Fashion refers to the styles of dress that are currentlypopular.

Fashion goes
beyond just clothes, though. It can extend to shoes, jewelry and even how you
style your hair.
For many people, fashion is a high priority. Its important to some people to wear
only the latest fashions and styles. For others, though, keeping up with the trends
isnt that important.

Why do fashions change? The answer is probably as simple as

the fact that people change. Over time, the new replaces the old.
People are influenced greatly by popular culture, including
athletes, musicians, movie stars, politicians,royalty, as well
as popular films, television shows, books and music. We also are
influenced by the fashionindustrys advertising.
When people see these new styles, they often want toimitate their
favorite stars. To do so, they seek out the latest fashions
clothes, shoes, jewelry and the like to make themselves look
like the people they want to imitate. In this way,
fashions evolve and constantly change over time.
1890-1920
Launched in New York in 1892, Vogue had a coverline of Fashion, Manners,
Society, The House, Literature, Art, Music, Drama. Fashion was only a small
part of the magazine, as the industry was still in its infancy.
The early 1900s marked the rise of the haute couture movement in Paris.
Women of the upper classes coveted the Parisian designs, which set the tone
for the rest of the Western fashion world. These designs debuted at horse
races, and Vogue took on the role of informing the public about what was going
on, who was going where, and what was being worn. Corsets and full skirts
enhanced unnatural curves, and hats grew out of control.
However, as World War I began in 1914, attention and resources were drawn
away from fashion. British Vogue launched in 1916, but the emotional and
economic consequences of war were making androgynous dressing more
popular.

1920-1929
The consummate image of the 1920s, the flapper, did not fully emerge until
1926. This style epitomized modernity and reckless rebellion. Flappers wore
daringly short hair and short shift dresses that exposed their limbs, and they
applied makeup, smoked with long cigarette holders, and drank in public. Since
the straight shift dresses were simple to make at home, flapper style was more

attainable for the masses. "Coco" Chanel rose to prominence during this
decade.

By the time World War I ended, women were used to their freedom and
independence, and their clothing maintained its wartime masculinity with
loose, shapeless fits and flattened busts. Corsets became a thing of the past.
Designer Gabrielle

1930-1940
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 kicked off the Great Depression, from which the
general public escaped through Hollywood. The movies became the new
glamorous medium for fashion.
As another war seemed imminent, clothing became more functional and
military-inspired with square shoulders. Techniques for mass production of
uniforms carried over into the creation of ready-to-wear fashion.
Once World War II was underway, clothes became even more restrained. Cloth
was severely rationed. Uniforms were commonly seen in public

1950
Once World War II ended, newcomer Christian Dior rebelled against the
austerity of the time and produced an extravagant design of a fitted jacket with
a cinched waist and a full calf-length skirt using ten to eighty yards of fabric.
This style, dubbed the "New Look," would prove to be a turning point in the
postwar. Dior's designs became extremely popular, as women were longing to
dress femininely and frivolously again.
Chanel countered the voluminous look with boxy suits and slim skirts in tweed.
Synthetic fabrics (nylon, polyester, and acrylic) became more widely used
because they were affordable and easy to maintain. A consumer market was

born, and for the first time, teenagers became a force in the fashion market as
a result of influences such as music and film.

1960
While the 1950s introduced teenagers to fashion and society in general, the
youth were the leaders of the sixties, which was a colorful decade in many
ways. Two subcultures of young British people, the Mods and Rockers, were at
odds. The Rockers tended to wear clothes like black leather jackets, whereas
the Mods were more stylish and bohemian. By 1966, designer Mary Quant
popularized the miniskirt, which appealed to bold young women.
America's answer was the hippie movement. This youth subculture spawned
trends like bell-bottom jeans and tie-dyed shirts.

Fashion icons included the understated Jackie Kennedy and the creation of the
supermodel, the most famous one being Twiggy. Men wanted to dress like the
Beatles.

1970
Increased ease of travel meant that fashion had more global, ethnic
inspirations. The disco dance craze led to widespread use of polyester, which
was ideal for creating tight, stretchy clothing that shone under disco lighting.
These flashy styles reflected the social revolution and openness that defined
the decade. The late seventies gave rise to punk, an anti-fashion anarchistic
movement

1980
Materialism defined this decade, as the western world experienced an
economic boom. The power suit became a symbol of the eighties, especially
after John Molloy argued in his book Womens Dress for Success that women
would need such a suit to climb the corporate ladder. People flaunted designer
brands as symbols of wealth. Increased use of credit cards encouraged
spending.
The creation of MTV revolutionized the music industry by turning musicians into
television stars who had the power to influence through fashion and visuals in
addition to music. Princess Diana also became a fashon icon during this time.

1990
As technology made working from home more feasible and offices instituted
Casual Fridays, fashion became more laidback and comfortable. In contrast
to the excessive consumerism and gaudy color palette of the eighties, 1990s
style veered toward a more minimalist aesthetic with lots of black and neutral
colors. The fashion industry blossomed the most in the United States, where
Calvin Klein used overtly sexual advertisements to shock a supposedly
"unshockable" nation. Grunge was an alternative rock subculture that began in
Seattle and spawned a style of unkempt dressing.

2000
This decade is strong evidence that fashion is cyclical. A major trait of new
millennium fashion has been recycled trends with futuristic twists. The
dreaded eighties shoulder pad has been reworked as the architectural
shoulder. Current boot-cut and flared jeans are toned-down versions of bellbottoms. Both real vintage and vintage-inspired clothes have become popular.
The boho hippie look has come back in fashion thanks to celebrities like the
Olsen twins