Fashion is an ever evolving landscape, The influence of pop culture, fast fashion and the concept of ‘trends’ has resulted in mass production of clothes of different styles, cultures and designs in the 21st century. However, nothing competes with Hollywood’s old fashion. The classic, orthodox yet subtle sensuality of vintage clothes is just as relevant today as it was years ago.
It continues to be the pinnacle of glamour and sophistication.From the tom-boyish and jazz inspired appeal of fashion in 1920s to the elegant gowns of 1960s, Hollywood presented audiences with famous costumes that defined that era and inspire designers even today.
Hollywood came to symbolise entertainment and movie stars like Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Clark Gable became fashion icons. This article dives into the fabric of timeless fashion and their impact even on today’s runways and carpets.
1920s: The Roaring Twenties of Fashion
Fashion in the 1920s Hollywood was a vivid reflection of the shift in culture of the time, which was marked by the rise of cinema as a global power, the frenzy of the Jazz Age and the flapper revolution. This style gained popularity because of designers like Coco Chanel, who advocated ease and minimalism over the constricting corsets and voluminous skirts of the decade before.
The flapper was the main event of the 1920s. It had a straight silhouette with a lower waistline or no waistline at all. Flowing and light weight fabrics like silk and chiffon shone during this era. The dresses were embellished in sequins, beads and most importantly fringes. These were accessorised with cloche hats to go with the bob haircuts, shoes with low heels that were both fashionable and comfortable for dancing. The makeup during the 1920s was bold with rogue cheeks and dark lipsticks.
In the 1920s, men’s fashion changed subtly than women’s, which underwent a significant change. The decade’s love for leisure activities was reflected in the general trend towards a more laid-back style for men. Men wore suits with a vest underneath and hats to accessorise the look. The London Drape also got famous during this time.
Style icons of the time included celebrities like Louise Brooks and Clara Bow. Designers like Coco Chanel and Jeanne Lanvin revolutionised fashion and included comfort in it. Movies like The Great Gatsby set the oxford bag trends for men.
1930s: The Great Bias Cut
The decade of 1930 was a decade of juxtaposed extremes. On one hand there was an economical crisis while on the other hand fashion was booming. This polarity was also seen in fashion of the 1930s where chic met practicality. With its glamorous stars and lavish sets, the movie business rose to prominence as a symbol of fashion. In the 1930s fashion moved to silhouettes and femininity dumping the tom-boyish look of the 1920s.
As America’s stock market plummeted and the Great Depression dawned upon America, Americans shifted from beauty to utility. Silk was replaced with cotton. Hemlines lengthened to ankle lengths. As for Hollywood, glamorous backless gowns with deep necklines took over the silver screen. These were often paired with boas. Platform shoes stepped into the fashion scene and became an instant hit.
The star of the 1930s was the bias cut, The bias cut, created by designer Madeleine Vionnet, produced flowing lines that highlighted the body’s natural curves and allowed fabric to fall elegantly over the body. This was a revolutionary innovation in fashion. The stiff and structured outlines of earlier decades were gone and were replaced by gowns that complemented the feminine body.
Suits with broad, padded shoulders and other silhouettes gained popularity among the guys. These were often paired with fedoras and wide neckties. Loafers completed the look making it much more comfortable.
The celebrated fashion figures of the 1930s included Madeleine Vionnet who gave the world the bias cut, Elsa Schiaparelli pioneered surrealist fashion and added zippers to garments and Hollywood stars like Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich became fashion icons of the era.
1940s: The Dior Look
Fashion during the early and mid 1940s was heavily influenced by world war II. Designers had to be resourceful and conservative. American designers such as Adrian, Claire McCardell, and Pauline Trigère were creating new styles in the early half of the decade. Compared to French fashion, many designers of this era favoured a lighter and less rigid style. Women were made to wear wide-shouldered wedge silhouettes, petite waists, and single-pleated A-line skirts. Skirts went back to knee length due to shortage of fabric during war. Women frequently wore trousers which was a major change in women’s fashion brought about by celebrities like Katharine Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich.
As the war ended, Christian Dior put out the “New Look” in the fashion world. The gowns were long and flowy, the waist was snatched and the shoulders were round. Hollywood stars embraced this Dior look. This New Look was not only a positive for fashion but also became a beacon of hope for the people going back to normalcy after the war. Hats, gloves and jewellery became statement pieces to go with this new look.
Along with Katharine Hepburn, Lauren Bacall was also a style icon of the era. Her flowy gowns and trousers inspired many. Designers like Gilbert Adrian changed the fashion game by introducing padded shoulders. Jean Louis was another renowned designer of the era.
1950s: Little Black Dress
Christian Dior’s ‘New Look’ defined the 1950s. After the struggling 1940s, the 1950s brought back glamour, elegance, femininity and most prominently the hourglass silhouette. The influence of 1950s fashion is still relevant and seen even today.
The 1950s was full of options. Dior had long flowy gowns while Coco Chanel offered a more minimalistic and chic style. The renowned tweed suits were revived in the public eye by Chanel. Chanel’s designs from the 1950s stressed comfort, practicality, and simplicity without sacrificing style. She gave stylish women timeless wardrobe basics with her straight skirts, tiny black dresses, and cardigan jackets.
Hubert de Givenchy was another prominent designer of the 1950s. His tailoring was clean and sophisticated. He introduced a more youthful approach instead of a formal one.
The 1950s was the decade when Hollywood birthed powerful fashion icons. Marilyn Monroe introduced subtle sensuality. Her dresses from the era remain iconic to date. Her ivory Seven Year Itch dress and ‘Diamonds are girl’s best friends’ pink dress among others changed the way fashion was viewed.
Audrey Hepburn and her collaboration with Givenchy still can’t be replicated even today. She gave the world the ‘little black dress’ in ‘Breakfast At Tiffany’s’. She also made the cropped capri pants famous.
The 1950s’ rebellious youth was influenced by rock and roll, leather jackets and slicked black hair.
1960s: Miniskirts, Spandex and Boho Chic
The 1960s was about challenging the norms. Youth culture of experimentation was on the rise. The 1960s was a confusing year for fashion. Sophisticated dresses were still loved, hippie culture and boho chic got traction, spandex was everywhere and skirts got shorter!
Mary Quaint might have not invented the mini dress but she definitely made it popular around the globe. Before the 1960s, women’s knees were always covered and never on display. Yves Saint Laurent transformed women’s fashion by combining it with men’s.
Hollywood had a huge impact on 1960s fashion. Audrey Hepburn was still Givenchy’s muse and together they kept delivering elegance and style. For the youth, Twiggy made a huge impact. She styled herself in geometrical shapes, mini skirts and bold eye make up. She became an icon towards making fashion more liberated.
Jackie Kennedy’s fashion sense was also admired by all. Her dresses were tailored to the T and oozed elegance. The ‘Jackie Look’ became a benchmark for American women.
Cher gave life to Bohemian Chic. She popularised bohemian fashion by donning bell-bottoms, bandanas and ethnic-inspired tunics. She adopted a more carefree and free-spirited style with her bold and diverse costume choices, which often matched her musical performances. Cher‘s impact solidified her status as a fashion pioneer.
Conclusion
The old Hollywood fashion is still relevant. The silhouettes, embellishments and elegance are the blueprint of fashion and used as an inspiration for modern day fashion and styling. This proves that the mantra of Hollywood dress to impress is still valid. From the flapper dresses in the 1920s to the elegance of the 50s and the experimentation of the 60s, fashion has come a long way with innovations and creativity being showcased at every step.
FAQs
Flapper dresses with straight silhouettes were famous during the 1920s.
Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn were the notable style icons of the 1950s.
Although it is undetermined who invented the mini skirt, it was Mary Quaint who pioneered it.
Audrey Hepburn wore the famous little black dress in breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Cher popularised boho chic fashion.
