Exchanging satin puff-sleeved gowns for ripped jeans and chunky trainers, UK fashion has never witnessed a dull moment. Step into past decades and see how British fashion has evolved for better and for worse.
The 1800’s
The 1800’s saw elegance and sophistication in the fashion world, showcasing frilled dresses with elaborate hems and necklines. Women often wore ostentatious floor-length dresses that cinched their waists in and exaggerated their bottom halves. Elizabeth Bennet’s costume in Pride and Prejudice is a prime example of 1800’s dress sense and perfectly mimics the fashion of the time.
The 1900’s
Similarly, the 1900’s continued the trend of floor lengths dresses but women often opted for a slimmer, less flamboyant silhouette. Still honing in on the waist, 1900’s dresses complimented the figure slightly more and relied less on puffiness and frill details.
1950’s:
1950’s British fashion witnessed the rise of midi skirts, often patterned with floral or polka-dot detailing. Midi skirts sat slightly below the knee and were often paired with a fitted blouse or blazer and heels. The skirts were either narrow pencil-esque shaped or flowing full skirts, which were kept in shape with the use of petticoats. In fact, full skirts were quite the statement piece and were worn to celebrate the end of clothing restrictions after the war.
1960’s:
As the decades passed, the skirts became shorter. Long gone were the days of petticoats and flowing floor-length skirts. 60’s Britain rather saw a rise in tighter, shorter mini-skirts, usually worn in a solid block colour or patterned with stripes or plaid. The mini-skirt was designed to elongate the leg and became a staple piece for British women in the 1960’s. English model, Twiggy, was often seen sporting a mini-skirt with turtleneck long-sleeved tops and statement boots.
1970’s:
In the 1970’s, British women leaned less into skirts and, instead, opted for wide-leg jeans and flared trousers. Contrary to the 1960’s, the 70’s saw garments of neutral colours such as beiges, browns and creams as opposed to eccentric patterns and solid block primary colours. Blouses and turtlenecks were, again, extremely prominent in this era, often tucked into the flare trousers or worn under a sweater vest.
1980’s:
British fashion took a sharp turn in the 1980’s, introducing unconventional patterns, graphic tees, leather, neon and big baggy garments. British fashion icons of the time included Lady Diana, Kate Moss and Vivienne Westwood. For some women, 1980’s fashion meant neon shirts with shoulder pads and acid wash jeans. However, for others, fashion became a statement of rebellion – graphic t-shirts, ripped jeans and plaid skirts.
1990’s:
90’s British fashion was heavily influenced by Britpop, particularly girl band Spice Girls. Halter neck tops, low rise jeans, chunky trainers and figure-hugging dresses were all the rage back in the 90’s, mirroring Geri Halliwell’s style. Continuing from the 1980’s, grungy denim and plaid shirts were also massive trends in the 90’s.
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Today:
British fashion today witnesses come-back pieces from the 1980’s and 1990’s. Ripped oversized jeans, large jumpers, graphic t-shirts and chunky trainers have returned to modern-day fashion, often worn by social media star, Molly-Mae Hague and British singer Dua Lipa. Much like 1970’s trends, today’s fashion relies on neutral block colours and basic staple items such as tank tops and denim.