High-Class Women's Fashion Trends over the 20th Century

Jean-Philippe Worth, Evening Dress, 1905. Silk New York: Brooklyn Museum Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

1905

This is a women’s evening dress made in France by French designer Jean-Philippe Worth in 1905. In the decade of 1900-1909, it is understood that women's evening gowns, "had more fitted bodices with low-cut necks," and "sleeves could also be draped, and necklines were sometimes off-the-shoulder,". It was also in this decade that "women began to emphasize the importance of dressing for the occasion," and "event-specific dressing was increasingly important,".

G & E Spitzer, Evening Dress, 1910-1912. Silk, pearl, glass. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art

1912

This is a women’s evening dress made in Austria by Austrian designer G & E Spitzer worn in 1910-1912. In the decade of 1910-1919, the styles in the previous decade "softened into a more natural silhouette," and "skirts began to taper towards the bottom, and a completely new style, that of a revived empire waist, emerged as well,". However, since WWI started halfway through this decade, the fashion world took a giant turn where women began to wear uniforms, including overalls and trousers.

Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel, Evening ensemble, 1925. Silk. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

1925

This is a women's evening dress made in France by French designer Coco Chanel in 1925. In the decade of 1920-1929, the world was in a massive transformation from WWI as it had an irreversible effect on society, culture, and fashion. This resulted in "the development of a more convenient, modern female wardrobe" which "was achieved through the progressive simplification of dress as the decade advanced in favor of comfort and a lighter, more natural effect,". Also known as the "flapper" look.

1930-1939s

1930

1940-1949s

1943

1950-1959s

1953

1960-1969s

1968

1970-1979s

1971

1980-1989s

1985

1990-1999s

1996