1950's- The end of the era bought happiness and chanels new look, youth and optimism were at a high. The teenager has arrived and fashion was embraced by a wider popularity and fashion became a worldwide name.

This fashion success ment rapid expansion at Dior.

One of the most recognisable fashions of the 50's, was Dior's look. Everyone was perfectly groomed and Audrey Hepburn became a huge style icon.

The stiletto became the new equivilant to Dior's 'new look'. 

1940's-

Due to the war clouds becoming nearer clother rationing was brought into place, there were shortages and people were told to 'make do and amend.'

The full skirt which was made prominant in the 30's was put on hold and it wasn't until 1947 when Coco Chanel bought it back.

During this hard time women were made to work and due to stockings being rationed women wore trousers a lot more.

A lot of the clothing that was made in this time was given a 'millitary feel' it gave the women a sense of  unity.

After the fall of fashion in Paris the women wore hats, they felt that this was  way in which they could laugh in the face of the nazi's. They felt as though some sense of control could be kept if they could still dictate fashion.

Fashion and clothing was even used to help during the war by maps being printed on women's scarves and a secret compartment in the bottom of womens bags for them to carry resistance letters.

1930's- The Depression Era.

The depression era made a change in fashion.
Clothes were made to last for a long time and so they would stay in style they were made to be seen as a 'classic'.

In all families 'hand me downs' became very fashionable.

Babies born in this era were made layettes which were sewn from sugar sacks.

The hemlines which women wore in the 1930's went down and down even more, making a drastic change from the recent flapper girl style.

Many dresses made for women were now being cut on the bias.

Sportswear were also changed, the pants for the women were also changed, the hems became flared and they were known as 'beach pyjamas'.



Designers

Coco Chanel made a hit in fashion history using black and navy free frill designs, she said 'each frill discarded makes one look younger.'

The Good times of the 1920's ended in 1929 when the crash of the stock market happened which led to the great depression.

1920's Tubular

Now Paul Poiret had come into the fashion scene fashion was moving quickly ahead and the new silouhette was straight up and down (tubular). The brassiere was introduced to help flatten the chest area to achieve this look.

Flapper girls became very popular. They wore headbands around their foreheads with a powdered face. The skirts they wore were the shortest in history especially compared to the hobble skirts which were worn a few years before.

Silk stockings were in high demand and women rolled them up just above the knee.

In mens fashion the prince was the ultimate trend setter that the popularity of men wanted to follow.

The prince very oftenly wore very wide legged trousers called oxford bags.



Paul Poiret

Paul Poiret led a movement away from the well known curvy figure.  Poiret established his own house in 1903, and made his name with the controversial kimono coat. He designed flamboyant window displays and threw legendary parties to draw attention to his work; his instinct for marketing and branding was unmatched by any previous designer. In 1909, he was so famous that H.H Asquith invited him to show his designs at 10 Downing Street. The cheapest garment at the exhibition was 30 guineas, double the annual salary of a scullery maid.

Though perhaps best known for freeing women from corsets and for his startling inventions including hobble skirts, "harem" pantaloons, and "lampshade" tunics, Poiret's major contribution to fashion was his development of an approach to dressmaking centered on draping, a radical departure from the tailoring and pattern-making of the past. Poiret was influenced by antique and regional dress, and prefered clothing cut along straight lines and constructed from rectangles.