Fall has finally arrived! Autumn is an awesome season of gorgeous tree colors, an excuse to wear more black, and the official end of bikini season. To celebrate all these changes, I thought we could look back at Fall trends through the decades, for some laughs and possibly some inspiration as you venture into this new season.
1900's
In the 1900's, with the rise in popularity of the automobile, car coats or manteaux automobiles became the latest in fall fashion--a great way to keep warm while still looking fabulous. This new look was also a bit risque when worn with the new "short skirt" of the time that showed off women's ankles. Scandalous!
1910's
For the ultra-feminine woman of the 1920's, a Fall outfit would not be complete with a long fur coat to keep warm for a night out on the town. Though similar in its ridiculous extravagance, the fur coat differs from the car coat by looking less like a witch's cloak and was probably a lot heavier. Desirable furs of the time were from sable, seal, mink, lynx, fox, and black marten. Unsure what this coat is made of, what I am sure of is that this girl looks fabulous!
1920's
I know the title says mid-winter, but trust me, these dresses are the Fall style. It's actually pretty easy to tell with the Autumn browns, reds, and oranges. Since it's the 20's, women began showing a little more ankle than earlier in the 1900's, as displayed in these sketches. The jury is still out on why all of these women are shaped like a board. I'm also seeing lots of cowlick sideburns, hats that almost cover your eyes, and skirts underneath dresses. If anyone knows what women who weren't shaped like a board wore during Fall in the 20's, let me know. I couldn't find any pictures where the women didn't look like this.
1930's
For Fall fashion of the 30's, we turn to Hollywood to shed some light. Pictured above is actress Louise Platt modeling three fall frocks. This natural waistline seems more appropriate for women who are not shaped like a board, and the dresses actually look pretty comfortable to me. I definitely like the pleated look, though I am not a big fan of the collar. It does look like she's having a grand old time exposing her calves for the world to see, and I say more power to her!
1940's
The Fall knitted suit is the news. Look, it says it right there. They even included a leaf so you know this is especially appropriate for Fall. I actually really like the simplicity of the ad, and the super fitted waistline with the flare at the bottom accentuates any figure perfectly. This suit also claims to NEVER wrinkle. Where has it been all your life? Side note: What is this woman missing from her purse, and did she ever find it?
1950's
For Fall 1950's we're back to coats. More colors have wormed their way into women's fashion by now, and the the popular Fall and Spring style were coats that matched whatever dress you were wearing. Versatile! I like it.
1960's
Black! Now people are starting to get what Fall is about. These looks are from St. Laurent's Fall '68 collection. Love the pop of blue color from the necktie in the grey suit. Not sure how I feel about the belts as headbands look though.
1970's
"Hippie" style dominated most of the 70's, so there was a lot of fringe, denim, and corduroy. These hot pink babies are a bit colorful for Fall, but hey, you do you. Normally, corduroy pants are perfect for this season, with its usually dark tones and texture that suits colder weather. It's also a weird word to spell. Corduroy.
1980's
These 1980's Fall looks are actually pretty cool. Perfect in darker colors for fall, these items look like something your cool hipster friend would buy at a thrift store and rock, while you look on knowing you could never pull these off. A+ for these designs, I would say C- for the hairstyles.
1990's and 2000's
If you're reading this, you probably lived through the Fall fashions of these decades. In case you need a reminder, here are some photos:
For Fall 2015 Trends, check out my article on how to dress up and dress down this season! Happy Fall, everyone!
