Why Do Fashions Change Over Time? (2024)

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Why Do Fashions Change Over Time? (1)

ARTS & CULTURELife Science

Have You Ever Wondered...

  • Why do fashions change over time?
  • Who influences fashions?
  • What fashions were popular when your parents were young?

Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Leila. Leila Wonders, “why do fashions change over time” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Leila!

Do you pick out the clothes you wear to school each day? When you’re deciding what to wear, what do you think about? What things are important to you?

If you look in your closet, you realize that you have a certain number of clothes to choose from. But how did those clothes get there? Did you help pick them out? Why did you or your family members choose the clothes you have?

Who decided that blue jeans and T-shirts are “cool” for kids to wear today? Who designs the clothes you see for sale in stores? All of these questions revolve around the world of fashion.

Fashion refers to the styles of dress that are currently popular. Fashion goes beyond just clothes, though. It can extend to shoes, jewelry, and even how you style your hair.

For some people, fashion is a high priority. They like to wear only the latest fashions and styles. For others, though, keeping up with the trends isn’t that important.

And keeping up is certainly something you have to do if fashion is important to you. The one thing that stays the same with fashion is this: It always changes!

Don’t believe us? Spend some time on the Internet looking at fashion over the ages. In the 1960s and 1970s, hippies made bell-bottomed blue jeans popular. In the 1980s, Michael Jackson made parachute pants all the rage. Now try to find these items in today’s clothing stores. It may be pretty difficult!

Why do fashions change? The answer is probably as simple as the fact that people change. Over time, the new replaces the old. People are influenced by popular culture, including athletes, musicians, movie stars, social media, and royalty. They also pay attention to what people wear in popular films, television shows, online videos, books, and music. We also are influenced by the fashion industry’s advertising.

The stars of popular culture don’t remain stars by doing the same things over and over again. Instead, they’re always searching for a new angle to maintain their popularity. Often these new angles come in the form of new clothing or hairstyles.

When people see these new styles, they often want to imitate their favorite stars. To do so, they seek out the latest fashions—clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc.—to make themselves look like the people they want to be like. In this way, fashions constantly change over time.

This has been happening for hundreds of years! Ever since clothes were invented, they’ve been used as forms of expression. As far back as the 1700s, people in France were known to spend hours looking through fashion magazines to learn about the latest styles. This trend quickly spread across Europe.

For years, clothes have been used to separate people into groups. Even today, expensive brand-name clothing is sometimes used by people to distinguish themselves from others. Unfortunately, this can often have the effect of ostracizing certain groups.

Don’t forget that it’s always okay to develop your own sense of style. You can be unique and separate from others in the fashion world. Stay true to yourself and let your personality—not your clothes—speak for who you are!

Standards: CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1, CCRA.SL.2, CCRA.W.2, CCRA.L.1, CCRA.L.2

Wonder What's Next?

We’re so excited for tomorrow's Wonder of the Day, we just KHAN’t wait!

Try It Out

Find a grown-up who can help you with the activities below!

  • Ready to check out some fashions from the past? Ask an adult family member what fashion was like when they were your age. Do they still have any of their old clothes?How about pictures?Take a stroll through the past and ask your family member why they chose to wear the clothing they did when they were younger. Then, talkabout what fashions are popular with kids your age today. How do you think these fashions will change over time? What types of clothes do you think futurekids will be wearing one day?
  • Fashion doesn't just change over time. It also changes based on geography. Around the world, fashion is influenced by culture and tradition as well as what's popular. Take some time to learn more about these traditional forms of dress from various cultures. What kinds of clothing did your ancestors wear?If you're not sure, ask an adult family member to help you find out.
  • Do you want a career in fashion one day?Read more about working as a fashion designer. Does this sound like a job you would like?Is there another area of fashion you'd like to work in?Write a paragraph explaining why you would or wouldn't be interested in becoming a fashion designer. Then, explain your thoughts to a friend or family member.

Wonder Sources

  • https://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/1999/10/what-is-fashion/ (accessed 03 Aug. 2020)
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion (accessed 03 Aug. 2020)

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Wonder Contributors

We’d like to thank:

Carmen, jada, robin, Finley and Lily
for contributing questions about today’s Wonder topic!

Keep WONDERing with us!

What are you wondering?

Wonder Words

  • influenced
  • popular
  • priority
  • trends
  • angle
  • imitate
  • distinguish
  • ostracizing
  • maintain

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Why Do Fashions Change Over Time? (2024)

FAQs

What factors influence fashion change? ›

The main factors which influence fashion can be divided mainly into five different segments:
  • Social Factors.
  • Cultural Factors.
  • Political Factors.
  • Environmental Factors.
  • Psychological Factors.
22 Jun 2021

Does style change over time? ›

Certainly, fashion styles change over the years. And we do too.

What are the causes of fashion trends? ›

Fashion trends are influenced by several factors, including cinema, celebrities, climate, creative explorations, innovations, designs, political, economic, social, and technological. Examining these factors is called a PEST analysis.

How often do fashions usually change? ›

Generally, most fashion trends last nearly one year, but some trends, usually the acceptable, last much longer. It is considered that normally fashion trends re-emerge nearly every twenty years.

How did clothing evolve? ›

The first clothes were made from natural elements: animal skin and furs, grasses and leaves, and bones and shells. Clothing was often draped or tied; however, simple needles made out of animal bone provide evidence of sewn leather and fur garments from at least 30,000 years ago.

What are the theories of fashion changes? ›

There are three theories that explain how a fashion may travel to mass acceptance: Trickle-down theory. Trickle-up theory. Trickle-across theory.

Does fashion repeat itself every 20 years? ›

It seems that most core trends repeat every 20 to 30 years (a concept often called the “20-Year Rule”). This 20-year timeline could be that designers consciously or subconsciously take inspiration from the styles their parents wore.

How long does a fashion style last? ›

In the fashion world, a trend is described as a broad direction in which something is evolving or changing and thus indicates the popularity of a particular sort of style or item of clothing. A micro-fashion trend's cycle typically lasts 3-5 years, but macro-trends often last 5-10 years.

How has clothing changed with time history and production? ›

The majority of the advancements were in the areas of fibre extraction and processing, fabric manufacturing, and sewing machines. Technological advancements such as the development of artificial fibres, and nylon, as well as new dyeing and fabric cuffing processes, have given designers more creative flexibility.

What is the biggest problem in fashion? ›

Product counterfeiting is one of the biggest challenges facing fashion brands today when looking for growth and expansion opportunities in international markets.

How does fashion change society? ›

The new fashion trend makes even an ordinary person into a special person. It gives an identity to the wearer, or else people get unnoticed. Last but not the least, it is an opportunity to amalgamate different cultures and traditions.

What are the root causes of fast fashion? ›

The rising consumers' demand for trendy and affordable clothing, the availability of low-cost labor overseas, quick manufacturing and communication innovations cause fast fashion.

What is the fashion life cycle? ›

A fashion trend's life cycle can be divided into five stages, generally speaking: introduction, rise, peak, decline, and obsolescence.

How do you think fashion will change in the future? ›

Sustainability and digitization are the two major categories that will determine and change fashion trends in the future. No brand or retailer will be able to avoid them. Sustainability and digitization are anything but opposites. In fact, many sustainable developments can only be implemented through digital processes.

What era of fashion is coming back? ›

Y2K fashion is by far today's trendiest comeback look as 2000s outfits took a pretty dramatic turn away from the '90s overall subtle looks. Y2K glamorizes femininity and often showcases more skin than most fashion eras.

When did fashion start changing? ›

It was only by the 16th century or to be precise from the 1770s that fashion evolved as a mainstream thing. So the evolution of fashion as we know it today starts from there. But not as much changed till the beginning of the 20th century. By the 20th Century things changed a great deal in fashion history.

How did fashion design evolve? ›

The bulk of production increased, and people began to have more choices of garments. Towards the end of the 20th century, fashion awareness among people increased, and they began choosing clothes for themselves based on comfort and their own style, instead of relying on the trends prevailing in the market.

What is the history of fashion? ›

The history of fashion design begins in Ancient Rome and Ancient Egypt. In these cultures, clothing and fashion were status symbols. Those who were wealthy would wear expensive and stylish garments that were colorful, while the poor would wear neutral colors and their garments were cheap but useful.

What are the current issues in fashion? ›

Five challenges facing fashion retail in 2022
  • 1 Rising shop prices. ...
  • 2 End of the high street cost 'holiday' ...
  • 3 Brexit bureaucracy abounds. ...
  • 4 Continued supply chain chaos. ...
  • 5 Turning sustainability pledges into reality.
4 Jan 2022

What is the golden rule in fashion? ›

RESPECT BALANCE. The golden rule of style comes from none other than Coco Chanel: before leaving the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory. This ensures your outfit won't be overstyled.

What are the three main influences on fashion trends? ›

Marketing, advertising, and the media all try to influence the way our generation dresses. Their reasons are mainly profit based. We also make our clothing choices based on the Functionality of the garment. Consumers of our generation often look at the comfort, durability, and adaptability of a piece before purchasing.

Can clothing last a lifetime? ›

The most affordable, high-quality, and durable clothes can last a lifetime when you take good care of them. The best fashion brands use sustainable materials and production processes to make comfortable and stylish apparel that you can wear forever.

What is the 20 year rule in fashion? ›

Often referred to as the “20-year rule”, the cyclical concept that every 20 years or so the trends that were once popular will begin to be on the forefront again. Although, with the rise in social media, the trend cycle is being cut shorter and shorter.

What is the 20 year rule? ›

Two years' worth of government records will be transferred to us each year until 2022. From then on a single year's worth of records that are 20 years old will be transferred.

How fast is fashion waste? ›

Of the 100 billion garments produced each year, 92 million tonnes end up in landfills. To put things in perspective, this means that the equivalent of a rubbish truck full of clothes ends up on landfill sites every second.

Does fashion go out of style? ›

More often than not, fashion trends come and go. A clothing item or accessory that is super popular in one decade might disappear from the fashion magazines and the runways for years and years—but there's always a chance that it could pop back up at any time.

Do luxury clothes last longer? ›

They'll Last Longer

Quality clothing, while more expensive, is inherently made better. From the higher-end fabrics that last longer, to the stitching (higher quality clothes have more stitches per inch to help the piece hold better over the years), clothes you spend more on are designed to last.

How have clothes sizes changed over the years? ›

As Americans have grown physically larger, brands have shifted their metrics to make shoppers feel skinnier—so much so that a women's size 12 in 1958 is now a size 6. Those numbers are even more confusing given that a pair of size-6 jeans can vary in the waistband by as much as 6 in., according to one estimate.

Why fast fashion is a problem in modern society? ›

In addition to environmental issues, fast fashion garments spark a lot of ethical concerns. They are often made in sweatshops where underpaid workers are employed for long hours in unsafe conditions and are exposed to harmful chemicals used in textile production.

Why is fast fashion becoming a problem? ›

A byproduct from textile factories in countries that produce fast fashion items en masse is untreated toxic wastewater. What's wrong with it? This textile waste contains substances like lead, mercury and arsenic that are extremely harmful to aquatic and human life.

How many deaths has fast fashion caused? ›

2021-2022: Death & Injury in Garment & Textile Industry

As shown in this timeline of 65 incidents since January 2021, 141 workers died and over 800 were injured in garment, textile and related factories in Pakistan, India, Egypt, Morocco, China, and Cambodia.

What is the purpose of fashion? ›

Fashion has the ability to change and shape lives through its personal connection to us all. We all have to wear clothes and every piece of clothing we buy represents a personal choice – it is this intrinsically human relationship between us and our fashion that makes it political.

Why is fashion important today? ›

It makes people feel confident and bold. People can express themselves openly. Today fashion is not limited to western countries; now, every country has come out with their fashion sense, not only the clothing but the accent of that country, the living style.

What are the social factors affecting fashion? ›

Social factors affecting fashion include cultures, norms, lifestyle, demographics and population changes. For example, a small clothing manufacturer needs to create styles that appeal to those of different cultures, especially if those cultural groups represent large enough segments of its market.

Who suffers from fast fashion? ›

97% of fast fashion is produced overseas in developing countries with poor labor laws and human rights protections. Evidence of forced and child labor employed by the fashion industry in countries like Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Turkey, Vietnam (US Department of Labor).

Who is most affected by fast fashion? ›

Fast fashion also exploits local and underserved communities in sweatshops to produce cheap garments. It employs more than 300 million people in the whole world. Most of them are young women who frequently face terrible conditions and abuse.

Why are clothes becoming cheaper? ›

Mass production of textile

The mass production of textiles for apparel and footwear is now cheaper than ever. Cotton is one of the most used fibers for clothing around the world. Each year, 30.3 million tons of cotton are produced globally. Like many other textiles, China is the largest producer of cotton worldwide.

Why does fashion change every 10 years? ›

Why do fashions change? The answer is probably as simple as the fact that people change. Over time, the new replaces the old. People are influenced by popular culture, including athletes, musicians, movie stars, social media, and royalty.

What are the 4 fashion seasons? ›

Officially, fashion is divided into four seasons. These are Spring/Summer (SS), Autumn/Winter (AW), Resort, and Pre-Fall. SS and AW fashion weeks are held in Paris, Milan, New York, and London.

What are 4 factors that influence fashion trends? ›

Some other factors that influence fashion are:

In fact, the dressing style, walking, speaking, and appearance styles of these celebrities are very important factors that influence especially youngsters and they seek same designs and brands.

Is fast fashion increasing or decreasing? ›

Fast fashion is expected to grow to reach 163.4 bn dollars over the next five years with an increase constant of 19 percent to then reach 211.9 billion dollars (188.8 billion euros) in 2030, an annual growth rate of 5.3 percent over five years.

What era of fashion is 2022? ›

2022 Fashion Trend: Cutouts

Skin is still in, and cleverly-placed cutouts on dresses, tops, even the occasional low-rise bottom will stick around as part of the Aughts 2.0 fashion movement.

What is the trending style for 2022? ›

TOP-TO-TOE COLOR. Forget tan, neutrals, or classic creams, the fashion color trends 2022, are all about going bold and bright. Models walking for Christian Dior and Versace were seen in top-to-toe brights that really make a statement.

What styles are outdated? ›

CLOTHES OUT OF STYLE 2022

High waisted jeans, high waisted pants, high waist tennis skirts, skater skirts, knit pants, skinny jeans, hoodie sets, short blazers, leggings, fur coats, cropped leather jacket, A-style mini dresses, and cold shoulders are some of the favourite clothes out of fashion for winter 2022 2023.

What are the 3 key influences on fashion? ›

Marketing, advertising, and the media all try to influence the way our generation dresses. Their reasons are mainly profit based. We also make our clothing choices based on the Functionality of the garment. Consumers of our generation often look at the comfort, durability, and adaptability of a piece before purchasing.

How do social factors influence fashion change? ›

Social factors affecting fashion include cultures, norms, lifestyle, demographics and population changes. For example, a small clothing manufacturer needs to create styles that appeal to those of different cultures, especially if those cultural groups represent large enough segments of its market.

What 4 factors affect the type of clothing people wear? ›

The clothes that you choose to buy and wear are influenced by several factors such as age, climate, occasion, income and occupation.

What is fashion design influenced by? ›

Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes and has varied over time and price. Fashion design is defined by the creators of new footwear, clothing and accessories. Fashion designing involves a set of skills that range from market research and creativity to sketching and fabric selection.

What are the five stages of fashion? ›

A fashion trend's life cycle can be divided into five stages, generally speaking: introduction, rise, peak, decline, and obsolescence. The life cycles of fashion trends today have changed; technology and social media have rendered them much shorter and less predictable than in the past.

How does culture affect fashion? ›

The culture of the people ensure that the fashion accessories and clothes meet certain goals or objectives. Culture also influences design and fabric selection. For example, designers can choose from and make use of indigenous materials abundant in a particular place. This will create a strong local identity.

How does change in culture affect fashion? ›

Fashion is influenced by cultural changes, such as modernization, art and even technological innovation. There is an apparent interaction of shifts in consumer lifestyle, fashion and culture.It is essential to realize that fashion is made by people living in different cultures and different locations.

How does psychology affect fashion? ›

Psychological Models of Fashion

These include conformity, desires for variety seeking, the need to express personal creativity, and sexual attraction. For example, many consumers seem to have a need for uniqueness: They want to be different (though not necessarily too different!).

What brings about differences in people's clothing? ›

A person's dress style is influenced by many things such as culture, values inherited by community groups as well as family, environment, media, fashion trends, and personal character. All of them give reference to how to dress and shape their preferences.

On what factors does clothing depend? ›

Generally, clothing depends on age, health, environment, weather, occasion, social status, economic background, profession, religion, and territory broadly.

What are the 3 main reasons humans wear clothes? ›

Protection: Clothing that provides physical safeguards to the body, preventing harm from climate and environment. Identification: Establishing who someone is or what they do. Modesty: Covering the body according to the code of decency established by society.

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