What Did Women and Men Wear in the 1900's?

Fashion can change almost overnight.  Following is an overview of fashion trends of the 1900s.  

For women in the 1900s, the “mature woman” shape was fashionable. This emphasized full breasts and hips with narrow waists. Skirts went to the floor, and later, went only to the ankle. Large hats with broad brims were “in” and hair was worn pulled up to the top of the head.

Men had strict rules to follow. They would change clothes three times a day. Different clothes were worn for the office, leisure activities, and lounging. Top hats were for formal occasions, homburgs or bowler hats were for lounging, and boaters were for casual wear.

Fashion from 1910 to 1950

In the 1910s, women’s silhouettes became more lithe and fluid and an Asian influence was apparent. A typical look was a tunic over a long skirt. Waistlines dropped to near the natural area, and hair styles were usually short.

Men’s pants were creased and cuffed and the frock coat was worn for informal and semi-formal occasions. The blazer was used for casual activities, with tail coats and tuxedos for formal wear. Hats did not change much from the last decade, except that the Panama hat was worn for travel and the boaters were acceptable for more activities.

The Roaring Twenties saw flappers with loose fitting clothes and short, bobbed hair. Women were wearing more comfortable clothes, and the men started wearing sports clothes. Corsets were gone and hemlines rose to the knee. Men’s jackets were shorter and the trousers were wider.

The 1930s saw wider shoulders for women to make waists appear smaller. Hem lines went down and cotton cloth and nylon was used more in clothes. Men’s suits also had wider shoulders, and the colors were more subdued. For sports clothes, knickerbockers were out and casual trousers were in.

Fashion trends of the 1940s included the return of sashes to women’s clothes along with belts, buckles, and contrasting buttons. Hour glass figures were “in” again and slacks are worn around the house. War time brought simple clothes, but after the war, Christian Dior had a new look with a defined waist, longer hems, and fuller skirts.

The 50s brought more feminine styles with petticoats, and fuller skirts. The use of nylon was increased, and poodle skirts were all the rage. Men started the decade in gray flannel suits and later traded their vests for cardigan sweaters. Pant legs were narrower and young men opted for the Jimmy Dean look; a white T-shirt and blue jeans.  

Fashion Trends from 1960 to 2000

The 60s were a turbulent time, and fashion reflected that. Trends went from the Jackie Kennedy look of tailored clothing and pearls to tie-dyed T-shirts, complete with love beads and bell bottom pants. Hemlines were all over the place, and clothes were more comfortable and casual.

The 1970s saw the T-shirt worn by most and became a way of communication.  Hem lines were anything from mini to maxi, and pants could be flared or “hot.”  Platform shoes were also worn by many.

In the 1980s, men and women wore looser tops and tight fitting pants. Brand names became important, including Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. The movie Flashdance had girls tearing their sweatshirts and wearing leg warmers. The TV show Dynasty added shoulder pads to fashion. Men’s fashion saw a lot of color.  It was influenced by Miami Vice with jackets worn over T-shirts, both in bright or pastel colors, and Hawaiian shirts were worn because of Magnum PI.

Finally, the 1990s had it all, from glitz to grunge. People wore whatever they wanted to in the 90s. Wild sneakers were all the rage, as well as cargo pants.  Pants could be straight, flared, or baggy. The punk look was in, with brightly colored hair and trendy t-shirts. Goth clothing was all about creating drama, with black clothing and black boots. Lastly, sports clothing was made of Lycra and had a hip look. It became fashionable to wear it as daily wear.