MEDIEVAL FASHION INSPIRING IMAGES The middle

MEDIEVAL FASHION – INSPIRING IMAGES. • The middle ages were characterized by a large influence of the Church and religious upbringing, and its influence was detected in the suit.

In the early Middle Ages ( from V to XIII century) European men and women had to hide the body under clothing, leaving open the wrists and a small part of the neck cutout .

That period differed from Antiquity. In Middle Ages there was ostensible beauty of the taboo, and the clothes were very simple.

The early Middle Ages were characterized in common by the clothes, which were worn over the head like the costumes of Ancient Egypt.

The embroidery ornament was rarely used due to the fact that the tradition was lost for centuries, so clothes were mostly plain, painted with natural dyes.

Fabric for clothing was also used the most simple, such as linseed.

THE AGE OF RENAISSANCE In the XV century the main trendsetter of Italian fashion was Florence. In XVI century it gave way to Venice.

Although Italian suit was influenced by French Gothic fashion, there was no pretentiousness and extravagance.

Horizontal lines were the basic silhouette of the suit; too long trains and long sharp noses of shoes were not modern anymore; hanging sleeves, plunging necklines, high headdresses were out of fashion too.

Italian clothes of that period had visible features of antiquity, simplicity and soft smooth cloth was made from expensive fabrics: velvet, silk, brocade with silver and gold threads. The basic silhouette of the suit was red or woven with floral ornaments.

Especially Venetian brocade was famous for decorative pattern.

In the XVI century Italian suit was changed, his cheerfulness vanished, light or bright colors were replaced by darker tones and then black ones.

20 TH CENTURY FASHION.

Before the First World War fashions did not change very quickly. Men wore dark suits. They had short hair and moustaches were popular. Women wore long dresses with a very narrow waist. They had long hair.

In the Roaring Twenties dresses and hair became much shorter. People saw women `s knees for the first time! A straight figure with very wide legs called Oxford Bags.

In the 1930 s and 40 s hair, dresses, and coats became longer again. Men’s fashion didn’t change very much. Men wore a suit , a tie and usually a hat, too. Moustaches went out of fashion.

In the 1950 s people were richer and teenagers spent a lot of money on clothes. Men wore long jackets in very bright colours and very tight trousers. Brightly patterned dresses with tight waists and wide skirts and short socks were popular in women’s. both men and women wore shoes with long pointed toes. The women’s shoes had high stiletto heels.

The 1960 s were the time of the mini-skirt and long boots. For the first time in the twentieth century men had long hair - the famous Beatle haircut.

In the late 1960 s and the early 70 s the colourful hippy style was in. women wore loose maxi-skirts or maxi-dresses. Men wore jeans and brightly coloured skirts or T-shirts. Very long hair was fashionable for men, and beards became more common.

The late 70 s brought teenagers with punk hairstyles in red, blue, purple, and green, and brightly coloured makeup.

In the late 1980 s and early 90 s loose, casual clothes were in fashion-baggy trousers, a loose sweatshirt, and a baseball cap (usually back to front) Sports clothes like tracksuits were very fashionable too.