Materials Through the Ages

European Style in 1900-1909
This was an era where day dress were made with translucent linen or cotton and were known as “Lingerie dresses”. They were worn in warm climates. The portrait of Miss Eden by John Singer Sargent in 1905 depicts this type of dress and material. The details include tiny pintucks, lace, and embroidery. The low neckline became popular during this era, and was acceptable to wear outside the home. The interesting aspect of the full-bodied bun is associated with the Gibson Girl.

Swimwear 1920s

This photo depicts the transition from long skirts for woman swimwear, to a more figure hugging wool jersey sleeveless suit. The jersey shirts were paired with built-in leggings that hit at mid-thigh or longer. Although the cut and material wasn’t ideal for warm weather and water, it was a step forward in the direction of more risqué styles of swimwear.

Umpa Fur 1950

This is a 1950 Umpa Fur advertisement from the 1950’s. Umpa fur specialized in luxurious mink coats and played a large role in keeping “Old Hollywood” warm

Chanel Suit 1954

The classic Chanel suit was re-launched in the 1950s with the help of Pierre. The suit was all about a collarless jacket paired with a skirt that went slightly below the knees. It gave women a look of elegance and sophistication. The suits were primarily made of tweed or jersey, with the lining made of contrast silk. The edges were trimmed with braids, velvet or ribbon.

Jacqueline Kennedy 1961

This photo is of Jacqueline Kennedy, who is forever remembered for her style and elegance. This dress was made by Ethel Frankau at Bergdorf Goodman in 1961. This was an off-white sleeveless gown in chiffon. The draping and cut worked beautiful with her silhouette. Chiffon is one of the main fabrics used in evening wear as overlay, which gives an elegant and floating appearance. This is apparent in the gown.

Halston 1970

During the 1970s, Halston dominated the high fashion with his long, fabulous Studio 54 appropriate designs. This was disco-influenced fashion, with fabrics made of spandex and polyester paired with platform shoes. Outfits were detailed with sequins and beading. The photo above is of designer Halston himself and model Karen Bjornson wearing his design in 1970.

Eco-Friendly Fashion 2009

FIN, a Norwegian eco-friendly high fashion brand, was established in 2006 by Nikolai Herlofsen. They focus on providing luxury clothing and saving the world at the same time. They only use organic and Fairtrade certified cotton and organic alpaca in the production of their garments. There are no pesticides or harmful chemical during farming, and they guarantee the farmers are making minimum income. I believe the transition from traditional to eco-friendly fabrics will continually become popular. This brand is already popular with a few celebrities like Keira Knightly and Kate Bostworth.