Fashion is a broad aesthetic term applying to a number of changing trends in clothes, footwear, accessories, hair, cosmetics, lifestyle, makeup, hairstyles, and body proportions over a period of time. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, fashion has had an increasingly significant cultural influence. One of the most significant influences has been that of the art movement which came to be known as “Dadaism.” The term “Dadaism” was taken from the French word for dice, a type of decorative printing.
The first fashion designers were, most likely, either artists who had some knowledge of dressmaking or they were schooled in a less formal fashion-designing environment. Starting out in the late 1890s, fashion designers were forced to create clothing that could be worn for a short time during the summer and then must be stored for the winter. They combined new materials, like silk, with old techniques, like sewing. Eventually designers took up designing full suits and then began to specialize in particular areas of fashion, such as women’s suits, children’s suits, and men’s suits. In general, fashion began to have a social impact on clothing styles.
As new fashions became popular, designers needed ways to display these designs and to make them fashionable. This new ability gave birth to “clothing catalogues,” which showed designers’ work in “real world” styles. Throughout the late nineteenth century, the development of the textile market created new opportunities for women who, previously, could only dream about owning a real dollhouse. These opportunities, in turn, spurred more changes in the world of fashion, creating a greater need for skilled designers and a greater demand for the materials used in fashion designs.
The “Lollipop Dress” is one of the most famous fashion creations of the late nineteenth century. This dress was designed by a seamstress named Emmelie LaPorta and it consisted of a skirt, a top, and two small pouches that held accessories such as comb, mirror, or comb for hair. Each of the pouch was designed to drape and curve around the body, creating an elegant silhouette that complimented the skirt. The skirt itself originated as a cocktail dress, but soon dress designers began to use dresses for many different types of occasions. They even began to include dresses for men, which were designed to be shorter and more streamlined.
The “Formal Suit” is another fashion design that has endured throughout the ages. This type of fashion design is associated with the Victorian era, but designers have made a great deal of changes in this style over the last few decades. These suits are usually constructed of a material such as silk, linen, or velvet. Their classic appearance is a result of the simplicity of the dress and its intricate construction. Many formal suits feature elaborate lining and beautiful accents, such as beading and embroidery.
One final fashion design is the “Corset”, which is a close-fitting piece of clothing that is typically sleeveless. Corsets first gained popularity in the 1970’s, and they quickly became a staple in any woman’s wardrobe. Today, Corset style clothing is often used as a fashion statement, but they can also be found in traditional lingerie. A corset’s popularity was revived during the fashion era of the 80’s, when celebrities such as Madonna, Avril Lavigne, and Jane Fonda showed off their new sexy corsets. In addition to their popularity among women, corsets also became quite popular with men. Modern, high fashion corsets are designed to resemble the styles of previous centuries and to provide women with an extremely slim silhouette.