The Many Changes of Fashion

What is Fashion? Fashion is a general term used to describe a style of clothing or practice used by people around the world. Fashion refers to anything that is a trend. Self-presentation is the most direct noticeable marker of fashion. Throughout history we have seen many changes in clothing, from the color, to the material used to make it. We have also seen the style in which clothing is made change drastically. Fashion communicates meanings that have individual and social significance. Society, cultures, gender and even political authority have impacted fashion over the years. Clothing styles characterize certain designs which represent the culture that wears the clothing. Designers continue to try to direct their ideas to a transforming society that will sequentially make their designs worth big money (Roach 54-55).

Fashion in the 1900’s was impacted greatly by World War I and II. The biggest change was seen in women on the American home front. As the men left for war, the woman’s responsibilities on the home front changed. Women went from wearing dresses to wearing pants and doing the labor once done by man. With World War I bringing over six million fatalities it became many women’s only choice to manage without male support. The women liked their new found freedom on the home front. It was during this time that fashion manufacturing was interrupted due to limits on material, so women’s dresses became shorter, and their pants tighter (Nunn 169-206).

Fashion in the 1940’s began to slow down; little changes were being seen unlike during the Jazz Age (1919-1929). It was due to the lack of material caused by World War II. Women couldn’t change their outfits, so they dressed in simple clothing. During this time military clothing...

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