From the 1920s to the 1940s women dress was fairly conservative in contrast to present-day styles. For the most part women dressed very much like the adults of this time.
In the 1920s women wore outfits such as the schoolgirl cadet style outfit which consisted of a gathered skirt with a hemline just below the knee. This skirt was usually accompanied by the wearing of a V-necked bottom-down jersey knit cardigan, white collared shirt, and tie. On the head was worn a beret.
Other women often wore cardigan sweaters, cotton frocks, and canvas shoes. Sometimes they wore sandals with their outfits. In the 1930s teens and/or young women would dress to imitate movie stars as much as possible.
In the 1940s during World War II natural materials for clothing were scarce. Women clothes were made with the same fabric as adult fashions were (rayon and viscose). During this time, clothes were mended when worn and when new clothes were needed drapes, sheets, pillow cases, and other household materials were used to make new clothes.
During the 1950s, new teen fashions began to develop, especially between 1955 and 1960. In fact, this was the period of time when teens began to purchase their own clothing, which was one of the reasons why they became such an influence on fashion that was made during this time.
Womenin the mid to late 1950s wore clothing items such as an oversized sweater, buttoned cardigan, and/or a simple long tweed skirt. Around their necks they sometimes wore a string of beads along with it.
In the 1950s, groups of teen girls also sometimes wore baseball jackets and loose jeans rolled up. Most women would where such an outfit (i.e. these girls’ mothers).
In the 1960s mini-skirts and mini-dresses became very popular. During the late 1960s long flowing “hippie” dresses were sometimes worn by teens or young women.
These styles along with jeans and T-shirts and psychedelic clothing were also very popular with youth, especially those at least 18. This trend continued on throughout the 1970s, which also included the wearing of bell-bottoms. The 1970s was considered to be all about individual expression.
In the 1980s overalls, sweat suits, Spandex sportswear, cotton jersey dress, and baseball shirts were often worn by teens. Additionally, parachute pants, jeans (straight-legged or narrow-cut), sneakers, and denim shirts or jackets.
1990s teen styles have many more variations than in decades before. As in the 1970s, fashion from this time on became more about individual expression for teens rather than following a trend. As a result, numerous sub-groups, often called “cliques” resulted.
From the 1990s to the present day (2007) one group of teens may wear the usual jeans and T-shirt outfit. Bell and flare-bottom pants are probably the items of clothing worn by the largest group of teens. Other groups, such as punks, wear ripped jeans, spiked or colored hair, and body piercing.
Speaking of body piercing, this practice has gone way beyond the traditional pierced ear. Navals, eyebrows, noses, and even private areas of the body are worn by teens.
In the present day, teen fashion has also become quite risqué, although fashion professionals frown upon certain trends. Midriff shirts that rise too high above the “belly button”, shirts that show too much on the top portion of the body, and opened-fly jeans are frown upon in many learning institutions.
Overall, clothing is much more casual and relaxed for teens than in times past. Most teens are not required to wear school uniforms at all, unless attending a private school (usually).
Pierre Cardin: One of the most famous French fashion designers, Pierre Cardin was born in 1922 to French parents in Italy. Pierre Cardin is particularly famous for his space age designer wear as well as his avant-garde style. He made Paris his home in 1945. Often choosing to ignore the female form, he had a penchant for creating geometric motifs and shapes. In fact, he is regarded as the first fashion designer to take fashion into the street, and design unisex clothing. He has also been at the helm of affairs of the famous restaurant, Maxim’s de Paris, and has an entire range of secondary products under this trademark.