Have you ever wondered how the dress came into fashion?

The early part of the century saw the rise of fashion that was fairly modest. When World War I broke out in 1914, fashion was among those things affected by change. Dresses took on a whole new look. The corseted waist dresses took a bow. In its place, the hobble skirt that resembles the harem skirts of the Middle East made an entrance.

Paul Poiret, a well known designer at that time is credited for having popularized this fashion movement heavily characterized by Eastern design and colors. Some skirts were so narrow that women found it impossible to move. To prevent the tearing of their skirt, women sometimes wore a length of cord to prevent their legs from moving apart.

The Great War of 1914-1918 changed peoples lives dramatically. As women gained more independence, they also sought more activity, thus creating the need for more practical clothes. Dresses became more utilitarian, adopting a tailored, boyish look. Hemlines of dresses started inching up owing to shortage of fabric during the war. Nice theaters even declared evening wear as unnecessary and optional.

When the war ended, fashion again made a dramatic turn. With the change in interests, clothing also changed. Sportswear was getting to be more popular and was soon incorporated into everyday dress.

When it came to mens fashion in the early 1910s, men were considered fashionable when they sported a one or three button cutaway frock coat and straight line jacket. The length of pants was 22 inches at the bottom, and the cane was a standard. Collars with bow ties were worn high with a bowler or some type of a hat to complete the look. The straw hat, or boater, was popular both for men and women. Boys normally wore three piece suits that consisted of a coat, vest, and tight fitting knee pants with knee-high stockings.

Now you know how the dress was affected by constant change in its environment.