One of the special exhibits in the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma follows the evolution of women’s fashion in the form of The Little Black Dress.
Due to the precision developed for the production of military uniforms during World War II, standard sizing in ready-to-wear clothing became available. According to the Museum display:
“Many women purchased clothes rather than making them. For the first time in history, major clothing consumers included teenaged girls, who were no longer dressing to emulate their mothers but rather their peers or people that they saw on the street or on television.”
With regard to the Little Black Dress, the display states:
“A little black dress was now considered a wardrobe staple, suitable for most occasions with small efforts toward dressing up or dressing down.”
The emerging counterculture which favored artistic self-expression made some women question clothing choices.
Shown above is a 1950s evening gown.
Shown above is a 1950s dress featuring the “New Look”, a style featuring soft shoulders and full, billowing skirts. This was a style popularized by designer Christian Dior.
1960
According to the Museum display:
“In 1961, the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s and its star Audrey Hepburn would again change the perceptions of the little black dress. The design of Hepburn’s outfits was intentional—they were chosen to be simple and inexpensive so that women could copy the style at home.”
Shown above is a dress from about 1960.
Shown above is a 1960s dress inspired by the dress that Audrey Hepburn wore in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
1970
According to the Museum display:
“The 1970s were a time of fashion anarchy. The feminist movement encouraged women to wear things that they felt comfortable in, regardless of what was traditional. Clothing became more experimental and anything went as far as dress.”
1980
According to the display:
“As in the 1970s, there were no clear lines regarding what outfits should be worn for day or night. In the workplace, however, women began power dressing, using clothing to assert control and to assimilate into a male-dominated corporate world. Working women could now afford designer clothing.”
Shown above is an evening gown from 1988.
Shown above is a dress from the 1980s.
1990
According to the display:
“The 1990s were a time of great change in the fashion industry, as well as for the average shopper. Globalization enlarged the industry, leading to increased production and consumption of clothing and other goods. Mass-market stores became more popular as well as budget retailers like Target and Walmart.”
Shown above is a dress from the 1990s.
Shown above is a dress from the 1990s.
2000
Shown above is a dress from 2000s through the 2010s.
According to the display:
“Bandage-style dresses receive their name from the multiple thin bandage-like strips that comprise the garment. These strips are not cut or woven but instead are generally knitted in a panel and then attached together. This style popularized the fashion term ‘body-con,’ short for ‘body confidence,’ which refers to a dress that is tight and figure-hugging.”
Shown above is a dress from 2019.
More Museum Photo Tours
Museums 101: The Little Black Dress (photo diary)
Museums 101: Labor Unions (photo diary)
Museums 101: Homestead Bedroom (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: International glass fishing floats (photo diary)
Museums 101: The Fort Vancouver Fur Warehouse (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Antique Dolls (photo diary)
Museums 101: Logging (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Model railroad (photo diary)