Developments within 1960's-1990's Fashion design :
Developments that are shown throughout fashion development in Australia were shown in the 1960s and 1970s. Australian fashion manufacturers and designers tended to use the work of local textile designers rather than sourcing their materials from overseas or large textile manufacturers. Fashion developments have continued to advance right from the 1960s era where vintage clothing was in right the way through to the grunge era in the 1990s where everything was about doc martens and dark subdued colours. Clothing had well advanced as over the period of 40 years we as historians can examine the changes in style, growth and development.
The first development which is shown in the 1960s was shown through modified, homemade and secondhand clothing which was an expression of individuality during the 1960s. The 1960s was a decade of sweeping change throughout the fashion world generating ideas and images which still appear modern today. The second development which is shown in the 1970s was when women chose who they wanted to be and if they felt like wearing a short mini skirt one day and a maxi dress, midi skirt or hot pants the next day - that's what they did. For evening-wear women often wore full length maxi dresses, evening trousers or glamorous halter neck catsuits. Some of the dresses showed Motown glamour, others less so. In the 1970s, every type of ethnic image set a trend. The third development which is shown in the 1980s fashion was influenced by the western economic boom. The early 80s were somewhat subdued in color, where we see a lot browns and tans and oranges. Blocky shapes were everywhere and dressing like a tennis player was the cool thing to do. This is a major development in fashion in the 1980s era as it shows the transformation from bright colours in the 60s and 70s to darker colours in the 80s and 90s. The fourth development which is shown in the 1990s was that after the conspicuous consuming years of the 1980s less became more in the 1990s. The main thrust of fashion was the striving to achieve individuality. Fashion produced as fast as it could by the help of the media and Internet and only by styling oneself rather than following a particular designer's fashion look, could individuality actually be achieved. Changes in technology, leisure, work, cultural and moral values. Homelife and politics also contribute to lifestyle trends, which in turn influence the clothes we wear. These are the changes that make any era of society special in relation to the study of the costume of a period. |
The 1960s saw the appearance of the mini-skirt. Up until that time, skirts and dresses in Australia finished sensibly at the knee. New soaring hemlines created huge controversy when they first appeared, exposing centimeters of thigh never before seen in public. Hippie movement arrived in Australia towards the end of the 1960s, influencing other clothing styles such as denim jeans.
The beliefs and attitudes of 1960-1990s fashion in Australia shows a connection to lifestyle changes and decisions. The 60s hippie revolution was a major lifestyle change through the connection of fashion development. Throughout the 1960s, many young people became disillusioned by what they perceived to be the materialism of contemporary society. Towards the end of the decade many adapted an alternative hippie lifestyle. The hippie movement included a rebellious style of dress and a reverence for nature. These radical changes in society were reflected in the new fashion, hairstyles and styles of music which emerged throughout this decade. The 1960s were a decade of political and social upheaval in Australia, young people challenged the traditional values of their parent's generation and completely opposed the decisions of the government. Women's fashion in the 1970s broke free from convention. Bras and corsets were denounced as symbols of oppression and conformity, and were discarded by many women. Women also flouted their new-found freedom by wearing traditional male clothing like baggy trousers, men's jackets,vests, over-sized shirts, ties and hats. fashion trends like mini skirts, bell bottoms and long hair carried over from the 1960s although some women in the 1970s preferred to wear midi or free flowing maxi skirts. Men's fashion became more bold and daring throughout the 1970s. The hippie fashion crossed over into the fashion of both sexes. For men this meant colourful ties, and bright fitted shirts with big collars. Lots of men grew short beards and side burns or mustaches and let their hair grow long. flared trousers were both popular for men and women throughout this decade. By the end of the 1970s trouser legs had gradually straightened out again. The 1980s was a rebellious style that emerged in the late 1970s and gained momentum throughout the 1980s. Punk fashion was a major reaction against the 1960s hippie era where peace-loving was the main priority. Inspired by the rebellious English bands like Sex Pistols Punk fashion was loud, angry and aggressive which was designed to shock. Punk fashion included tight black jeans a ripped tattered t-shirt held together by safety pins and heavy Doc Martens boots. Punk hair was short for both men and women which was often dyed a bright vibrant colour or styles into a spiky Mohawk. The 1990s was a grunge fashion era, it was one of the most significant trends of the decade. Grunge was a trend which combined two very different forms of rebellion from previous decades - the early 1970s 'hippie' and 1980s 'punk' movements which is expressed to refer to the beliefs and attitudes shown in society at the time of the rising trend sets. Grunge style clothing was often over sized baggy and torn. With dark and subdued colours. Hair was kept deliberately messy and un-styled. Typical grunge fashion for women included long,straight hair and flowing feminine skirts with a combination of punk influenced like heavy doc martens and body piercings. Young men also wore their hair long and wore baggy pants, ripped t-shirts and flannelette shirts. |