| ress has always been a popular garment for women | | | | were usually simple knee-length dresses. New clothes |
| throughout the ages. The dress has developed and | | | | were often re-invented from old clothes as there was |
| evolved with differing styles and hemlines. In the | | | | a shortage of materials. |
| 1920’s the dress was usually referred to as | | | | 1950’s |
| ‘flapper’ clothing, loosened waistline, | | | | During the 1950’s there were developments of |
| often backless and usually knee-length. In the | | | | man-made fibres and more efficient factory production |
| 1930’s the dress was elegant and sophisticated. | | | | methods, which created an increase in ready-to-wear |
| In the 1940’s the dress evolved into a more | | | | outfits that were affordable. Copies of latest trends |
| utility style, more conservative. In the 1950’s the | | | | from the fashion houses of Paris and London were |
| trend was reversed and the dress shapes were | | | | now available to everyone. |
| curvier with wasp waists and wide skirts over many | | | | The shape of the clothing in the 1950’s was |
| underskirts. In the 1960’s dresses were | | | | curvy and very feminine with wasp waists and wide |
| influenced by musical tastes and also the hippie style | | | | skirts over many underskirts which were influenced by |
| was worn. | | | | Rock n roll. The sac dress, the sheath dress, the A line |
| 1920’s | | | | and the H line all made a brief appearance on the |
| There were radical changes to women’s | | | | fashion stage. |
| clothing in the 1920’s as hems rose, waistlines | | | | 1960’s |
| dropped, corsets were no longer used and elaborate | | | | In the 1960’s there was a major change |
| beading was introduced. | | | | throughout the fashion world. Fashion was no longer |
| The 1920’s dresses were influenced heavily by | | | | aimed at wealthy, mature people, but the preferences |
| many different art movements of the eras, most | | | | of the younger generation now became important. |
| notably Art Deco. The dresses used vibrant colours, | | | | Clothes were transformed by new ideas from the |
| exotic motifs and new luxurious fabrics. | | | | London pop scene. Musical tastes and styles of dress |
| 1930’s | | | | were linked and the mod look first popularised simple |
| In the 1930’s women wanted more elegant and | | | | geometric shapes. |
| sophisticated clothing, giving a more ladylike | | | | Later in the 1960’s the hippy look was very |
| appearance. Dresses were feminine and tidy by day | | | | popular, often a young middle-class person in favour of |
| with a return to real glamour at night. | | | | colourful flowing clothes, peace and free love. It was at |
| The dresses of the 1930’s highlighted the more | | | | this time that designers of dress experimented with |
| feminine silhouette, which emphasised the natural form | | | | colours, patterns and textures taken from |
| of the woman's body. Bosom, waistline, and hips were | | | | non-Western cultures. |
| clearly defined by the shape of the dress. The | | | | There was a brief but spectacular Sixties sensation of |
| waistline returned to its natural position. | | | | paper dresses. These dresses were cheap and |
| 1940’s | | | | disposable and their simple 2-D shape was ideal for |
| Due to the war, 1940’s clothing was rationed | | | | the bold graphic prints. |
| and regulated, but women still interested in what they | | | | In the 1960’s also saw the introduction of the |
| wore, put extra effort into pushing fashion boundaries. | | | | mini-skirt - a very short thigh-length skirt. |
| Dresses worn in the 1940’s were practical; they | | | | |