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Looking through old photos of children dressed in their 1970s attire, you probably have an initial wave of horror and pity. Bell bottoms, mini-dresses, mini-skirts and anything denim filled America's closets. Children are never immune to society's fashion trends. Walk into any American school in the 1970s, and you were sure to see miniature Farrah Fawcetts, short Shawn Cassidys and plenty of bell bottom pants.
A look at Mary Pickford and Lilian Gish in silent films from the first decade of the 20th century shows the bouncy girlish styles in vogue. Floppy curls and cupid makeup made them look childish and innocent. World War I halted the fairy tale. Hair dressing was by necessity quick and simpler than the romantic coifs of happier times. The objective was to get it out of the way by piling it up or cropping it off. Busy women ranged further from home in a mobile age and the speed of a bicycle or auto was rough on an elaborate…
In 1915, World War I had already had an impact. Cloth was in shorter supply than usual and thus more expensive. Women were moving toward more practical, shorter skirt lengths and fewer undergarments. They were also cutting their hair short. Tailored clothing gave way to store-bought, off-the-rack garments, changing the silhouette. Children's clothing was affected similarly, with lengths shortening and skirts losing volume to allow more efficient use of cloth.
World War II dominated children's clothing in 1942. Fabrics and styles changed to fit the rationing needs of the country. Supporting the troops included rationing items that needed to go to the war effort. Items such as food, metal, paper products, fabric, and shoes were included. The war affected children's clothing styles through rationing that dictated design, color and size.
Cosmetics have evolved in chemical composition and application since the time of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. By the 1930s cosmetics were no longer limited to the wealthy. With women wanting to look like the movie stars of the 1940s, Max Factor, Helena Rubenstein and Elizabeth Arden offered women variety in style and quality.
In 1909, children's clothing tended to be somewhat unique. Home sewing, with or without a pattern, was more common and professional tailors or seamstresses made many items one at a time. Mass production of clothing was more rare and even when clothing was made in a factory two pieces might not be exactly identical. Fabrics tended to be primarily cotton, in varying strengths.
1940 was a single year of relative ease in America bookended by turmoil. The Great Depression officially came to an end in 1939 and although the eyes of America were on the war in Europe, the nation would not join World War II until 1941. The fashions of 1940 were far more glamorous than those during the depression, and the sacrifices of wartime were not yet being made.
Queen Victoria was crowned in 1837 and her style choices influenced fashion for the rest of the decade. In the 1840s girls' clothing was mostly a miniature version of what adult ladies were wearing although younger girls wore shorter skirts. Boys were dressed like girls until they were four. Then they wore simple practical clothing.
The year 1940 and those that followed were troubled times. The Nazis were attacking Europe, and World War II had started. Wartime changed the clothes that individuals wore as women started wearing trousers and men were fighting in the war. Fashion trends in Europe changed slowly due to the fighting, but clothes for children in the United States changed rapidly during 1940 and the years that followed.
Dressing a kid in 1958 didn't take much effort or imagination, provided the home had a fresh stash of bows and shoes were polished and clean. Every item of clothing had to be clean, crisp and buttoned to the top, not an easy look to maintain for rambunctious children. Kids would also have a hard time expressing any individuality with the clothes that populated their closets in 1958.
Dress your child with great accessories; learn how to choose accessories for a child's wardrobe in this free video on children's clothes and fashion.
