Going all the way back to 2004, when Zennie’s Zeitgeist blog was created, and is now Zennie62.com, the interest has always been in trends and current events. But one major aspect of this cultural mirror has been absent for too long: fashion and style trends.
That’s about to change, starting today.
What we wear, and particularly what women decide to put on, and why, is so important to our society and economy, and yet so natural, that it’s all too often taken for granted.
Did you know that the latest fashion trend is taking us back to the 1970s, but with a mix of punk? According to the blog Fashionising.com, it’s flares, wide-legged pants, along with “on the tough side, biker and punk follow through to the new season.”
Fashionising.com calls the 70s an “era of glam,” but doesn’t really explain why. For that, we have to turn to the blog Diary Of Style, which explains:
It has influenced the fashion industry tremendously with its free-spirited hippie aesthetic. Many designers look to vintage fashion as their source of inspiration for their collections. What was old, is now new again, but with an updated twist. This year, the 70’s fashion trend combines classic bohemian, with modern staples. Add contemporary pieces to keep a good balance. The fashion industry is not conforming to old trends anymore. Lately, vintage style has been made to look current and kicking our modern trends to the curb. Wide leg trousers are the new skinny jeans, long flowing maxi dresses are the new minis, and high-waisted pants are now taking over low-waisted pants. For spring 2011, it is all about making a statement. 70’s fashion was full of vivid colors and bold prints, from mustard yellow to regal purple, these bright hues were worn without fear. The 70’s glam trend is completely wearable for you to combine daytime and nighttime trends together.
Ok. But why? Its 2011. What sparked the 70s movement, rather than the 90s movement or the 40s movement, now?
Love to Know blog links this new fashion craze to Glam Rock and David Bowie, adding…
Glam fashion refers to the music that begat it: glam rock, also called glitter rock. Besides Bowie, there was also Elton John, Slade and many others who used the clothing revolution of the late 1960s as a springboard to create their own unique styles. For the first time in decades, even centuries, men could be glamorous. The clothing was not just androgynous, it carried a sexual ambiguity about the clothing that fit the complexity of much of the music. Just as the music was something not heard before, so were the clothes something very specific to this time. They were vivid, bold and astonishing – and inspired a lot of fervent copiers.
Ok. Fine. But why now, in 2011?
Since it’s hard to find the reason for the emergence of 70s style in 2011 (and in 2010 as well), perhaps looking at it from an entertainment view can help. From the new Charlie’s Angels to the making of Marvel Comic book characters into live action movie stars, and even to the intense interest in Womder Woman, and beyond, 70s pop culture has been remade for the 21st Century.
I can only attribute that to a wild combination of 70s free-love and hedonistic desires finding a new place in the more permissive 21st Century, and bringing with it all of the cultural signposts of the time, from television to fashion.
I can’t seem to find another explanation. If you have one, let me know via Twitter or comment at Zennie62.com, or if you have a view you want posted, email me at [email protected].
Stay tuned.