2 posts tagged “edwardian”
With the F/W 08 shows officially complete (as well as fashion prodigy Christian Siriano crowned as Project Runway’s latest prince), I can now take the opportunity to reflect on the current state of women’s fashion. As I surmised, tops would continue to get larger and more ornate (Edwardian influences with fuller sleeves, larger shoulders, and frills and ties galore). The waistline has (finally) climbed back to…well…the waist. Yes! No more butt-crack (at least for a good ten to fifteen years)! Large width high-waisted belts continue to be an accessory of choice to slim the female silhouette. Trousers range from the form-fitted “skinny” look (which is most prevalent), to high-waisted full-cut (semi-palazzo) styles, to full looks which slightly taper toward the ankle. Pleats have also begun their cyclical revolution featuring high-waisted styles, complimenting the larger Edwardian tops quite nicely. Hair has remained with little change throughout the decade… Retro looks from the 20th century still prevail (with ‘60s and ‘70s styles dominating). The resurgence of bangs over the past few years continues. Below are some great examples of women’s trends in separates for the following year:
The evolution of fashion has fascinated me ever since I can remember. As a child of the ‘80s, I can remember laughing about what people wore in the ‘70s (the decade of my birth). As a ten-year-old, I told my mother, “That was when it was popular to look ugly.” She simply replied, “You laugh about it now, but mark my words, bellbottoms will be back one day.” Then, the ‘90s hit when I was in high school, and boy was she right.
It was at that moment, that I realized we couldn’t really giggle about any past decades’ fashions because they ALWAYS come back. Even in the ‘90s, we started laughing about what we wore in the ‘80s, and sure enough, our current decade has brought back quite a few ‘80s trends…most notably, the skinny jeans.
Nevertheless, I’ve been pondering my favorite fashion periods lately, and decided to put a timeless collection together, ending on what I’m looking forward to for Spring 2007.
My first favorite fashion period is the Elizabethan era (1558-1603), where fashion moved away from the simple designs of the Renaissance, and moved into the ornate gaudiness, which characterized the Elizabethan court.
Secondly, I’m mildly obsessed with Pre-revolutionary France and the neoclassic period (1770-1789), another over-the-top, ornate fashion era characterized by powdered wigs, pale makeup, plumes, panniers, heavy brocades, etc…think Marie Antoinette.
Next, there is the Napoleonic era / Regency period (1795-1819), where fashion made an extremely sharp turn away from the extravagance of the the latter half of the 18th century, and was influenced by a romantic nostalgia for Greco-Roman classicism… Men pushed their hair forward (a Caesar-esque style…think Napoléon), women wearing empire-waist, light gowns with simple Greek goddess-influenced hairstyles complete with either bonnets or turbans…think Jane Austen’s characters in her novels, as well as the first French Empress, Joséphine Bonaparte.
I also enjoy antebellum styles (1850-1865) of the pre-civil war south…think Gone with the Wind…crinoline fabrics, hoops skirts made of both whale bone and cane.
Another notable fashion era is the post-Edwardian / Art Deco / WWI period (1909-1919). Think about the horse races during My Fair Lady or the movie Titanic. It was a transitional period, which built a bridge between how women dressed for hundreds of years and the modern era.
Of course, we can’t talk about fashion without mentioning the Roaring ‘20s (a booming American economy, and rapidly progressive industrial culture influenced women to cut their hair short into wavy bobs and raise their hemlines for the first time in history since the beginning of the Anno Domini calendar).
We can’t leave out the Hollywood Glam era of the ‘40s (think Joan Crawford, Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner, Veronica Lake, etc.).
Another revolutionary period for 20th century fashion is the Swinging ‘60s (British Mod, androgyny, Twiggy, Edie Sedgwick, Mary Quant). A very turbulent time for the United States brought about some of the century’s most innovative looks.
The Decadent ‘80s are the years of my earliest impression the fashion world made upon me. The decade can be summed up in one word: Madonna.
All of that being said, it’s refreshing to see the 2007 spring lines being an amalgamation of the past four decades… Below are some of my favorite looks.
For men, go no further than Dior Homme. Parisian designer Hedi Slimane has transformed the house of Christian Dior into an ultra-modern classic. His looks over the past few seasons have been influenced by underground indie-rock subculture, and have successfully combined ‘60s mod, ‘70s glam, ‘80s new wave, and ‘90s simplicity. Below are some of my favorite looks of the upcoming spring season.
For women, Balenciaga is my favorite label. While Balenciaga continues to push an innovative edge, the designs are always sleek, clean, and ultra-modern. Below is a sneak peak for spring.
Finally, an up-and-coming designer, Jessika Madison Kennedy, has caught my attention with her line, Dadadie Brucke, which is a refreshing homage to the 60's. This range of beautiful, simple and elegant dresses encompasses the geometric designs of an era that changed fashion forever.
With its circular and axis design, these prints are unique in today's market. Sleeveless designs and open neck cuts allow the dresses to fit to the body's contour with grace. Madison is a graduate of the London College of Fashion, and bases herself between the U.S and U.K.
