Fashion Styles

Fun Facts About Fashion Styles

• Classic Audrey Hepburn's little black dress from the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) is considered the ultimate classic piece and remains a wardrobe staple decades later.
• Elegant is a timeless, sophisticated asesthetic defined by clean lines, high-quality fabrics, and a "less is more" philosophy. Think Grace Kelly's iconic outfits from the 1950s, which were so influential that many of these outfits are still referenced on red carpets today.
• Grunge a style emerging from the Seattle music scene in the late-1980s and early-1990s as a reaction against the polished 1980s aesthetic. If you spot youth wearing flannel shirts, ripped jeans and combat boots, they likely listen to Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains.
• Preppy originated at elite American Ivy League universities in the first half of the 20th century, where clean-cut students wore polo shirts, khakis, and loafers as a symbol of polished privilege.
• Tomboy the term dates back to the late-1500s to describe bold women. Icons like Katharine Hepburn and Coco Chanel were pivotal in popularizing trousers for women in defiance of skirts-only norms.
• Punk emerged in the mid-1970s as anti-establishment rebellion against polished, commercialized glam rock. It's characterized by raw, chaotic, do-it-yourself aesthetics, complete with safety pins holding together ripped clothes and mohawk haircuts.
• Gothic style traces roots to strict 19th century Victorian mourning attire, where all-black clothing was worn for years after a loved one's death. It evolved into today's dramatic, lace-and-velvet aesthetic, including high collars, tight-laced corsets and long skirts.
• Artsy fashion is unconventional, creative and highly personal. It is effectively "wearable art," drawing inspiration from famous artists' studios. You might see eclectic mixes like paint-splattered overalls designed to mimic abstract canvases.
• Casual fashion style is a relaxed, comfortable approach to clothing designed for everyday wear. For Americans, this usually means T-shirts and jeans, especially given the fact that the average American owns about seven pairs of jeans.