Women’s Fashion in America Is and Always Will Be Synonymous With Two Words: POP CULTURE
When we think of how pop culture has influenced fashion, what comes to mind?
One subject we can think of is how drastically fashion has changed during the last century. The roaring 1920s and 1930s flapper style fashions were heavily influenced by jazz music and elaborate parties. Radio broadcasting and magazines advertised silk, lace, tassels, and hats that came to dominate fashion during this prohibition era. During the 1950s, women’s fashion had a Suzy Homemaker vibe. These fashions replicated the style of the times made popular by shows such as I Love Lucy and Leave It to Beaver. The bright colors, prints, and shapes were representative of the time where women were stay-at-home mothers and wives.
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Going into the 1960s and 1970s, fashion was significantly influenced by politics and art, resulting in a hippie-meets-mod mashup. As far as political influence goes, a key example of this is the 1968 Miss America protest, where women decided to go braless and rid themselves of other symbolic “instruments of female torture,” such as girdles and high heels. This no-bra movement continues today as a fashion trend.
Contrastingly, the 1980s were a complete turnaround from the 1970s, going from flower child to an exaggerated eclectic style. The 1980s were filled with big hair, colorful clothing, and the influence of MTV which portrayed all genres of music including rock, pop, and hip-hop.
On another note, the 1990s grunge style, which originated in Seattle but became widespread all across America by the mid-’90s, was influenced by bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Plaid shirts and Doc Martens ruled the scene. This relaxed fashion trend paved the way for the plaid minis and crop tops that came to dominate the late 90s.
Following this, the age of social media began to influence iconic fashion trends. In the early 2000s, social media platforms boomed, allowing us to see our favorite celebrities wearing the latest and hottest fashion trends on Myspace. Fashion became readily available to consumers through online retailers. Ready to wear couture could now be delivered to our doorstep. The era of candy-colored velour tracksuits and Ugg boots worn by our favorite it-girls like Paris Hilton blew up. The early aughts began a time of excess where bedazzled flip phones and low-rise jeans were seen everywhere. These trends ultimately then led to the 2010s, which were defined by hipster fashion, athleisure, streetwear, and so on.
That being said, fashion has had and continues to have a major impact on me. My style is ever-evolving and a consistent narrative of my life. I’m influenced by expressive style icons in the media such as Lady Gaga, Kali Uchis, and Chloë Sevigny. Their ability to go against the grain by ignoring current fashion trends and pulling inspiration from different genres relates to how I present myself.
So, the question remains: Where will pop culture and fashion take us next? More specifically, how will our current social crisis affect how we dress? Stay tuned.
Strike Out,
Writer: Anastazia Mair
Boca Raton