Timeless Fashion
In the fashion world, you can’t copyright ideas and designs. It’s one of the coolest thing about fashion and it’s what, practically speaking, allows for trends to evolve. Designers get ideas and inspiration from other designers and creators around them, and so a concept can go from one designer to another and become a trend. I often find myself excited about the hot trends of the era, even though I know these items won’t fit next year’s trends, or the year after that. Which is why I’ve decided to tell you about some classic things that are never out of style and expand a bit on their origins and evolution throughout history. Here you can find a song to listen to as you read along, hope you enjoy.
Little Black Dress (or, for short, LBD): The first to coin the term LBD was Coco Chanel in the year 1920, and it is indubitably an essential part of the female wardrobe. By definition the “little black dress” is a simple black dress, classy and elegant, simple and short, and yet you can still find variations on the classic dress using different materials and different fits. The Little Black Dress’ advantage is that you can wear it in a variety of ways: with different shoes, a top, a tailored blazer, a jacket, tights, or you can make it trendy, elegant, edgy or sexy by accessorising.
Black Pantyhose: Pantyhose were invented in the year 1960, but as early as 1589 people would wear thin silk or cotton knee-high socks (stockings). The silk would generally come from Japan and its price was rather high. In the first 200 years these socks were for men’s use, not women’s. It was only later that girls started to wear stockings as fashion changed, dresses and skirts became shorter, exposing more legs and girls wanted to show off beautiful legs so they started to wear stockings to create a smoother look.
In 1937 the first synthetic nylon was manufactured. Nylon was cheap and strong in comparison with silk and so in 1940 the first nylon stockings began to be sold in their first year on the market 64 million pairs were sold to women. Manufactures couldn’t keep up with the crazy demand. In 1942 the US joined the second world war and the nylon manufacturers switched from making nylon for socks to making nylon for army products to aid in the war efforts, and so nylon stockings became a rare and much desired product. Nylon stockings had a seam at the back of the leg because the material originally was knitted flat and the seam was sewn in the back. Which is why during the war and the stocking shortage women would draw a line on the back of their legs with an eyebrow pencil to give the illusion that they were wearing the elusive nylon stockings.
In the 60s dresses and skirts became shorter and shorter and you could no longer wear nylon stockings and get the perfect leg look without seeing the end of the sock and so in these years the first pantyhose, as we know them today, were manufactured. Today we can find pantyhose in a variety of shapes and colours and they change with the seasons and trends. But black pantyhose have been in fashion for a long time and there is no doubt that they will remain there for even the far future. They are classy, feminine, and they keep you warm in the winter. They can be found in different thickness and transparency so despite “black pantyhose” sounding very specific, the possibilities are actually endless.
Red Nail Polish: Despite not being very much like the nail polish we know today, nail painting as a practice began over 5000 years ago. Back then it was made from a mixture of gelatin or wax and roses or other flowers. This mixture would be left on the nails overnight and it would leave a reddish or pinkish tint. Later, around the beginning of the 19th century, women would paint their fingernails with red oil paint for a classy, brilliant look. In the past nail colour and shape were a symbol of social status, generally speaking of a higher one because the lower classes did menial labour that precluded the pampering of hands and fingernails. Even today in 2013 we women continue this practice. The most popular nail polish colour throughout history has always been red and there is no doubt in my mind that it will remain classic in the future, every “fashionista” needs it!
Red Lipstick: When I think of red lipstic I immediately think of “Old Hollywood Glamour”, of Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Taylor Swift. There’s something brilliant and eternal in the simplicity of the look and the boost it gives at the same time. At every large event you can see people looking great in red lipstick. We generally use more orange, light and shinier tints in the summer and spring seasons and more bordeaux, deep, dark, even purple shades in the winter and fall seasons. The use of red lip began over 5000 years ago. Babel women would make themselves up with a paste that included crushed up gems, and in Egypt the red lipstick pigment was made from wax and plants containing mercury (which had severe consequences on their health). It is said about Cleopatra, on the other hand, that she would use lipstick made from ants and beetles in order to create that perfect shade of red.
In 1837 in Britain, Queen Victoria took the throne. The queen forbade the use of makeup, claiming that it is unbecoming of ladies, being appropriate only for prostitutes. In the 20s the use of black lipstick became quite popular in the production of black and white silent movies.
Finally I’d like to mention the show Mad Men which takes place at an advertising company in the 60s. One of the episodes features the lipstick company “Belle Jolie”’s advertisement with the slogan: “Mark your man” – which got my attention and made me wonder if it’s about more than beauty, is it also a way to send messages and show ownership?