Hands down, one is sure to note that the clothing worn by women’s formal wear has undergone a dramatic change due to the cultures, the changing world, fabrics, and fashion design. From the structured corset to the modern styled pantsuit concept, women’s formal dress code has continuously evolved to fit society’s demands and trends. In this review of fashion trends, one gets to understand the direction of today’s trends from the trends of the past, not forgetting how today’s trends continue to transform formal wear.
Victorian Elegance: Corsets and Gowns
Women’s fashion in the vintage period was the elegance of the 19th century. In the Victorian era, women’s formal clothing had tight waists, wide hips, many folds, and elements of ornamentation. Cotton was again generally used, and dresses were often brightly coloured, low-necked and with high waists; embroideries, velvets or laces indicated rank. Formal or evening was the only apparel associated with gown; the women’s dress was predominantly in dark, opulent shades. These styles deny women freedom of choice, yet they represent femininity and highlight the formal wear to follow for the next several decades.
Roaring Twenties: Flapper Dresses and Freedom
Clothing on formal occasions, especially for women, significantly transformed during the 1920s, moving away from the strict observance of earlier traditions. Flapper dresses made formal attire accessible and fashionable and added new dimensions. Shortening the length of the dress removed much of its mystery, creating a non-prototypical silhouette adorned with application and embroidery. This reflects the approach of women’s liberation from conventional fashion styles of this period, which became more elaborate and colourful, including styles like the red formal dress of this era.
Mid-Century Glamour: Hollywood and Hourglass Silhouettes
The period of the 40s-50s reflected and borrowed from the glamour of Hollywood in the fashion of structured elegance. Business suits were fitted to accentuate a bust line, a cinched waist, and perfectly rounded hips. Since then, white formal dresses have become popular for evening wear, depicting the best-of-class style. The 1950s for women’s clothing was mainly elegant, accented by the culture of respectability and etiquette in polite society.
The 1980s Power Suit: Redefining Formal Wear for Women
The power suit that appeared in the 1980s gave women’s formal wear a new start. Embracing blazers, sharp shoulders, and trousers, this period redefined conventional norms and helped women stand out in the corporate environment. Dresses transitioned from symbolizing power into informative attire denoting formal strength and independence, represented by the power suit. This was a significant moment in fashion history, as women began to change how business professional dress could be worn socially.
Modern Formal Wear: Inclusivity and Individuality
The latest fashion for the modern woman includes traditional gowns, perfect dresses, trousers, and jumpsuits. Today, fashion is often more unique and highly fashionable—for example, red formal dresses or white formal dresses are considered classic yet adaptable to different tendencies. Whether classically nostalgic or post-modernist, today’s gowns reflect a multiculturally saturated, gender non-specific, and sustainably produced ethic that is on the rise.
