Hollywood's Golden Age Reshaped Style
From the Jazz Age to the Beat Generation, every iconic style was inspired by a person, event, or movement. No style happens in a vacuum, and you might be surprised to learn how some styles slipped into the mainstream. Even the Space Race helped define how people dressed. Here are 20 inspirations behind the most iconic styles.
Los Angeles Times on Wikimedia
1. The French Revolution
The fall of the French monarchy and the proliferation of egalitarian ideas caused a seismic shift in fashion. People rejected ornate gowns and powdered wigs as they were reminiscent of the aristocracy, and instead favored simpler and more practical clothing. Men started wearing trousers more often, and women went with lightweight muslin dresses.
2. The Jazz Age
The Jazz Age transformed fashion into an expression of joy and rebellion, fueled by its nightlife and the end of WWI. Women wore sleek bobs and flapper dresses, and men loved their sharp suits with wide lapels. This style embodied the cultural desire for exuberance and fun.
3. Hollywood's Golden Age
The popularity of movie stars was one of history's biggest trendsetters. Actresses like Greta Garbo and actors like Clark Gable redefined how people dressed with their on-screen wardrobes and off-screen styles. Hollywood's Golden Age was the inspiration behind fur stoles and red lipstick, to name a couple.
Selznick International Pictures; Fred Parrish, photographer on Wikimedia
4. World War II
You wouldn't think that World War II would change fashion and styles, but the austerity measures during the war had a profound effect. Fabric rationing resulted in shorter hemlines, slimmer cuts, and very few embellishments. People added their own dashes of flair with bright lipstick and tailored lines.
United States Geological Survey (USGS) on Wikimedia
5. Christian Dior's "New Look"
Christian Dior delivered the luxury and femininity that the world wanted after WWII. His "New Look" embraced cinched waists, full skirts, and soft shoulders. He helped reintroduce glamour into fashion and everyday life. Women of the time loved the romanticism and abundance of this iconic style.
Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia
6. The Beat Generation
Writers like Jack Kerouac inspired a counterculture look that was considered unique at the time. The beatnik aesthetic featured berets, turtlenecks, sunglasses, and striped shirts. It was a minimalist style that symbolized intellectual rebellion and philosophical questioning. This style could be seen in coffeehouses and poetry readings across the country.
Rapid City Journal on Wikimedia
7. The Space Race
Futuristic aesthetics entered the fashion scene during the height of the Space Race. Designers like Pierre Cardin got in on the fun, drawing inspiration from astronauts and new technology.
NASA Hubble Space Telescope on Unsplash
8. Swinging London
London was a swinging place in the 1960s. This era inspired a cultural revolution in the world of fashion, led by designers like Mary Quant and artists like The Beatles. Swinging London was the inspiration behind the miniskirt, go-go boots, and bright patterns.
The National Archives UK on Wikimedia
9. Woodstock
The Woodstock music festival was the epicenter of the hippie movement and inspired a style that pushed for peace, love, and rebellion. This style featured tie-dye shirts, fringe vests, bell-bottoms, and flower crowns.
Derek Redmond and Paul Campbell on Wikimedia
10. The Punk Movement
In New York and London in the 1970s, the punk movement was born. Sure, punk wasn't about fashion, but it still inspired an iconic look that is still relevant today. Punk fashion includes ripped shirts, leather jackets, and spiked hair.
11. Studio 54 and the Disco Era
The hedonistic culture of Studio 54 defined disco culture and introduced sequins, metallic fabrics, flared pants, and plunging necklines into fashion. This style was glamorous and unrestrained.
12. The Preppy Look
The 1980s embraced the preppy look thanks to John Hughes movies and Ivy League culture. This look conveyed aspirational affluence and a desire to flaunt excess. To adopt the preppy look, you need to wear a polo shirt or pastel sweater, a laid-back skirt or khaki pants, and boat shoes.
13. Hip-Hop Movement
Born in the Bronx, hip-hop culture revolutionized fashion in the 1980s and 1990s. It was inspired by urban life and cultural pride, and featured baggy jeans, oversized jackets, sneakers, and gold chains.
IthakaDarinPappas on Wikimedia
14. Princess Diana's "Revenge Dress"
After Prince Charles admitted his infidelity, Princess Diana wore a black off-the-shoulder dress that became an iconic and empowering style. The inspiration was her personal turmoil, but her grace and fashion sense allowed her to turn that into a way to reclaim her dignity.
John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA on Wikimedia
15. 1990s Minimalism
1990s fashion minimalism was a rejection of the excess of the 1980s. It was a sign of fashion and cultural fatigue, and designers like Calvin Klein capitalized. 1990s minimalism was all about clean lines and neutral palettes.
16. The Grunge Movement
The grunge movement and its fashion sense were born in the Seattle music scene, and reflected the disillusionment with the mainstream. If you wanted to look like a member of Nirvana, you would need a flannel shirt, ripped jeans, combat boots, and as much thrift clothing as you could find.
17. The Rise of Supermodels
In the 1990s, supermodels like Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell exploded in popularity. Their rise inspired a new style that embraced glamor and confidence, and their collective look set global trends.
Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA on Wikimedia
18. The Tech Boom
Silicon Valley was a huge fashion influencer from roughly 2000 to 2010. Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg redefined styles in their own ways and made it cool to wear black turtlenecks and dress as casually as you wanted.
19. Japanese Street Style
The Harajuku district of Tokyo became a mecca for fashion experimentation. The inspiration was drawn from postmodern Japanese youth culture and embraces creativity and a blending of East and West.
Nikoloz Gachechiladze on Unsplash
20. Civil Rights Movement
The movement for equal rights and racial equality projected a professional style that took over mainstream culture. People wore polished suits, ties, and dresses, and sharp dressing for African Americans was about asserting self-respect and a form of resistance.
Library of Congress on Unsplash
