10 Historical Reasons Why What You Wear, Has Nothing To Do With Your Personality!

Contrary to today’s belief that fashion is a personality statement; the following list shows historical evidence of how women’s fashions throughout the 19th century are a show of major events during the time rather than personality traits.

1. 1900's: STAP! ANKLES HAVE ARRIVED!... Along with a New Found Independence

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The turn of the century started a whole new era of ideals and reform for both women and the country. The idea of the "new woman" was one linked to progressiveness and the start of factory life and industrialization on a large-scale level. People were flocking to cities and women started to experience a whole new era of independence and suffrage movements. For the first time women were holding jobs and the marriage rate was down and the divorce rate was up. Movements for women equality were also gaining momentum with organizations like the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). Women starting to gain independence correlated to the change in women's fashions. Hemlines started to get shorter and ankles were being shown for the first time, as well as women's silhouettes moving to a "Gibson girl" model here. An hourglass figure was also coveted along with lower bodices. The showing of slightly more skin is a direct correlation to the emerging idea that women were their own person. Just like in today's world, societies changing views played a role in what was deemed acceptable.

Brinkley, Alan. "Chapter 20:The Progressives." The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People. 7th ed. Vol. 2. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2014. 481-83. Print.

2. 1910's: Practical Times Made for Practical Women… and Hemlines

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The 1910 era presented a time period where the movement for women's rights was somewhat put on hold for WWI, which started in 1914. Women had to start to work in the factories and take over some of the jobs men were leaving behind to fight in the war. This gave way to a more practical nature in dress attire as skirts became more fitted and the skirt with a shirt tucked into it was popular. Money was tight and women needed to cut back on extravagance, which was evident in the simpler styles and shorter hemlines. In order to do a man's work, women needed to start dressing more for their jobs than for luxury. Here is an example of the style of the time. In contrast to today's world, women showed these hard times and the shift in a women's role by the clothing they wore. Just how we show what's important to our society in our clothing choices today.

Ashelford, Jane: The Art of Dress: Clothing and Society 1500–1914, Abrams, 1996.

3. 1920's: Shorter Dresses = Longer Rights

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Finally the end of the war along with the dawn of the New Era of women changed fashion once again. Women were drawn to the "new national culture" with vibrant consumerism and the illusion of booming prosperity for everyone. Even though in reality most people did not benefit from the "roaring twenties." However, styles were still changed, as women broke free of the "respectable" nature of the earlier 1900's and gained the right to vote in 1920. Women were starting to smoke, drink, dance and go party out of the home. This became known as the "flapper" lifestyle that involved shorter hair and even shorter dresses. Production of clothing was modernized with new sewing machines and new techniques. Fashion designers embraced the new era and produced dresses that reflected the women's culture with shorter hemlines and a loose fit. Beads and sequins were added along with costume jewelry and shorter hair, as you can see here. Women of this age went along with the seductive idea of prosperity and moral abandon which influenced the change in clothing.

Brinkley, Alan. "Chapter 22: The New Era." The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People. 7th ed. Vol. 2. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2014. 538-45. Print.

4. 1930's: Depressing Times Call for Depressing Silhouettes

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The great depression started out the 1930s and once again, women's fashion changed as a result. The carefree attitude of the 1920's was replaced with the grim aftermath of the Stock market crashing. Hoverville's and the poverty number skyrocketed as people struggled to rebuild their lives. 9,000 banks between 1930-1933 closed and unemployment was at an all time high. It wasn't until FDR's "new deal" did the US start to return to a functioning level. As a result we see women's fashion change to accommodate the poverty of this decade. Hemlines dropped and the A-line style became popular as movie stars premiered with long flowing dresses that were both elegant and dropped down to the floor. Poorer women were using more economic fabrics and "shift-dresses" were quite common. Most women could not afford to update their wardrobe and therefore altered previous decades clothing by adding fabric as you can see here. Just like today's society, when times grow tough an individual women's fashion is altered. People incorporate previous styles and alter them to be able to wear something "new."

Brinkley, Alan. "Chapter 23: The Great Depression." The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People. 7th ed. Vol. 2. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2014. 553-60. Print.

5. 1940's: New War Calls for New FASHION! Yasss!

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As America entered into WWII it simultaneously brought an end to the great depression as unemployment, deflation, and industrial stagnation ended. Women's employment increased by 60% since men were off fighting in the war and demand for industrial jobs was rising to accommodate the war demand. Also, a vast number of women joined government jobs and unions in support of the war effort. As prosperity of the country once again rose so did American "consumerism" as seen in the 1920s. This new role of women during the war and new prosperity was reflected in fashion. Women started with the shorter hemlines again, as well as with more masculine style jackets and shapes as they went to more masculine jobs as shown here. At the end of the century women were also embracing wide skirts that were just below the knee since increased prosperity allowed for the excess fabric. This shows how whatever role women were needed to fill, fashion trends were adjusted accordingly.

Brinkley, Alan. "Chapter 26: America in a World at War." The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People. 7th ed. Vol. 2. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2014. 625-33. Print.

6. 1950's: Happy Wife, Happy Life fashions!

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Post war times came with a whole new cold war culture, family dynamic and take on the traditional "women." This cold war culture was comprised of three main ideals, "consumption, containment and counterculture." As men returned home, women returned to the nuclear family concept with a "housewife" mentality. A women's life now centered on their family and the new appliances and shopping seduced them into playing into the consumer culture. People moved to the suburbs and they were caught up in achieving the "American Dream." All of the independence women had in the previous decade was virtually eliminated and the idea of achieving a perfect family and life was reflected in their clothing choices. Women starting wearing softer shoulders with an accentuated waist and a large circular skirt that ended just below the knee as seen here. This was considered the epitome of the feminine look since the role of being a mother and wife was revered. These values contrast today's society, where women are encouraged to be independent and have their own careers before they are married or have kids. This is also reflected in our clothing choices since women are allowed to be "tomboys" or wear causal clothing if they so desire.

Brinkley, Alan. "Chapter 28: The Affluent Society." The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People. 7th ed. Vol. 2. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2014. 673-90. Print.

7. 1960's: Show a Little Knee and Get a Little Rights!

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The 1960s are the epitome of a social revolution and rejection of the previous decades culture of conformity and constraint. The Vietnam War and the growing distrust of authority in the form of the elder generation and the government influenced younger people to rebel. Protesting became a popular lifestyle choice by a change in clothing, along with a change in attitude towards life and work. There was a new emphasis on feeling and following a path that makes one happy versus what is expected. Women also experienced a rise in in an equality movement with the formation of organizations of the National Organization of Women founded in 1966. Women were now more focused on breaking free of the traditional housewife role and having equal pay and work opportunities. All of this social change was reflected in the clothing choices of women since they styles were rebellion in itself. Women's clothes were the exact opposite of the generation before them with bright colors and hemlines going above the knee for the first time as seen here. Pant suits for women were also beginning to emerge as more women entered the professional workforce than the previous decades. Clothing once again shows the changes and transformations of society and becomes statement of beliefs in this decade. In comparison, bright colors and short hemlines of the 60s are much like the political tee-shirts people wear today.

"American Cultural History." 1960-1969. N.p., 1999. Web. 04 Aug. 2014.

8. 1970's: Peace, Love and Bellbottoms!

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The counterculture movement that started in the 60's expanded into the 70's with more momentum gaining for the hippy movement and feminist progress. Women started wearing more relaxed "casual" attire with the beginning of bell-bottoms and shorts as seen here. They also continued with the bright colors and long hair that started in the late 60's as rejection of authority. This change reflected the advances with affirmative action guidelines to include women. Title IX legislation was also approved in 1972 which allowed for universities to support female athletic programs at equal levels as men. Women were also beginning to be allowed in previously male-only dominated universities. This started the norm of middle class women now working alongside their husbands. The Vietnam War also played a role in influencing fashion choices since the hippy movement that characterized the major fashion changes, involved the protest of the war. All of these social changes were once again reflected in how women saw themselves and how that manipulated what they wore.

"American Cultural History." 1970-1979. N.p., 1999. Web. 04 Aug. 2014.

9. 1980's: Perms and Shoulder Pads for the Win… maybe?

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The 1980's were when women were really entering the professional workforce in vast numbers and maintaining high level government positions. Women were serving in both houses of congress and in federal cabinet positions. Some states even had women for governors. As women gained status and recognition, fashion choices echoed the new role women had in the workplace. Women started wearing over sized clothing and shoulder pads to diminish the look of the ultra feminine figure and resemble a more masculine or unisex look as seen here. Bright colors still carried over but women leaned more towards "power dressing" to showcase the idea of women power. Fitness even became popular along with punk and rock and roll, which influenced the dressing habits of the 80s. Much like today, women started taking a more confident stand in the world and the clothing represented that.

"The 1980s." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2011. Web. 05 Aug. 2014.

10. 1990's: With Great Equality, Comes Great Need for Jean Shorts…

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At the end of the century we see a completely different woman than that of the beginning of the century. Women are no longer seen quite as second hand citizens and now are seen in the workplace with men on more equal levels. It has become acceptable for women to be single and live on their own while working and living out there lives. Fashion trends showcase this casual lifestyle with a continuation of 80's styles with causal comfort being the primary motivator. Women wear jean pants and jean shorts with shirts ranging in a grunge look to a preppy style as seen here. Freedom to choose what to wear was accentuated with pop culture influencing freedom to choose a more individual style that reflected women's equality and the music generation. This decade is what sets the stage for our decade of complete equality for men and women not only in what we wear but our rights.

"Decade by Decade: 1990s - Women of the Century - DiscoverySchool.com." Decade by Decade: 1990s - Women of the Century - DiscoverySchool.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Aug. 2014.