20 fashion movements that rocked the 20th century

Fashion, much like history, is heavily based on the saying, "You don’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’re coming from." Repeating sartorial mistakes should be left to the uneducated. The world would be a much better place if shoulder pads and the like never resurfaced again. Looking back at the rise and fall of varying movements in fashion is a trip and should be a required class in high school.

Here are 20 movements that shouldn’t be overlooked.      

Belle époque: Luxurious fashion for those with the Benjamins at the turn of the century. People packed in splendor before World War I drained the pockets. This period came right after the Victorian period, under the reign of King Edward VII of England. Those swish Brits! Day gowns, tight corsets, lace, feathers, parasols and gloves had a following that were excessive at the time, but so darn pretty.

Flapper: Flapper fashion emerged after the World War I and was exemplified by short bobbed hair under a cloche hat, short shift dresses (sometimes fringed), long necklaces, pantyhose, Mary Janes and scarlet lipstick. Women set out to make their chests smaller and to look more boyish (yay for me, had I lived then) and created a standard for a more modern look by raising their hems and raising some eyebrows.  

Fifties glam: Skirts prevailed during this era: the full (poodle) skirt, sparked by Christian Dior’s New Look in 1947, and the slim pencil skirt. Both silhouettes emphasized the size of the waist. Paired with sweaters, flat shoes and poofy beehives or bouffants, pants were nowhere to be seen at this time.

Swinging Sixties: Still on the skirt kick, versions of the ’60s minis were worn with colored tights and go-go boots. Hot pants made a debut as did vinyl wear. Mary Quant launched her label known for bold color contrasts and Twiggy was the "it" model.

Disco fever: Saturday Night Fever in the mid-70s brought on a movement that was loved by many, especially partygoers. Polyester reigned on the dance floor. Pants and jeans, which flared out at the bottom, eventually became bellbottoms usually worn over platform boots. Farrah Fawcett hair was the best discovery since sliced bread at the time. Discowear emerged, horrifyingly so, consisting of unitards made of leopard print or metallic lamé. Be afraid!

Power dressing: Greed was good and so were shoulder pads in the ’80s. The movie Wall Street is a great example of what the attire was like in the office place. With women in the workforce, it was suit city and women embraced ties to wear with their suits. Suit jackets were also worn at night, heavily embellished and reflective of television shows like Dynasty.

Punk: Punk fashion has long been on the radar and has evolved through the decades. A classic punk uniform consisted of Doc Martens or Converse sneakers, jeans or leather pants, a ratty shirt held together by safety pins, a leather jacket, silver spiked accessories and a dyed Mohawk.

Minimalism: With the ’80s conspicuous consumption fading into the background of the ’90s, minimalism was born. Attitudes toward fashion were more relaxed at the time and the look was much neater. Think black Prada nylon bags, Jennifer Aniston hair, lots of black pants, Lycra, pashminas and anything Donna Karan.

Grunge: For all intents and purposes, this movement out of the Seattle area was a dirty one. Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots and Soundgarden were at the forefront and their music was rooted in dark, angst-ridden lyrics. Flannel was huge as were boots, particularly Doc Martens.

Ghetto fabulous: Without a doubt, this is one movement that has swept youth away. Kangol hats, baggy pants, Adidas sneakers, oversized shirts, gold teeth, multi-finger rings and doorknocker earrings. Phat Farm, Sean John and Rocawear have created clothing lines to ride with the market.

Cowboy: With Brokeback Mountain on the screen, the long-loved cowboy threads have hit the scene. Madonna rocked the look a few years earlier with her cowboy-themed attire in the video of Don’t Tell Me. A recurring movement, jeans, Western belts, cowboy boots and hats always make the grade. Yee-haw!

Preppy: Good boy/good girl looks can be achieved with a getup from this genre. Plaid skirts, Izod polos, penny loafers and argyle sweaters make any rebel look precious to their parents. Modern preps have slim-size polos in bright colors, which they pair with khaki pants and ribbon belts.

Military: This movement has been all over fashion’s radar.  Boots, camo-gear, cargo pants, jackets and army garb have created a niche in the market. Military chic includes luxe embellishments and leathers for a softer and less severe look.

Hippie: Peace-lovers loved the flower power look of the ’60s.  Ethnic outfits prevailed along with Afghans, peasant blouses, patchwork blouses and clothes made of hemp. Psychedelic and tie-dye prints were heavily favored, as were flowers in their hair. Pass the bong, dude.

Boho: Different from the hippie movement, boho was born 25 years later and is a more developed revival of the ’60s look.   Boho includes embellished and embroidered ethnic-chic caftans and sandals that are very Calypso-esque. Chiffon, lace, silk, cashmere and fur were strong players while Ghost and Voyage were big names.

New wave: With influences from the UK’s new wave music scene, followers of this movement wore all black head to toe.

Hollywood glam: Gorgeous Hollywood stars set the trends from the ’30s to the ’50s, strutting down the red carpet in beautiful satin gowns and perfectly coiffed ’dos. Imagine Charlize Theron as a modern-day Hollywood starlet from that era.

Rock royalty: Different from heavy metal, this encompasses a look that’s more Beyoncé and Victoria Beckham than Ozzy Osbourne. For rockers who don’t wear ripped jeans, but designer denim encrusted with jewels.

Deconstructionist: So derelict! Basically wearing your outfit inside out, this unconventional approach puts the zippers and seams on the outside. A great way to recycle outfits!

Current jean phenomenon: Whether low risers or slim-fit, these are not just a trend but seem to be the start of the newest movement.