The standard clothing of girls and women for centuries was a dress and a skirt with a blouse and within these types of clothing designs for special occasions and festive events were created.

The social restrictions imposed on women lost their control around 1910 in the Western world; women gained more independence and started careers. The mass production of clothing developed rapidly and made fashion for women accessible, affordable and with more variety. Before this, fashion was reserved for the rich and wealthy.

By receiving more rights and codetermination in society and public life, women realized the need to reflect their new adapted role in the clothing they wore. Equipped with growing self-esteem and a desire to dress in styles that denote their distinct personalities, new fashion styles were needed.

Until 1920 women’s skirts reached to the ankles and in the era of the “roaring twenties” there was a sudden change. The first kilometer was reached, when women discovered the beauty of their legs and that they were worth showing off. The result was that the hem of dresses and skirts began to fluctuate between the ankles and the knees.

Physical limitations, such as corsets, were removed and replaced with bras that flattened the bust. The focus on the waist was completely gone, instead the hips were adorned with loose belts to sit on, creating a style without curves. The “youth look” became a women’s revolution, not only in the history of women’s fashion, but in the general role that women played in society.

The first short hairstyle in the history of women, called “bob”, was introduced and welcomed with enthusiasm by the female gender. For many it was a symbol of liberation from traditional long hair, for others it was simply the fact that keeping hair short is more convenient.

Separate sweater and pleated skirt sets became more popular by the day and the suits dressed working women and girls. Participating in business and being staffed in offices, the lawsuits were like a declaration of change as women were looking for a way to find their self-determined place in a world that was ruled by men. The trendy straight cut style lasted for a full decade and the liberation of traditional clothing proceeded with great speed in 1930.

In 1930, women replaced the straight-cut fashion with a style more in keeping with their femininity. Sleek, slim lines and a natural waistline were growing in popularity. The female forms were again accepted and also emphasized. The length of skirts and dresses was kept for almost a decade in the mid-calf, which today we refer to as “Midi”. In the late 1930s the hem ended 6 inches below the knee where it remained until the 1940s. The lightly padded shoulders hinted at what would be in style in the ’40s.

In the “forties” attention to fashion did not have as much space as many women wanted. Women had to replace men’s workforce in factories and service industries because men left to fight in World War II. Women had to be the mother and father of their children and keep the Nation running. They assumed roles that until then were reserved only for men. Fashion then remained simple; the garments had to last a while. However, it was possible to show off an attractive fashion and the most striking difference from previous styles was the padded square shoulders, which are something of a symbol for these years – a woman had to stand her ground and needed wider shoulders to carry the load. Skirts and dresses ended just above the knee and were tailored for a small waist. The most popular at this time was the suit consisting of a skirt and a jacket.

Trousers, until then reserved only for the male gender, also became a garment for women. Featured in a movie by an actress dressed in a suit with pants and tie and looking incredibly sexy, she created the “Marlene Dietrich Look.” The pants came down to the waist and closed with a zipper on the side. Using a fly for women’s pants didn’t even cross the minds of the designers; it was simply out of the question. Anyway, the success of the pants was certain; they conquered the hearts of women in the western world by storm and have been great fashion items ever since.

In 1947, the “New Look” caught the attention of women, replacing the “utility fashion look” of the war era. With the return of men, femininity in fashion also returned. Women wanted to look pretty and desirable; therefore, the feminine style of the “New Look” created by Christian Dior was embraced with enthusiasm. Rounded shoulders, accentuated bust lines and a clearly defined waistline marked on dresses, coats and suits. Semicircle ruffled dresses and skirts were extremely popular. The collections offered more versatile designs, from braided skirts above the knee to dresses that ended just below the calves.

Created on the streets of the United States, it was the fashion of teenage girls. Bobby socks, knee-length skirts, and sports sweaters were her favorite fashions in the late 1940s. This was quickly picked up by the fashion industry upon discovering a new target group.

The teenagers had the feeling that they were very different from their parents. Rock and roll, the film industry, television and magazines in the 50s confirmed this sentiment since all these trends in most cases were not understood or approved by parents. The fashion industry gladly satisfied these teens’ need to be different. Jeans, T-shirts, leather jackets and denim were introduced and teen fashion took off. The more rights given to young people for their own decision-making, the more variety and fashion styles could be found in shopping malls and boutiques.

During the 1950s, the way fashion was presented changed dramatically. The collections did not last a decade, but instead switched to two collections in one year. There was a variety of clothing available ranging from full circle ruffled skirts, supported by starched petticoats to the very popular dirndl dress. The 1950s brought stylish new patterns to choose from for women. Cotton skirts with a tropical landscape showing palm trees, beach and a sunset all over the place or the cute polka dot skinny pants ¾ that emphasized a pretty figure. Creativity exploded in Paris, after a time of hunger and the fear of not surviving the next day. Life was lived to the fullest in Western Europe and America.

Fashion accelerated in the 1960s. From a revival of the “Marlene Dietrich Look” to the introduction of the miniskirt that celebrates her success to the present day. Gypsy followed by the hippie look, that is to say: the girls wore transparent Indian cambric shirts without bras and long skirts or velvet bell bottoms with embroidered blouses that left the belly uncovered. Jeans had achieved evergreen status and were worn from teens to dads. Adult women could wear whatever they wanted, whether it was a miniskirt or ankle-length skirt, narrow skirts that fit the figure, or a suit with a rainbow-colored blouse, almost everything was in style.

In the mid-70s a loop back to a more conservative style was attempted. Convincing women to choose a mid-calf skirt as the only fashionable length available over a miniskirt failed miserably. Women sued both and the fashion industry has since offered both.

The children of the late 70s were finally heard and since then designers have also created children’s fashion. Children can choose from a wide variety of styles and trends and have a voice in how they dress and have a clear idea of ​​how they want to look.

Fashion is picking up social trends and reflects the roles of groups within a society. It is an extension of the personality of people and a tool to express self-realization. It seems to also reflect the extent to which these groups can freely express themselves in a creative and unhindered way.