10 Historical Fashion Trends That Were All The Rage & 10 We Never Want To Return To
Blast from the Past
Whether you’re a history buff or just someone with an eye for fashion, it’s clear to see that many different trends have come and gone over the eras. With that in mind, here are some we dearly miss, and some we never want to see again.
1. The Bob
For the longest time, women were expected to keep their hair long, and anything alternative would be considered straying from strict gender norms. However, in the 20s, the bob rose in popularity as many women were beginning to cut their hair short. Consider the party-going flappers, or the starlets at the time, and it was clear that women everywhere were rebelling against old-fashioned femininity.
2. The 1950s Housewife
This look is believed to be brought on by Dior, who introduced the ultra-feminine housewife look with the cinched waist and long skirt. This was popularized in the 50s and was a way of escaping the hardships of war and embracing new grace.
Provincial Archives of Alberta on Unsplash
3. Low Rise Jeans
Y2K fashion had a lot going for it, but something that stole the show were the low-rise jeans. Nowadays, everyone’s into high-waisted, as it’s more flattering and easy to pull off. But we gotta give it to the girls that made the low-rise look work.
4. The Flapper Dress
The flapper dress is another marker of rebellion, as women everywhere ditched the corsets and long modest dresses of the 1800s in exchange for the short and sparkly flapper dresses of the 20s.
5. Togas
While toga parties are still a thing, bringing back this outfit in full swing is up for consideration. Not only did it look super regal, but it was relatively inexpensive as you could get a few looks accomplished with one piece of fabric. Plus, not to mention it was incredibly uncomfortable!
Anonymous (Category:Roman Empire)Unknown author on Wikimedia
6. Power Suits
While power suits are still going strong today, they made their first notable appearance in the 1980s. Suddenly, shoulder pads were in, and women were opting for strong silhouettes rather than the usual curvaceous ones.
7. Edwardian Tea Gowns
It’s important that women feel comfortable in whatever they wear, and while these tea gowns might look a bit complex and heavy, we can’t deny how fun and pretty they were. They were actually unfitted, meaning they would hang loosely, and were instead carefully embroidered to give a romantic and luxurious appeal.
8. Go-Go Boots
These boots were all the rage during the mod fashion era of the mid-60s. You can probably still find them today, but it’d be great to see this out and about! Not only are they low-heeled and comfortable, but super sleek and fashionable too.
9. Bohemian Patterns
Along with the 1970s insurgence of hippie fashion came the love for everything bohemian. From long skirts with flowing fabric and vibrant prints, women were eager to show their political stance through their clothing. Style icons like Stevie Nicks and Joni Mitchell in particular were revered.
Benjamin Wedemeyer on Unsplash
10. The Smoking Suit
Building on the popularity of power suits, Yves Saint Laurent invented the first tuxedo for women as Le Smoking Suit in 1966. This merged the world of masculinity with femininity, and did so in a way where elegance was maintained.
Now that we have talked about some of the fashion trends we would happily take back, here are 10 we’d prefer to keep buried in the past.
1. Ruffs
If you’ve seen paintings of people from the 16th century, you might have noticed those huge white ruffled collars they wear. Well, these ruffs were so big they would often block vision and cause stiffness and pain.
2. Shoulder Pads
While the power suits were totally trendy and still in fashion to this day, the shoulder pads could certainly get excessive. It’s when you cross into the territory of looking like a linebacker that people might raise an eyebrow or two.
The Library of Congress on Wikimedia
3. Corsets
Many historians argue over the comfort level of the corset, while some believe they displaced organs, to others thinking they only provided mild support. Either way, the corset has so many connotations with oppression, that it is better left in the past.
4. The Pouf
In the 18th century, the pouf was a thick cushiony hairstyle that the upper-class aristocrats adored. Picture towering wigs and powdered flour all over the floor. But the truth is, these hairstyles were often itchy, heavy, and unbearable to maintain.
Depain, coiffeur de dames et auteur de ces coiffures on Wikimedia
5. Plastic Dresses
In the 1960s, designers were eager to try all sorts of new materials when it came to designing outfits. They went as far as to use plastic to make dresses. Sure, it can look shiny and trendy, but it got sweaty and uncomfortable real fast.
6. Codpieces
It’s nice to know that men made many fashion blunders too, like the decorative flaps that would be sewn over… certain areas. They also came with extra padding, making the overcompensation evidently abundant. Luckily, these were only around in the 15th to 16th century.
7. Victorians in Mourning
In addition to uncomfortable outfits and extravagant hair were the social norms of the time. For instance, the Victorians expected women to wear only black clothing for two years after becoming widows. Paying your respects and mourning is totally understandable, but two years is a lot.
8. Macaroni Wigs
Of course, men also suffered from historical fashion trends. Just consider the macaroni wig, which were these giant powdered wigs worn in the 18th century. Not only did they look satirical, but they probably didn’t smell great either.
After: Samuel Hieronymus Grimm Published by: Carington Bowles on Wikimedia
9. Whale Tails
While there’s nothing wrong with the low-rise jeans of the 2000s, you get into awkward territory when you consider the thong combo. This was when the thongs would stick out, creating a whale tail look.
S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash
10. Crakows
Unless it’s Halloween or you’re dressing up for a party, crakows are possibly best left in the past. These unisex shoes had long pointed curves at the end, taking up more space than they needed.
