as a result, more expensive.

The 1910s

Rich and exotic luxurious costumes were replaced in the 1910s by moderately designed clothing that were plain and utilitarian. Men wore ankle-length pants, while ladies wore skirts that rose from sweeping floor-length to well above the ankle. A bob was the popular hairdo.

The 1920s

Men began to wear less formal daily dress in the 1920s, and sportswear became increasingly popular. Women began to wear attire that revealed more of their arms and legs.

The 1930s – 1950s

Artificial fibers, particularly rayon and viscose, were first utilized to make linings and lingerie in the 1930s and 1950s.

The 1960s

Western fashion in the 1960s was a series of trend setters and trend breakers. False lashes and shimmering eyeshadows gained popularity. The highly popular bikini became popular after appearing in the musical beach party.

Suits in bright and colorful colors were also produced in Western fashion history in the 1960s. Ties were five inches wide and came in various designs, stripes, and patterns. Casual clothing for men consisted of button-down shirts and pants. Mini-skirts and mini-dresses that reached above the knees were also trendy in women's fashion.

The 1970s

Wearing exceedingly brief, tight-fitting shorts was a fashion fad for teenage girls and young women in Western fashion in the 1970s. Platform shoes with 2-4 inch soles were popular among men and women alike. The tailored blazer was very popular among both sexes. Men's clothes featured wider and more colorful ties, wide-leg jeans, and velvet pants. Bandanas were used in place of men's caps.

The 1980s – 1990s

Cut-off crop-tops and gym wear, essentially athletic apparel, dominated western design in the 1980s. Grunge fashion was popular in the 1990s, however it was quickly overtaken by retro fashion in the late 1990s. Denim jeans became fashionable among teenage girls and young women in the mid-1990s.

The late 1990s – Early 2000s

Corduroy materials became fashionable in the late 1990s and remained popular until the early 2000s, while their popularity fluctuated. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, spaghetti tops, Capri trousers, and denim wash were also trendy.

Conclusion

The article demonstrates how far western fashion has progressed. Various trends (the majority of which began in the twentieth century) contributed to the current fashion styles that exist now. We hope that this essay has given you an insight into Western Fashion History and has taught you everything you need to know about it