Fashion and Clothing in the 20th Century

The 20^th century was a period that saw the most rapid and revolutionary changes in dress.

As mass-production techniques were introduced people were able to buy cheap factory-made clothing and machine-made lace. Women began to play more active role in society.

New synthetic materials meant that clothes could perform better in extreme environments. Clothes also became easier to care for. Some new materials were developed during the century’s many conflicts and wars.

The biggest development of the 20^th century was the improvement in global communications. The period saw the birth and development of cinema, television and finally the Internet. These new media helped to spread all forms of culture, including fashion, straight into people’s homes.

Before the First World Warfashions did not change very quickly. Men wore dark suits. They had short hair and moustaches were popular. Women wore long dresses with a very narrow waist. They had long hair.

In the Roaring Twenties dresses and hair became much shorter. People saw women’s knees for the first time! A straight figure with no waist or bust was fashionable. Men wore trousers with very wide legs called Oxford Bags.

In the 1930s and 40s hair, dresses, and coats became longer again. Men’s fashion didn’t change very much. Men wore a suit, a tie, and usually a hat, too. Moustaches went out of fashion.

In the 1950speople were richer and teenagers spent a lot of money on clothes. Men wore long jackets in very bright colours – pink, orange, or yellow – and very tight trousers. For women jumpers and blouses with wide skirts and short socks were the fashion. Both men and women wore shoes with long pointed toes. The women’s shoes had high stiletto heels.

The 1960s were the time of the mini-skirt and long boots. For the first time in the twentieth century men had long hair - the famous Beatle haircut.

In the late 1960s and the early 70s the colorful hippy style was in. Women wore loose maxi-skirts or maxi-dresses. Men wore jeans and brightly coloured shirts or T-shirts. Very long hair was fashionable for men and women, and beards became more common (but only for men).

The late 70s brought teenagers with punk hairstyles in red, blue, purple, and green, and brightly coloured makeup.

In the late 1980s and early 90s loose, casual clothes were in fashion – baggy trousers, a loose sweatshirt, and a baseball cap (usually back to front). Sports clothes like tracksuits and trainers were very fashionable too.

3.1 2^nd reading for detailed comprehension. Say if these statements correspond to the text.

1) Mass-production techniques made factory-made clothes much cheaper and available.

2) New synthetic materials meant poor health of people, numerous conflicts and wars.

3) Men always had short hair.

4) The colourful hippy style appeared in the late 1960s and the early 70s.

5) Jeans were always popular, especially in the 1920s.

6) Sports clothes became very fashionable in the late 1980s and early 90s.

3.1.1. Answer the questions.

1) What facts in the text prove that the 20^th century saw the most rapid changes in dress?

2) Did fashions change very quickly before the First World War?

3) Why did clothes become longer again in the 1930s and 40s? What events took place during this period?

4) When did people begin to wear bright clothes? How can you explain this phenomenon?

5) When were hippy and punk styles in?

6) Did anything change in the late 1980s and early 90s?

7) What do you think of the author? Is he Russian?

3.1.2. Paint the pictures/sketches of clothing popular in the 20^th century. Use the information from the text or any other source.

Text B. 1^st reading for general comprehension. Define the paragraph which is the answer to this question: What facts show that this period was a sober time?

The dawn of the 20^th century was a time of excitement and optimism. The first skyserapers were appearing in such cities as Chicago and New York. The new century promised many changes and improvements, but at first fashion remained much the same as it had been at the end of the 19^th century.

The period from 1910 to 1919 was dominated by World War I, known at the time as the Great War. People began to question the old social order. Equa-lity for women was a big issue across Europe and America. Clothing reflected women’s changing status, becoming more practical.

The Roaring Twentiesthat followed the war was the time of excess and partying – for the rich at least. The twenties saw the spread of artificial silk or rayon and cheaper sewing machines made it possible for ordinary women to copy some high-fashion styles at home.

After the high-living twenties, the thirtieswere a sober time. The Great Depression made millions of people unemployed. Fashion reflected the difficult times. Clothes were in black, grey, navy and brown colours. Many families could not buy new clothes.

The first half of the fortieswas dominated by World War II. Most women wore factory-made clothes in styles that used as little fabric as possible.

In the USA and Britain, designers helped to produce civilian clothing that was versatile and hard wearing.

Servicemen wore their uniforms all of the time. Each fighting nation produced a range of uniforms to suit the different forces – army, navy, air force and soon.

When the war ended designers experimented with several styles but the most popular became the New Look by Christian Dior.

The fifties was a time of optimism and prosperity. Young people had their own fashions and culture, especially in the United States.

There was an explosion of new technologies.

The United States as s major superpower dominated in the world of fashion, especially in women’s wear. Stylish men dressed in tailored suits from Italy.

3.2. 2^nd reading for detailed comprehension. Compare the contents of the text with Text A “Fashion and Clothing in the 20^th Century”. Explain the difference between them in Russian.

3.2.1. Give the title to the text. Explain your choice.

3.2.2. Rearrange the sentences in the order given in the text. Mark the decade (десятилетие).

1) Clothing reflected women’s changing status, becoming more practical.

2) In the USA and Britain, designers helped to produce civilian clothing.

3) When the war ended designers experimented with several styles.

4) The twenties saw the spread of artificial silk or rayon.

5) Clothes were in black, grey, navy and brown colours.

6) Young people had their own fashions and culture, especially in the USA.

7) Equality for women was a big issue across Europe and America.

8) Servicemen wore their uniforms all of the time.

9) …cheaper sewing machines made it possible for ordinary women to copy some high-fashion styles at home.

10) …but at first fashion remained much the same as it had been at the end of the 19^th century.

3.2.3. Answer the questions.

1) Who decides what we wear?

2) Does advertising affect what we wear?

3) Do you like to look like particular pop star?

4) Do you experiment with styles?

5) Why do fashions change?

6) Do some styles from the past come back into fashion? Give examples.

3.2.4. Devide into groups and prepare the reports about the styles of the described period using the Internet resources in the English language.