Snapshots in Time

1970 - 1999

---

1. World events sometimes impact fashion. Name the war during this time period and tell how it impacted the world of fashion.

For this time period, I think the Vietnam War was the conflict with the most influence on fashion. Despite the US involvement in Vietnam since the Truman administration, the war's effects were felt most in the late sixties and early seventies. Its effect on fashion was somewhat indirect: the conflict fueled the anti-war movement and thus allowed the proliferation of the group's natural clothing that rejected traditional fashion norms. Center-parted hair grew long and wavy, skirts were either short minis or longer, and pants, particularly bell-bottoms, became acceptable on women. Somewhat obviously, the peace sign became the decorative symbol of choice.

---

2. Select a prominent fashion designer from this time period, discuss what made him/her famous, and describe the fashion styles that are attributed to this designer. Yves Saint-Laurent was the designer who made the pant suit acceptable on women with his launch of Le Smoking. Although Saint-Laurent did try to design a hippie look, he and the rest of the establishment could never produce it authentically. On the other hand, he often used classic thirties and forties cocktail dresses as inspiration. Updating Chanel's little black dress, Saint-Laurent created simple silk shirts still considered classics. His ready-to-wear line, the first of any haute couture designer, was his main source of income.

---

3. Give a description of new materials that were used in clothing during this time period.

Although polyester had been invented by DuPont at the same time as nylon, its potential was not realized until much later. However, it soon gained notoriety from over-use and sales fell by the mid-seventies. Spandex (or Lycra) was first used in stretch jeans in the seventies. In addition, permanent press fabric that held its shape was invented by the California company Koret.

---

4. Discuss with a family member, friend, or neighbor pictures of fashions you found from this time period. Discuss whether these fashions have cycled back into recent times. The person you interview does not need to have lived during the time period. You can ask him/her what he/she learned or what he/she remembers about the fashions you researched and have him/her explain if he/she see these fashions in recent times. Write a three to five sentence paragraph that includes the name of the person you spoke with and the details about these fashions.

I spoke with my mother, who grew up during the seventies and eighties. She said that the seventies began a blurring of the genders in fashion. The popularity of jeans and screen-printed t-shirts created a uniform look for both men and women. Also, she connected the period to the demise of the stereotypical housewife as more women gained independence and entered the workforce.

---

5. Pretend you are a buyer for a department store and you attended a fashion show during this time period. In your own words, write a short story of what you observed on the runway.

Despite my previous disasters, I found myself in France again, accompanied by a neon yellow book labeled dictionnaire francais-anglais. I entered a spacious boutique and ascended to the second level, or premier etage, for the haute couture show. As I made myself comfortable in a seat hopefully within lip-reading range, a lean man with chunky glasses walked up to present the collection. I was able to understand his muffled bonjour and merci; do not even ask about those words in between.

The defining trends this year is formal pants for women. These are not the bell-bottoms and hot pants of the young. This is power-dressing, popularized by John Molloy's corporate fashion how-to book. By looking like men, women hope to climb the ladder to success like their male counterparts. No-nonsense suits should be tailored, stressing straight lines. Unlike the brilliant colors of the sixties, the current hues are muted neutrals. The blouse is a shapeless sack that at no point allows anyone to discern the figure underneath. Move aside dresses; women are going to work now.

An important part of this trend is the emphasis on shoulders. Instead of smooth, sloping shoulders, this season's woman shows her authority with sharp corners. While this look is not to be taken to excess, discreet shoulder-padding will top everyone's arms.

Outside the workplace, women have considerably more freedom. Although no one is going to wear the collection's see-through dress, sheer fabrics are making an appearance. Layer the transparent over the more opaque fabrics for a trendy, yet conservative look. Instead of the youth, we must cater to the adult boomers. On the upside, age has given them the finances to purchase more expensive raiment. Unfortunately, the kaleidoscope of colors of the young is on the outs. Hemlines have fallen back to the knee.

The extra money of the now older boomers can easily be put to use buying the entire designer lifestyle. This designer recently released a perfume, called Opium. His pret-a-porter line, Rive Gauche, has become immensely popular. The complete line has purses, make-up, jewelry, shoes, and glasses (called eyeware). Fashion has followed women into corporations, creating a web of products for each label.

For those remaining among the young, the naturalistic hippie look is holding through from the sixties. A roomy peasant top paired with a classic pair of jeans should do the trick. Prairie skirts are also a possibility. Decorated denim is better to create an individual look. But this versatile fabric is not only for pants anymore, try a denim jacket. Artificial fibers woven in the denim can produce stretchy fabric. If you are a bit older, with a job as opposed to an allowance, you can upgrade to ready-to-wear designer jeans. The creative can use patchwork designs to show off their artistic prowess. We can provide those without this talent an easy alternative with pre-made options.

Yet another look can be found in fitness. Yes, jogging suits have finally gone designer. Sweat in style with a matching ensemble with pants, sweatshirt and t-shirt. Spandex is everywhere: those sixties tights will fit perfectly under that new exercise leotard. Leg-warmers are another must accessory for the fitness-forward. To summarize, the sixties are over. Instead of dressing for that elusive ideal of self-expression, women wear suits to ameliorate their chances for success. Casual clothing usually involves some form of denim or jogging apparel. Do not forget to stock up on designer accessories. Et n'oubliez pas de me donnez le dictionnaire la prochaine fois que j'irai en France. (That dictionary is a great help, merci.)