How come fashions have not changed the last 10 years?

[nile455]

If you compare 1969 to 1979, you see a clear difference in clothes and hair styles. Same with 1979 to 1989. And 1989 with 1999.

So how come nothing's changed from 1999 to 2009? I swear if you look at pictures or video from 1999 you could easily mistake it for 2009. Is mainstream fashion unable to make another jump to new looks?

 

[tiggerfan1]

I've often wondered the same thing. We should be wearing futuristic clothes like the Jetsons!! Seriously, it's pathetic that they just keep bringing back the same fashions over and over again. Do you remember when the 80s look came back in style a few years ago? They must have been really desperate for some ideas!! There seems to be a lack of creativity in a lot of different areas - music, movies, TV, etc. I have no idea why.

 

[nile455]

Do you remember when the 80s look came back in style a few years ago? They must have been really desperate for some ideas!! There seems to be a lack of creativity in a lot of different areas - music, movies, TV, etc. I have no idea why.

You're right. Pop music hasn't really changed very much. Plenty of new artists, but the sound is pretty much the same. You can't say that when you compare '89 to 79 for example.

 

[travelmel]

I agree. I think that the control is held in too small of a handfull of people. New blood, new ideas... take chances... we need that kind of fashion!

 

[edwardsfire]

Its all relative people...it called "you gettin older"
you lived in those days, you just dont notice the change.
Ask someone who is 12 if we dress like we did in 1998.

 

[bluesaturn]

Its all relative people...it called "you gettin older"
you lived in those days, you just dont notice the change.
Ask someone who is 12 if we dress like we did in 1998.

I agree!

 

[Nomi]

I don't think so. In 1999 we didn't have steampunk, or visual kei, or cosplay inspired outfits, or lolita (or gothic lolita), or J-Punk, or Scene (or, at least, not in the numbers we do today).

I'm a steampunk girl myself, even though if I'm feeling lazy my steampunkness may be minimal.

 

[tiggerfan1]

You're right. Pop music hasn't really changed very much. Plenty of new artists, but the sound is pretty much the same. You can't say that when you compare '89 to 79 for example.

That's so true. You can tell an 80s song from a 70s song just by listening to the background music. I was a VH1/MTV music video addict when I was younger. I haven't watched either of those music channels in years. I prefer to listen to "old school" music, along with Broadway, jazz and classical music.

I agree. I think that the control is held in too small of a handfull of people. New blood, new ideas... take chances... we need that kind of fashion!

Hey, Melissa! Nice to see you again. I completely agree with you. We need talented people who aren't afraid to bend the rules a little (or a lot, if necessary) to start shaking things up. I can't tell you how many people I've met in many different areas of the arts who have been discouraged and/or prevented from trying something new within their field. I knew a talented young film composer who wrote a gorgeous score for a student film that I had seen. He told me that his composition teacher tried to discourage him from writing the "pretty" music because it wasn't a style that was currently accepted. I guess they prefer "ugly" music? Very sad.


I really hope that things will change. Maybe I should start dressing like Judy Jetson and start a trend. No, that would be scary.......

 

[nile455]

I don't think so. In 1999 we didn't have steampunk, or visual kei, or cosplay inspired outfits, or lolita (or gothic lolita), or J-Punk, or Scene (or, at least, not in the numbers we do today).

I'm a steampunk girl myself, even though if I'm feeling lazy my steampunkness may be minimal.

I said mainstream. Every decade has had its progressive sub-genres and sub-cultures, but I'm referring to the regular run of the mill fashions and music that you'd see sold at.... Target for example. Look what's on the racks at Target. Go listen to the music in the CD department. Look at the people shopping there and their hair styles and their clothes. It's all virtually the same as it was 10 years ago.

 

[BabyPiglet]

I disagree.

 

[tiggerfan1]

Its all relative people...it called "you gettin older"

You're right. I really need to face the music. I'm already in my twenties.......practically over the hill!!

 

[bluesaturn]

I said mainstream. Every decade has had its progressive sub-genres and sub-cultures, but I'm referring to the regular run of the mill fashions and music that you'd see sold at.... Target for example. Look what's on the racks at Target. Go listen to the music in the CD department. Look at the people shopping there and their hair styles and their clothes. It's all virtually the same as it was 10 years ago.

I would say that "Scene" clothing is bordering on mainstream now days, with huge numbers of teenagers dressing that way. For certain, urban clothing has changed recently to a more polished style. Even preppy clothing has evolved with the popularity of AE and holister and younger teens embracing it, it's fresher now and less perfected. It looks like the influence of "surfer"/"skater" clothing has been minimal (perhaps because of the increase in scene dress). I like the trend of the last few years, more solid colored clothing - less screened tees and bottoms (less writing on one's bottom!).

I don't think fashion is as big a deal now as it was in the 70s and 80s. It doesn't seem to be as defining. Maybe it's because teens/young adults now have so many other gadgets to spend money, and so many other ways to express their personality and style. Most kids probably spend more time perfecting their myspace than their outfit, because they think it represents them better. I don't think that's necessarily bad, just different.

I also think fashion is always going to be more volatile with the younger crowd. So if you were a teen in the 70s you probably noticed huge changes in the coming years, but maybe not so much 20 years later.

 

[Nomi]

I would say that "Scene" clothing is bordering on mainstream now days, with huge numbers of teenagers dressing that way. For certain, urban clothing has changed recently to a more polished style. Even preppy clothing has evolved with the popularity of AE and holister and younger teens embracing it, it's fresher now and less perfected. It looks like the influence of "surfer"/"skater" clothing has been minimal (perhaps because of the increase in scene dress). I like the trend of the last few years, more solid colored clothing - less screened tees and bottoms (less writing on one's bottom!).

I don't think fashion is as big a deal now as it was in the 70s and 80s. It doesn't seem to be as defining. Maybe it's because teens/young adults now have so many other gadgets to spend money, and so many other ways to express their personality and style. Most kids probably spend more time perfecting their myspace than their outfit, because they think it represents them better. I don't think that's necessarily bad, just different.

I also think fashion is always going to be more volatile with the younger crowd. So if you were a teen in the 70s you probably noticed huge changes in the coming years, but maybe not so much 20 years later.

Scene has become incredibly mainstream, especially among my younger sisters crowd (junior high/high school). Also, Japanese trends are incredibly popular as well.

But then again, I spent grades 3 - 12 in an art school, and then it was straight on to a BFA for me, so I may see a more different bunch of people.

 

[bluesaturn]

How about hair. In the late 90s/early 00s most boys had short hair, often spiked with bleached tips. Then a few years ago the shaggy hair cut became very popular, now almost every teenage boy I see has hair in his eyes. In the late 90s long straight hair for females was in (part of the whole 70s revival). Now cropped cuts and bobs are in, and while long hair is still in it's generally desired to be voluminous and wavy. And of course, the ever present "side bang" (again, more hair in the eyes).

The goth look of the late 90s is not as popular, now far more common is the emo or scene look. Indie and "boho chic" became popular in the mid 00s, and influences a lot of the common trends in women's fashion. And of course there was the increase in popularity of eyeglasses as a fashion statement, particularly dark colored squared frames.

 

[bluesaturn]

Scene has become incredibly mainstream, especially among my younger sisters crowd (junior high/high school). Also, Japanese trends are incredibly popular as well.

But then again, I spent grades 3 - 12 in an art school, and then it was straight on to a BFA for me, so I may see a more different bunch of people.

I agree with you. I've never been to an art school in my life, but everywhere I go I see scene kids.

I also think it's worth considering the influence Japanese trends are going to have on American fashions. It is quite possible some aspects will work their way into our mainstream before long.

 

[travelmel]

Hey, Melissa! Nice to see you again.
I really hope that things will change. Maybe I should start dressing like Judy Jetson and start a trend. No, that would be scary.......

Hey! your siggie just inspired me to go post on our seasonal thread!

 

[bicker]

Its all relative people...it called "you gettin older"
you lived in those days, you just dont notice the change.
Ask someone who is 12 if we dress like we did in 1998.

This is a good point. I was just noting this to my wife yesterday. We were watching This Old House. The homeowner is a younger woman, and was often, through the 13 weeks of the season so far, seen wearing sportswear suitable for helping with the construction of her home. One thing she has worn a lot is layered tops, where the different straps show:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/wellesle...8ab27581a0bc0a9fce84bc50589a2df7f4ed49dbb.jpg

http://blog.masslive.com/criesandwhispers/2008/08/large_Cries concrete.jpg

You may not like this look, but it is definitely a new look, presenting as a plus what was often, in the past, considered a minus. So styles are changing. Perhaps some folks haven't noticed it because they regard it negatively. That's happened before. There are still many people who refuse to acknowledge the ascendancy of blue jeans in fashion.

 

[KimmyDisneyNerd]

I do not agree with this at all. I know I am wearing NOTHING from 10 years ago. The changes may not be as drastic as they were from the 60's to the 70's but there are definite changes.

 

[froglady]

In my experience, we change our clothing styles/hairstyles frequently between 12 and 30, then slow down as we age. I know one woman in her 80s who still has a Mamie Eisenhower hairstyle.

I know that as I approach 60 I'm finding myself less and less interested in clothes and hair. As long as something fits, is comfortable, is moderately flattering, is appropriate, and I like it...I'm good to go.

So the stylists are trying to follow the money, but the people who used to buy all the clothes aren't buying as much, and the age group that would like to buy them doesn't have the money.

 

[Tinijocaro]

So how come nothing's changed from 1999 to 2009?

Things have definitely changed, don't tell me you're still wearing the same stuff you wore back in 1999?!!

No, seriously, I remember when the eighties were turning into the nineties, and thinking the same thing. Now, more than ten years later, we look back at those crazy fashions and wonder what the heck we were thinking!