Fashion has always existed. The first fashionable looks can be seen in photos from early 20th-century Europe. We will begin our overview from this period.

Photograph – 1

In the photo, you can see the famous early 20th-century designer Paul Poiret with his models. Poiret freed European ladies’ dresses from petticoats and corsets, creating light everyday outfits. Now, European women could dress themselves without the help of a maid.

Photograph – 2

It was Paul who popularized the fashion of the shawl collar, which remains relevant to this day.

Photograph – 3

During this time in Europe, there were dress styles with tightly cinched waists, long skirts resembling bellflowers, and skirts that usually ended in a train.

Photograph – 4

There were almost no straight lines in the dress silhouettes.

Photograph – 5

Designer models were decorative, with an abundance of embellishments.

Photograph – 6

And then, famous Coco Chanel took matters into her own hands. Her invented jersey cardigan became a fashion revolution, as jersey was previously an unpopular material used exclusively for underwear.

Photograph – 7

During that time, embroidered or appliquéd footwear decorated according to the tastes of popular couturiers of the era became fashionable.

Photograph – 8

Incompatible elements were combined.

Photograph – 9

Later, Coco offered women who longed for luxurious clothing tailored coats trimmed with beaver and rabbit fur.

Photograph – 10

After World War I, fashion was in complete chaos. Soldiers who had fought in foreign countries brought back many exotic “trinkets” as trophies: North American furs, Turkish scarves, Russian painted shawls, belts, and cloaks from Morocco and Tunisia.

Photograph – 11

Pierre Cardin, for example, introduced sleeveless capes to the world’s runways.

Photograph – 12

During that time, the special model of the Burberry trench coat appeared. It was later worn by many celebrities, including Jane Birkin, Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, Catherine Deneuve, Princess Diana, and others.

Photograph – 13

In the 1930s, Hollywood became a fashion leader in the United States. Catalogs with clothing emerged.

Photograph – 14

Long skirts became the fashion standard during the economic crisis of the 1930s.

Photograph – 15

Outerwear, coats, and jackets were exceptionally elegant.

Photograph – 16

Suit tailoring was already complex back then.

Photograph – 17

Decorative details and ornaments were widely used even then.

Photograph – 18

In the 1940s, the dominant fashion trend was layered long skirts.

Photograph – 19

Fashion in the 1940s underwent significant changes due to the war.

Photograph – 20

This is where the minimalist style emerged.

Photograph – 21

At that time, high-heeled shoes, or stilettos, became fashionable.

Photograph – 22

Dress models became even more elegant.

Photograph – 23

But the real recognition of those times went to turtleneck sweaters with high collars.

Photograph – 24

During the war, there was a constant shortage of fabrics, so skirt lengths became shorter every year.

Photograph – 25

And then, the military style forcibly entered fashion. The main female outfit became a simple suit with a shortened skirt.

Photograph – 26

The most fashionable color was khaki, and fabrics with small patterns were preferred.

Photograph – 27

With the end of the war, restrictions on the allowable amount of fabric no longer applied. It was then that Christian Dior appeared, giving women exactly what they wanted – beautiful ruffles, loose blouses, and so on.

Photograph – 28

Elegant little hats soon disappeared from fashionistas’ wardrobes, replaced by wide-brimmed hats and turbans.

Photograph – 29

Decorating the image was only possible through accessories, which were not subject to such strict rules.

Photograph – 30

This confirms the fact that fashion reacts to social upheavals and events happening in the world.