Why do so many of these Era outfits look perfectly normal to me?

Peri

Is it because:

We are creating knock offs with current pieces?
We are creating updated tributes, not all that historically accurate?
Today's fashions allow more variety, as Angie often says?

Or...my eternal issue of not knowing what is okay to keep wearing and what is too dated?!

10 years ago

General

11 replies

Latest reply was from rabbit

Diana

Veteran

I think it's probably all of the above, Peri. I'll also add though that vintage/retro seems to be sort of outside of the dated/not dated conundrum these days, in that if it's old enough to be obviously retro, that's sort of its own style. Also, that whole bit about trends returning every 20 years or whatever time frame it is now.

I was thinking it would be interesting to do a "early- to mid-2000s" outfit and see if that looks terribly dated now. I can't really think of an iconic 2000s look except for the butt-crack bootcut jeans and really fitted tees though, and I am SO not going there.

10 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I think it's because we've really been in one fashion era for the last 100 years - the 20th century era... hehe

10 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

Good one rachylou.

I love certain eras so to my eye the clothes look great.

10 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

I had the same thought, Peri, especially when I viewed the outfits from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. The outfits on the forum re-interpreted elements from those eras, but with a decided 2015 sensibility. It's what I was trying to get at when I left my comment on Rachylou's Dickensian thread--a "Please Sir, can I have some more...but is it organic?" vibe that puts the era-inspired outfit squarely into the here and now.

10 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think it's because we're creating tributes more than full on vintage looks -- and those who have gone full on vintage tend to look great, but a little more "costumed."

It seems as if it is pretty easy to do 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. Like Diana, I wonder about doing 00s -- often the looks that are 10 to 15 years old feel the most "dated."

I've noticed some cycles: in the 80s, we reinvented the 60s.

The 70s looked back quite a lot to the 40s.

The 90s had something to do with the 30s (ditsy prints, bias cuts -- even grunge!)

10 years ago

Sal

Veteran

All of what has been said above. I think 10 to 15 year age span is the hardest to recreate without just looking dated. I think of bootcut jeans ( which are trending again), fitted tees, long midi skirts with appliqués and stripes, ruffled shirts, tunics, leggings, knee high boots over skinnies.

In saying that I wear bootcuts, tunics, leggings, knee high boots over skinnies....

10 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Oh! And the butt-crack jeans outfit would be worn with flip flops, constantly stepping on the too-long frayed hems of the jeans.

10 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Yes to all of the reasoning above. Also, we're working with basically contemporary pieces and trying to make them look period. But the fact that most of our pieces ARE contemporary is still going to come through.

As for what is dated I think empire waist tops and sublimation prints. From the early to mid 00s. However just before that, the mid to late 90s, can look fashionable! For example, cropped flares. Cropped tops. Long vests.

10 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Peri, 100% to all three reasons.

Furthermore, you are often seeing the outfit with modern hair, shoes, make-up and eyewear. That makes a difference too.

10 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

I agree and I want to know what will the Era-defining pieces be for today in 40 years? I have such clear images of decade styles up to 2000 and then it all seems sort of undifferentiated. Why? Like classic cars - a '57 Chevy is so obvious now, but back in '57 was it just another truck?

10 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

To una's point, I think there were a lot of micro-trends that kind of get flattened when you look back in time, and then so much of our fashion awareness is tied into pop culture, what iconic looks got worn on TV, in movies, or in music videos. So for example 80's hiphop fashion evokes very clear mental pictures to me, as does 90's grunge (as worn by musicians).

So looking back on the 2000's - how much will future generations be remembering the pop divas versus everyday street wear? And what everyday street wear looks will remain in memory? It has to be something that almost everyone wore. So looking back on this decade I wouldn't be surprised if skinny jeans with tall boots or booties and tunic tops, cardigans, or sweaters are going to be included in winter wear, as are maxi dresses with flat sandals in the summer --- they have just been too ubiquitous for so long.

10 years ago

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