Fashion as Control
These laws in Europe restricted what certain social classes could wear and reinforced hierarchy
What are sumptuary laws?
This French king controlled social mobility by dictating fashion at his royal court.
Who is Louis XIV?
These people or entities now shape fashion trends through visibility and media, rather than by rank.
Who are designers, media, and influencers?
This 1920s movement saw women cut their hair and wear shorter dresses to defy traditional gender roles.
What are flappers?
In 19th-century women’s fashion, this skirt style restricted mobility and was said to mock women advocating for suffrage.
What is the hobble skirt?
This Russian tsar forced nobles to adopt Western European dress, using fashion to modernize and control society
Who is Peter the Great?
This 1990s fashion trend, popularized by magazines and runway models, emphasized extremely thin bodies and minimal clothing.
What is heroin chic?
In the 1960s, this “revolution” encouraged men to wear brightly colored clothing, floral prints, and even makeup.
What is the Peacock Revolution?
During the Edwardian era, this type of clothing became the uniform of men in power, emphasizing authority and masculinity.
What is the men’s suit?
After this major historical event, people stopped looking to kings and aristocrats for fashion inspiration.
What is the French Revolution?
In the 2010s, this celebrity-driven style emphasized curves, fitness, and designer streetwear.
What is the Instagram body?
This 1966 suit by Yves Saint Laurent gave women a tailored alternative to the dress, challenging traditional femininity.
What is Le Smoking?
In England under Edward III, these individuals were legally allowed to wear fine materials like silk or fur.
Who are knights and ladies?
During this era, mass production made clothing accessible to the middle class, shifting fashion influence from royalty to ordinary people.
What is the Industrial Revolution?
These pink hats became a symbol of solidarity and protest for women’s rights during the 2017 Women’s March.
What are kitty hats?
This type of fashion in the 2010s blurred menswear and womenswear lines, promoted by brands like Gucci and Telfar.
What is gender-fluid and inclusive fashion?