The 1950s, ’60s and ’70s are notorious for fashion. Though it will never come true, I have always wished that I was born during this time period because of the impact its fashion had on society. The outfits, trends and aesthetics of these decades are timeless, and this has been proven within the last 50 years. Word of mouth says that as time moves forward, older trends are embedded into the present. Luckily, it seems as though specific trends during these decades will never fade away. Let’s flash back to the past. 

1950s 

In the 1950s, fashion hit a peak. People no longer dressed in an extremely sophisticated manner. People became “maximalistic.” Not only did the colors shift from neutral and muted to bright and inviting, but the pieces and accessories illuminated. During this time period, icons like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Audrey Hepburn changed the face of fashion emphatically. 

When people think about the ’50s, poodle skirts come to mind. However, this was not always the case. Flowy skirts and dresses, pencil skirts, cardigans, kitten heels, loafers, hats and denim became quite popular. Along with this, the ponytail and slicked-back hairstyles became popular. These trends were totally different from anything seen before. The idea of a cultivated society had been eliminated, as people began to use their voices. Instead of following the herd, many people stepped out of the comfort zone society dictated to them. 

This was especially visible when Elvis Presley wore revealing suits and eyeliner, which shocked many people. Marilyn Monroe became a “sex symbol,” as she wore revealing outfits that accentuated her body. Audrey Hepburn had short hair and wore tight dresses with gloves that elongated her arms and legs. Without these incredible shifters, we would not be where we are today in terms of societal acceptance and appreciation for individuality. 

Of the trends previously mentioned, all of them are practiced today in a modern style. For example, instead of saddle shoes, our generation wears loafers that mimic the look of a saddle shoe. Doc Martens has made an impressive effort to revive vintage fashion, which has been inspiring to see. 

1960s

Though the 1960s were mildly similar to the ’50s, there are key differences that play a role in the broadening of fashion. The ’60s provided trends such as go-go boots, miniskirts, turtlenecks, bell bottoms, patterned tights and jumpsuits. As I list, I begin to realize that these ideas are fully implanted into our world today.

Today, our go-go boots are paired with bell bottoms the same way they were during the ’60s. High-waisted denim is paired with turtlenecks in the same way. Our generation wears tights with miniskirts consistently. We have developed fashion into our own version of the same pieces that were popular decades ago, which is inspiring. In a general sense, an idea of a modernized ’60s piece would be the famous TikTok jumpsuits and bodysuits. Though they are more of an athletic wear item now, they follow the same scheme. 

1970s 

The 1970s are full of iconic people who made their mark in the world of fashion, including Cher, David Bowie, Gianni Versace, Blondie and John Travolta. These are household names that have shown the importance of being unique in your personal life. Fashion was different in aspects of music, television and designer brands. 

In music, the fashion was grunge. People often had big hair and wore darker colors when it came to punk rock, hard rock or metal. They also wore “hippie” clothes, which included bell bottoms, tie-dye and tassels when it came to alternative and classic rock. These were very popular genres of music during the ’70s, so the fashion had to be on par with the music styles. These trends have continued into the modern day, as rock and alternative music are still very popular. Bands and artists wear these styles to this day.

On the basis of acting and television, fashion was based heavily on characters. Their clothing mimicked the rest of society, as they were playing a role. Instead of putting on a persona like a musician may do, they wore the same outfits that a person in real life would wear. For example, they would wear floral prints, brighter colors, denim with belts, boots and T-shirts. They sported blowouts and slicked hair. They followed the normal, average style. 

Lastly, designer brands became popular in the late ’70s. Brands such as Versace, Armani, Calvin Klein, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci and Missoni were sought after because of the impact of media exposure. Fabrics and texture such as suede and cashmere were featured, as were the silhouette of body types and the implementation of disco wear. 

Fashion is more than clothing. It is the collection of thousands of memories, ideas, accomplishments and future endeavors. Step by step, heel by heel, the world will rely on fashion for the expansion of human creativity. It is hopelessly devoted to you.

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