The History of Fashion: What To Wear, When and Why - Bavincis

The word fashion can mean a lot of things. For example, it can describe the most recent trends or the way people dress in a particular culture. To some people, fashion seems to be something that changes frequently. However, fashion has been around for thousands of years. The history of fashion is filled with details about what people have worn throughout time. In fact, there are many universal statements about what different cultures have chosen to wear and why. So how did this all begin? Keep reading to find out more!

Who is to blame for fashion?

Well, I suppose we can lay the blame on Eve. Yeah, Eve, as in the one who ate the apple in the Garden of Eden. Now, we don’t know for sure if she actually wore clothes when she was in the Garden. It’s likely that she did, but we can’t be sure. When Eve and Adam were expelled from the Garden of Eden, they had to cover themselves with fig leaves to hide their shame. From this point on, clothes were a necessity. From then on, they have been a part of every culture and have evolved with each one.

How did fashion begin?

Humans have been trying to impress each other and have a social hierarchy since the day they walked upright. In order to show who was in charge and who belonged where, each culture began to use clothing as a way to display status. For example, in Rome, only the emperor was allowed to wear purple. While the wealthy citizens of Rome wore silk and jewels, most people wore plain garments made of hemp and wool. This was because purple dye was extremely expensive and hard to produce. As time went on, clothing changed with each new culture. For example, in the 18th century, women began to wear shorter and shorter skirts until they were scandalously short. This was because women were trying to express their freedom and independence from men.

2000-1000 BCE – The ancient times

Around 2000 BCE, people in the Near East began to wear loincloths. A loincloth is a piece of material that you wrap around your waist. The ancient Egyptians wrapped a piece of cloth around their bodies. The Chinese wore robes that were belted at the waist. Around this time, people in Central and Southern Asia began to wear shawls. A shawl is a blanket-like piece of fabric that is worn around the shoulders or over the head. The Celts wore tunics that fell to the knees or lower. Tunics are pieces of clothing that have a top and a bottom that are sewn together. The Celts also wore tartan woolen pants. The Scythians wore trousers made of animal skin that covered their legs and fell to their knees.

1000 BCE – 500 CE – The Roman and Greek eras

Around 1000 BCE and 1000 CE, the Greeks and Romans began to wear tunics and togas. A toga was a piece of heavy Roman cloth that was worn over one shoulder and belted at the waist. Roman men wore togas in various colors, while Roman women wore white. Roman women also wore a stola, which was like a long, loose dress. Around 100 BCE Roman women began to wear closer-fitting dresses. Around 100 CE, Roman women wore tunics that were belted at the waist and that fell to the ankles. The Romans also wore sandals with socks. Around 100 CE, Roman men wore tunics that were belted at the waist and that fell to the knees. Roman men wore sandals and socks as well. The Romans also wore togas for special occasions. The Greeks and Romans also wore cloaks. A cloak is a long, loose piece of clothing that you wear around your shoulders. Roman women also wore aprons. An apron is a piece of cloth or leather that protects your clothes while you are doing messy work like cooking or gardening.

500-1100 CE – The Dark Ages

Around 500 CE, Europeans began to wear tunics and cloaks. Around 600 CE, the Chinese wore robes that were belted at the waist, and they wore aprons. Around this time Europeans began to wear fur cloaks. A fur cloak is a long piece of fur that you wrap around your shoulders. Around 700 CE people in the Middle East began to wear the sarong. A sarong is a long strip of cloth that is wrapped around the waist and between the legs. Around 800 CE, Europeans began to wear tunics and cloaks again. The wealthy people also wore silk, which is a type of cloth made from certain types of worms. Around this time, the Chinese began to wear silk robes as well. The wealthy people in the Middle East began to wear silk as well. Around 1000 CE, Europeans began to wear linen, which is a type of cloth made from flax plants. Around this time, the Chinese wore silk robes again. Around 1100 CE, Europeans began to wear wool, which is a type of cloth made from sheep’s wool.

1100-1600 CE – The Renaissance and the Middle Ages

Around 1100 CE, people in Western Europe began to wear long tunics that fell below the knee. Around 1200 CE, noblewomen in Western Europe began to wear long dresses that had wide sleeves. Around 1300 CE, people in Western Europe began to wear shorter tunics again. Around 1400 CE, Europeans began to wear velvet, which is a type of thick cloth made from the fur of certain animals. Around this time, the Chinese began to wear silk robes again. Around 1500 CE, Western Europeans began to wear velvet gowns, which are long and loose dresses. Around this time, the Chinese began to wear silk robes again as well. Around this time, Western Europeans began to wear doublets, which are long, loose shirts with short sleeves. Around 1600 CE, Western Europeans began to wear doublets with pleated skirts.

1600-1900 CE – The Victorian Era

Around 1600 CE, Western Europeans began to wear breeches, which are long, loose pants. They also wore doublets with wide, hooped skirts. Around 1700 CE, Western Europeans began to wear knee-length hooped skirts, which were very wide at the waist. Around 1800 CE, Western Europeans began to wear crinolines, which are long, stiff skirts made of whalebone or steel. Around 1850 CE, Western Europeans began to wear crinolines with bustles, which are large pads in the back of the crinolines. Around 1820 CE, Western Europeans began to wear long, loose dresses with high necklines and long sleeves. Around 1850 CE, Western Europeans began to wear shorter dresses with low necklines and puffed sleeves. Around 1900 CE, Western Europeans began to wear long, loose dresses again with high necklines and long sleeves.

1900-2000 CE -The 20th Century and Beyond

Around 1900 CE, Western Europeans began to wear short, loose dresses with low necklines and short sleeves. Around 1910 CE, Western Europeans began to wear knee-length, loose dresses with low necklines and short sleeves. Around 1920 CE, Western Europeans began to wear short, loose dresses again with low necklines and short sleeves. Around 1930 CE, Western Europeans began to wear long, loose dresses with high necklines and long sleeves. Around 1940 CE, Western Europeans began to wear short, loose dresses with low necklines and short sleeves. Around 1950 CE, Western Europeans began to wear long, loose dresses again with high necklines and long sleeves. Around 1960 CE, Western Europeans began to wear short, loose dresses with low necklines and short sleeves. Around 1970 CE, Western Europeans began to wear long, loose dresses again with high necklines and long sleeves. Around 1980 CE, Western Europeans began to wear short, loose dresses again with low necklines and short sleeves. Around 1990 CE, Western Europeans began to wear long, loose dresses again with high necklines and long sleeves.

The conclusion

As you can see, fashion has been around for a long time. It has changed with each new generation and has reflected the culture of each decade. From the loincloth to the crinoline, fashion has evolved over time. In the future, there will likely be new trends and styles that we can look back on with interest and amusement.