Cultural Change.

[frou_frou]

This is something I've been trying to nut out for months, and it's taking a while so thought I might chuck it your way to see what you think

Comments

[greylock]

I didn't read all of that (I will - but I'm at work and didn't expect it to be so long) and I'm wondering if the post-1965 thing you mention has anything to do with the rise of TV and mass market photo publications (like Celebrity Stalker or whatever) "blanding out" fashion.

Then again, what do I know about fashion.

I'm still appalled flairs came back in 1992 and have never quite gone away.

Or that... I'll stop that rant right now.

[frou_frou]

It's not about fashion H: fashion is just one of the manifestations. Good point about TV but it happened in the 50s for the US and UK.

Flares are in fashion? Didn't notice.

[greylock]

Good point about TV but it happened in the 50s for the US and UK.

Yeah, but it really took a while to take off. I'd be willing to bet that the experience of a TV in every home was closer to the 1970s than the 1950s.

Flares are in fashion? Didn't notice.
They've never quite gone away.

[frou_frou]

I think TVs were more widespread than you think but I agree that they had an impact. Not sure that it would be big enough to cause the social changes I'm talking about. I suspect maybe it was the combination of TV and the Vietnam War, which personalised it?

Re: flares - just because some people are wearing them doesn't mean that they're in fashion. There is always a small section of the community who are wearing styles they like regardless of what the current trends are.

[lokicarbis]

There's a smaller but not insignificant change in fashion that precedes the Baby Boomers - the abandonment of the hat by men. I know it's popularly attributed to JFK's break of tradition in not wearing a hat at his inauguration, but I suspect that is merely the visible part of the iceberg - there had to be a societal change driving it. And it interests me that it would have been the fathers of the Boomers for the most part who made this change.

[frou_frou]

Mens hats also went in the mid sixties with womens hats - if you look at movies and photos from the early sixties, they're still being worn outside.

Mens hats took a lot longer to go completely though: maybe because the most enthusiastic wearers were older (and balder) men? It's a big change though - just part of the rest of it. You're quite right that it was the baby boomer parents. I think they get credited with too.

[trayce]

Thats one reason I love my lad so - he loves hats, old styles in particular (bowlers, trilbys etc) and he looks awesome in them and stands out :) It really is his thing and he wears it with confidence.

[frou_frou]

I'm so pleased that young blokes have taken up hats again - if Rob needs any more, send him to Circa, we have all those styles and more.

[mizkatharina]

Interesting piece N. The 60s represented a return to freedom and individualism (despite the Cold war and Vietnam) the contraceptive pill was invented, and women were more emancipated than their 50's housewife counterparts and started to have more choices generally (career, marriage, education). I think since then we have had nothing but revival after revival and fashion on the street just kind of blends...Maybe that in itself is the new Uniform? As for the next big thing? If the world experiences another sort of economic recession, I think you will see the impact on clothing/fashion in some way.

[frou_frou]

Good point: I forgot about the sexual revolution. A lot of it was definitely about that. I was watching Robert Plant sing "Whole Lotta Love" earlier. What confidence! That particular kind of rock god, bestowing "every inch of my love"...never would have happened in an earlier time.

Re: revivals, I'm less sure. Every era reinvents earlier styles, in fact, my book is not so much about vintage clothing as the whole cycle as each era cannibalises previous times. I wish I could crack the formula, I could predict everything for years to come :)

The cycles go around as fast as the fashion industry can drive them: faster than it used to be now we have disposable clothes designed to last one season only.

[mizkatharina]

Agree with you - today's clothes aren't made to last at all are they? Hence my love for Vintage - just wish I could find more in my size these days. Good luck with your book - I can't wait to have a copy when you launch.

[trayce]

Oh gosh this frustrates me. The few things in my wardrobe that are well-made stand out SO much compared tomy other clothing. It's probably more because I can't afford to spend good money on designer-end pieces, but nonetheless. I have a Review skirt that is so beautifully cut and sewn. It'll last me a long time, I can tell. Whereas I have for eg a Target shift dress that literally tore up both sides the second time I sat down in it :|

[andricongirl]

perhaps more on the sexual revolution thing as well, and role changes for women. the political climate as well as technological advances (in fabric manufacturing) influence dress. and a lot of of those major changes happened since the 1900s

[frou_frou]

Indeed there are :) and you've covered a lot of what's in my book

[seedy_girl]

I was thinking about this a little yesterday, as we were in a taxi heading down Chapel Street. I was amused to see how the vast majority were wearing the "uniform" of blue jeans and using whatever they put on top (along with their shoes) to express their individual preferences. Most of the rest were wearing cargo pants.

I rarely wear jeans - I find them boring and uninteresting.

[seedy_girl]

That said, jeans are just about all Thorfy wears!!!

[damien_wise]

Agreed with comments from others above

[frou_frou]

You're quite right

[fredchook]

"Fashion, especially womens fashion, has become more about short term looks than long term investment. We need to change this attitude because it is unsustainable."

YES YES YES. I honestly still think a government grant just plain giving everyone a hardwearing tailored outfit or two has merit.

[ambitious_wench]

There's a "living history" museum called Plymouth Plantations in MA that has garbed actors playing the first settlers of that colony in the mid 1600's. One of the common questions is "aren't you hot in that costume"? The characters will point out that their clothes, made of sailcloth, or what we know as denim will last many years, and that was important to them. More important than being cool in the summer.