1900: The early 1900s marked the rise of the haute couture movement in Paris. Women of the upper classes coveted the Parisian designs, which set the tone for the rest of the Western fashion world.
1910: World War I began in 1914, attention and resources were drawn away from fashion. British Vogue launched in 1916, but the emotional and economic consequences of war were making androgynous dressing (women dressing similar to men) more popular.
1920: By the time World War I ended, women were used to their freedom and independence, and their clothing maintained its wartime masculinity with loose, shapeless fits and flattened busts. Corsets became a thing of the past. Designer Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel rose to prominence during this decade. The consummate image of the 1920s, the flapper, did not fully emerge until 1926.
1930/1940: This fashion time period happened to be during the Great Depression, and clothing became more functional and military-inspired with square shoulders. Techniques for mass production of uniforms carried over into the creation of ready-to-wear fashion. Once World War II was underway, clothes became even more restrained. Cloth was severely rationed. Uniforms were commonly seen in public.
1950: Once World War II ended, newcomer Christian Dior rebelled against the austerity of the time and produced an extravagant design of a fitted jacket with a cinched waist and a full calf-length skirt. Dior's designs became extremely popular, as women were longing to dress femininely and frivolously again after the war. Teenagers became a force in the fashion market as a result of influences such as music and film.
1960: Youth were the leaders of the sixties, which was a colorful decade in many ways. The 60's was the hippie movement, which spawned trends like bell-bottom jeans and tie-dyed shirts. There were also people who went with a more classy and sophisticated look.
1970: Increased ease of travel meant that fashion had more global, ethnic inspirations. The disco dance craze led to widespread use of polyester, which was ideal for creating tight, stretchy clothing that shone under disco lighting. The late seventies gave rise to punk, an anti-fashion anarchistic movement.
1980: Materialism defined this decade, as the western world experienced an economic boom. The power suit became a symbol of the eighties. People flaunted designer brands as symbols of wealth. Increased use of credit cards encouraged spending. The creation of MTV revolutionized the music industry by turning musicians into television stars who had the power to influence through fashion and visuals in addition to music. Princess Diana also became a fashion icon during this time.
1990: As technology made working from home more feasible and offices instituted “Casual Fridays,” fashion became more laid-back and comfortable. In contrast to the excessive consumerism and gaudy color palette of the eighties, 1990s style veered toward a more minimalist aesthetic with lots of black and neutral colors. Grunge was an alternative rock subculture that began in Seattle and spawned a style of unkempt dressing.
2000: A major trait of new millennium fashion has been recycled trends with futuristic twists. The dreaded eighties shoulder pad has been reworked as the “architectural” shoulder. Current boot-cut and flared jeans are toned-down versions of bell-bottoms. Both real vintage and vintage-inspired clothes have become popular.
2010: This decade's fashion has been very casual. T-shirts and skinny jeans have been very popular along with sweaters and hoodies. Dark colors and neutrals tones have become popular during winter and fall, and pastels and florals in spring and summer.