100 Ideas that Changed Fashion - Kick-off Thread - YouLookFab Forum

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100 Ideas that Changed Fashion - Kick-off Thread

Inge

(website)

Hi everyone! Welcome to our third virtual YLF Book Club meet-up.

We are talking about 100 Ideas that Changed Fashion by Harriet Worsley.

The book chronicles the 100 most influential ideas that, between 1900 and 2010, forever changed the world of fashion. As the author herself puts it: "... each idea had to be something that rerouted the course of fashion and without which womenswear would not be what it is today."

In fact, some of the concepts, movements and events in the book helped change women's lives on more than just a fashion level. E.g. the practicality of pants for work and leisure activities, the freedom of movement knitwear has brought us. Durable and affordable wash-and-dry fabrics...

Personally, I'm also very grateful for the invention of the zipper. Just imagine how much time it would take to get a pair of 20 eyelet Dr. Martens boots on and off without the zip (the original version only had the laces by the way). And that's just one example.

So, what did you think of the book? Which of the concepts do you find truly revolutionary? Which are the ones you feel really changed the world of fashion? Did you feel anything essential was left out?

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Hope you enjoyed the book!

Book Club

15 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Freckles

Veteran

Awaiting to receive my copy from the library and reading the discussions here.

I just wanted to add Inge that I love this new part of the forum and find it extremely informative, helpful and well rounded.

Chippy Mia

Still waiting for the book so I don't know if these were mentioned but I think the introduction of a shoulder strap to the handbag and jersey knitwear by Gabriel Chanel.

Of course as a mom, i am forever grateful for the invention of snaps, elastic waistbands and velcro. : )

Inge

(website)

Freckles, it's so wonderful to hear you are enjoying our Books section. Thank you for your fab comment, you have just made my day.

Shopmom: (knitted) jumpwears, knitwear and shoulder bags all have their own entries in the book. Are you sure you haven't read it yet?-)

I hope you'll enjoy the book, ladies.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I left my copy on the plane!!!

*slaps forehead*

I LOVED this book, Inge. I scarcely know where to start. It's AMAZING to have all these great concepts and inventions of fashion and style all in one place. I will keep looking back at the pages in this book. So easy to read and superbly illustrated.

Here are some quick thoughts:

- the invention of the bra - can imagine a life sans a bra?

- when suntans became stylish

- the history behind the t-shirt and how it has always been regarded as underwear

- the rise of the supermodel

- How platforms were so very '40s but we think of them as '70s

- How shoulder pads are so very '40s and we think of them as '80s

- How fashion was adjusted because of Nazi restrictions and terrible war times.

- when women began to wear trousers

- Spandex!!!

- the invention of manmade fibres and costume jewelry

- when people started to dress for comfort and why that came about

- the Zipper!!!

- Denim

And seeing photos of UN-photoshopped photos in the '70s blew my mind too.

Isis

Veteran

Oh no, Angie, sorry you left your copy on the plane!

I also LOVED this book! I was delighted to win it in a YLF competition, and devoured it. My daughter also loved it. For those who don't have it, there are 100 2 pg essays with great illustrations/photos about all sorts of stuff.

I loved the vintage photos.....

One of my favorites was reading about Doc Martens. They look so heavy and I didn't realize that they were invented as comfort shoes! Those thick soles are full of air!

I also like reading about Chanel #5, androgeny (who knew that part of Chanel's influence was introducing masculine elements into her style), grunge, levi's......

Isis

Veteran

Oh--interesting about the lack of photoshop in the 70's pictures, Angie. Do you mean the street photos, or do you also notice the lack of photoshopping in the fashion photo's from the 70's ? I'll have to look for that!

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

Ahh i've had this book on my Amazon wishlist for so long. I wish my library had better options. ;_; Maybe i should just bite the bullet and get it.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Isis, have a look at the '70s photo of Farah Faucett at the beginning of the book (sorry that I cannot tell you the page). I think it's about the zipper (RHS huge photo)? She is wearing a wet suit bathing costume and her crotch point has not been photoshopped at all. That would NEVER happen today.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Thank you for putting this book on the reading list Inge! I ordered it from Amazon and received it in December, but being a procrastinator, only started reading it last night.

I am not through with it yet, but here are some not-yet-mentioned ideas that really struck me:

- photography in magazines. My lifetime of learning about fashion has been through photography! This has had both positive (great way to learn) and negative aspects (easy to think of one's self as fat and unattractive). And now, I continue to learn about style by posting my pictures on the internet. I actually think what is happening here on YLF (fashion feedback sites) and through blogs showing real, normal people, might just be another revolutionary idea in the making. We get to see how REAL people look in clothes, not tall slim models.

- LBD. I was surprised that in the past, black was worn by poorer people only (didn't need as much care) or in mourning. Now I realize why my grandmother, who was born in 1903, never, ever wore black. Her favorite color was Elsa Shiapparelli's shocking pink.

Anonymous

Denise (CocoLion), that's funny what you said about wearing black. I remember hearing a story about Prince Charles and Diana where she appeared wearing a black evening gown for the first time and he said something like, "Black is for funerals." or some such thing. It was propabaly around that time that black began being regarded as chic, and there's been no turning back!

ETA: Ooos, I forgot about the Jackie Kennedy's LBD. It must have been before!

Inge

(website)

I have to run, but wanted to pop in to say it's so interesting to read what stood out to you most.

Isis: The picture of Farah F. is on page 49, with the article about "The Zip".
Angie: So sorry about the book.

Isis

Veteran

Inge--I meant to comment on the Farrah F. pic! Yes, no photoshopping!!!!! I'm going to look more carefully at all vintage fashion pics now!

I do really love the vintage pictures in the book. Twiggy. The Brook Shields Calvin Klein ad. Chanel....( I learned that she was an early adopter of androgeny, fascinating!).

rachylou

Veteran

oK. I'm probably talking to myself now... but I've had this book for, well, 4 months... and I don't know why, but I don't feel compelled to look at it. Don't know why. Maybe the changes don't seem big enough to me?

Or perhaps it's because what I really want to know is how they went from wearing togas in Italy to being swaddled in cloth like it was the North Pole or something. I mean, I've heard that temperatures dipped in the Middle Ages, but that much?

Inge

(website)

Not at all, Rachylou, it's always great to hear what you think of a YLF Books title, no matter when.

You know, I always find I really need to be in the mood for a certain book. Often I start to read something and just can't seem to get into it at all. So I put it away for a while - sometimes years - and then all of a sudden I feel like picking it up again, and I read it from cover to cover in a few days. Not sure why this happens, perhaps I wasn't ready for the book the first time around, not into the writer's style, obsessed with a different genre...

And of course, it's also perfectly fine never to like a book at all:-)

Also: we shall have to find you a book that explains the Italian temperature phenomenon!

rachylou

Veteran

You are very kind, Inge! I swear, my brain has a mind of its own. LOL. There are times when it simply refuses to take requests. And it IS a bit obsessed with the *Italian question.*

LOL