1960s Fashion

While researching current fashion trends, I was so shocked to find out that many people are unclear on the distinction between the 1960s and the 1970s that I had to do a post to clear up any confusion!
Because many of the current fashion trends of 2013 are influenced by the 1960s, it's important to understand where the influences are coming from and to see how the current trends align or differ from the originals!

 

One of the classic 1960s looks was the Chanel suit. The women's suit was introduced by Coco Chanel in 1925 but was such a classic, timeless piece that it remained in fashion for decades after. Each decade it would be slightly altered to better suit the time. In the '60s it was worn with a cropped jacket that was often collarless with large, oversized buttons and paired with a pencil skirt.

Shift dresses became the  popular choice for women's wear in the '60s. Shifts were shapeless, geometric dresses that sometimes had a bit of a billow to them.

The A-line style came in style in full effect during this time as well. This was carried over by the late '40s and the '50s. This style would have a full skirt with a tightly fitted waist.

 

Another new style was the cropped pants for women. This was just a casual look but very important in fashion history as it was the start of women wearing pants more freely and frequently.

For shoes, kitten heels and little black flats became a staple in every wardrobe. Audrey Hepburn is well known for sporting such styles.

 

Music and Fashion of the 1920s

The 1920s was such a busy decade with so many different angles to view from.
The previous post I did on the 1920s fashion was focused more on prohibition and rebellion whereas this post will be focused on how jazz music influenced the fashions of the '20s!

In the 1920s, a new form of music was introduced: jazz music. Jazz captivated cities with the melodies and beats fit for dancing wildly through the night. The Charleston quickly became the dance craze to flow with the new music. It was then that the people realized how unsuitable the Victorian apparel was for the new ways of dancing.

First, the drop-waist was introduced along with strands of beads and pearls that  would "flap" as the ladies danced. The new lower waist allowed women to move and dance more freely without being constricted by a corset.

 

Next came the loosely fitted and shapeless dress. This again allowed easier movement and created the desired boyish figure.

 Along with the boyish look came the short hairstyle. Not only were these in favor of the rebellion, but also were more practical and comfortable for dancing all night to the fabulous jazz music.

The History of Wedding Rings

Because I am just a hopeless romantic at heart, this week's post is all about the history of wedding rings and the logic behind them!

The earliest exchange of rings to symbolize love was in ancient Egypt. Along the Nile River there was a plant called papyrus that would be bent and shaped into rings.

The rings are shaped like circles to symbolize eternity. Because a circle has no beginning nor end, the marriage will therefore have no end. A circle is continuous, as is the love in the marriage. The hole in the middle also symbolizes the gateway into the life the husband and wife now share.

Later, the materials the rings were being made of were replaced by longer-lasting materials such as leather, ivory, and even bone. It wasn't until much later that rings began to be made from gold. However, even before gold rings, it was still thought to be that the more expensive the material was, the more the man loved his wife.

Of course, the Romans couldn't resist on adopting this adornment--but not without putting their own spin on it first. They began to make the rings out of iron and it's also believed that they were the first to engrave their rings.

The Christians later adopted this tradition and came up with the other tradition of wearing the ring on the fourth finger of the left hand. During the wedding ceremony when the bride and groom exchange rings, the minister would take the ring and tap the thumb and say, "In the name of the Father," tap the index finger, "the Son," tap the middle finger, "and the Holy Spirit," then he would place the ring on the ring finger and say, "Amen" thus sealing the marriage.

The other reason for wearing the wedding ring on the fourth finger on the left hand was because it was believed that there was a vein in that finger that lead straight to the heart called "Vena Amoris" or the "Vein of Love."

Wartime Fashion

After doing some extensive research on the fashions of the 1940s, I came across another side to it that is so interesting that I just HAD to do a post on it!

 



Shortly after WWII was declared in 1939, materials began being rationed and primarily shipped to efforts involving the war. Wool was used for soldiers' uniforms and silk was manufactured into parachutes, maps, and gunpowder bags. Nylon was later introduced in May 1940 as a multipurpose material.

A few weeks after WWII had been declared, designers in Paris and London introduced lines that had a particular emphasis on practicality and convenience. For example, the shoes were made with a thicker heel and more of a closed toe for easier walking in case of an emergency or evacuation. 

Due to the scarcity of materials at this time, the prices for haute-couture were raised incredibly high. In order to raise revenue, both Britain and France exploited the talents of their designers by exporting their collections to America.

German forces invaded Paris in June 1940, causing its dominance of international fashion to come to a halt. Many designers left Paris at this time, unwilling to be under the authority of the Nazis.

Adolf Hitler had planned on transforming Berlin into the cultural capital of the world. Part of this plan included moving Paris's prestigious fashion industry to the German capital. Fortunately the President of the Chambre Syndicale, Lucien Lelong, was able to convince Hitler that this would be impractical. It was agreed that couture would remain in Paris so long as it served under the regulation of the Nazis.

Some designers opposed this and rebelled. Madame Grés produced a line in the colors of the French flag, which resulted in her shop being closed down by the Germans.

**Just a reminder that Adolf Hitler was elected by the people of Germany. Up until Hitler's reign, Germany was a democracy just like America. Vote wisely. Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.

Well, that's all for this week! I hope you've enjoyed it and learned something new!

History of Masquerade Balls

This week's post is all about masquerade balls and the history behind them!

The concept of a masked celebration goes back to the Medieval Era in Venice, originally created to honor a marriage or mark a certain point in the royal dynasty. After a short period of time, the masked celebrations became open to all classes, rather than being exclusive to royalty.

At first, many opposed the idea of masking one's identity and socializing with people from lower classes. Later, people saw the romantic allure of anonymity and being able to portray an identity rather than your own.

Later, in the eight-teenth and nine-teenth century Venetian masquerade balls became wildly popular all over Europe and even making their way over to colonial America. Golden masks were some of the most popular choices. Adorned with feathers, flowers, and jewels, these masks were absolutely breathtaking.

 

And of course the gowns had to be just as elaborate as the masks. Rich colors accented with gold was always an enviable pairing.

Marie Antoinette herself attended such celebrations, looking absolutely stunning of course. 

Throughout the years, masquerade balls have always had the alluring feel of mystery and romance about them that has made them last through centuries.

Thank you for reading! I hope you've enjoyed it!