London Fashion throughout the decades
Home to some of the most successful British high-end fashion designers including Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney, London is a major player in the fashion industry and has rightfully earned its place as one of the most important iconic fashion capitals in the world.
As it’s London Fashion Week this month, we decided to walk through some of the most iconic decades in London fashion history…
70’s:
The 70s was a highly playful and explorative decade for fashion in the UK, with numerous styles being adopted. This included a hippie or boho style with tie dye, bell bottoms, prairie dresses and crochet becoming popular, all of which were part of a movement away from mainstream fashion and politics. The punk movement was also a rejection of mainstream society but with a rather different style; instead of crochet, punks wore tartan, leather and chains. Disco also became popular in the 70s, and this meant that sequins, hot pants and miniskirts were all the rage. Menswear kept getting more bold and colourful, with more printed shirts and blazers becoming mainstream alongside increasingly slim-fitting trousers. The 70s, in particular, created a bunch of male British style icons, from Mick Jagger to David Bowie.
80’s:
Called by some “the time that fashion forgot”, the 80s were certainly an interesting time for British fashion, with many supposed fashion rules being ignored or broken. Understated was not a theme of the 80s, with some of the most popular trends consisting of shoulder pads, power suits, and bright, lycra sportswear. Denim also became more popular than ever in this decade, with denim jackets and skirts becoming common alongside classic jeans. Similarly to women, menswear consisted of a lot of power dressing and sportswear, including tracksuits and windbreakers.
90’s
In the 90s, fashion became more casual than ever, with both men and women favouring jeans and oversized clothing. Sportswear continued to inspire fashion, with items like biker shorts and big sweatshirts being a popular trend for women. There was also a surge in the popularity of vintage and second-hand clothing, often inspired by grunge. Men were also increasingly inspired by grunge movements and bands like Nirvana, with flannel shirts, jeans and Converse shoes being common.
00’s:
A lot of clothes started to be inspired by celebrity culture, and they were made as cheaply and quickly as possible. Y2K trends such as mesh tops, wide-leg trousers, and bedazzled t-shirts were popularised, and we’re currently seeing a resurgence of these styles. In the late noughties, there was even more fashion experimentation. Some trends were inspired by the 80s, such as neon and geometric patterns, but we also saw a rise in alternative trends such as emo style and scene. Some of the most popular noughties trends in the UK include skinny jeans, ugg boots, and chunky belts.
Book your stay with us and celebrate London Fashion week in the capital this September. What will you be wearing?
Sources:
https://biddlesawyersilks.com/london-fashion-the-history-of-the-british-fashion-capital/
