One may recognize which era it is just by having a glance at the style of that period. Indeed, photos of students from different parts of the world and historical dimensions prove that fashion does not stand still. Fashion is constantly developing nowadays. However, it also can repeat and appear in various interpretations.
How do you usually imagine a common student? A young person with piles of books in the bag ready to spend hours in a library? Or a crazy youngling willing to gain new experience everywhere? Whatever students are in your imagination, almost all of them need help with math homework, some rest, leisure, and, of course, new college outfits. In this article, you will find out how youth fashion has changed throughout the decades.
Medieval Period
It is not a secret that a medieval student could even be fourteen years old. Indeed, nowadays, standards of age are far from those that were considered normal a few centuries ago. Besides, almost exclusively all the students were male, though not all of them originated from rich families.
Most students were armed, carrying both a knife and a sword. To imagine at least how a usual medieval student looked, remember how a monk looks: a brown robe and a cap underneath the hood of the robe. So, of course, there was no distinct fashion style. The only thing is that every piece of cloth was in dark colors.
Victorian Times
Victorian students had much more variety in style than their predecessors (even though it was still very uniform). Those came from any social class that was able to afford to give a child a higher degree. Of course, women were included in this list for the first time in history.
When looking at several students of the Victorian era, we could find the clothes they wear so familiar. Indeed, males would be able to blend in today with modern students. The only point is that they would look very formal. Victorian students would wear ties, hats, and full suits. The women looked a bit strange, with high collars and skirts to the ankle. They would perfectly pin up the hair without letting it look messy.
The Early 20th Century
These guys tried to keep up with fashion but maintained classical clothing styles. The only point is that they added flashy details to the image. It could be a velvet collar, a contrasting vest, a cap, or a coat one size larger. Another unusual idea was to shorten and tuck their pants. Indeed, the hipsters of the 2010s repeated their looks.
Trends among females were also unusual: huge hats with an intricate cut and skirts cropped to the ankles. The latter was a real shock for the beginning of the 20th century.
1910 – the 1920s
This period was, perhaps, one of the most interesting when it comes to fashion. Why? It was a time when those famous “Oxford bags” appeared on the streets of London. These are loose pants, a cult trend of the 20s, defining the youth of the era.
They appeared in 1924 in Oxford, where it was forbidden to wear breeches. But as we know, students do not lack ingenuity. Since you cannot wear breeches, you can tuck your pants into the socks. Such an image went beyond England, and in some places, it remained a trend until the 1950s. Females wore loose-fitting dresses and jazzy hairstyles at those times.
The 1930s
Young people of the 1930s were the very embodiment of elegance and chic. These guys did not get tired of dressing every day as if it was a holiday. The main goal of this was to demonstrate their sense of style. Complex cuts and numerous details were popular. Still, at the same time, they did not overdo it and tried to look solid and serious.
When it comes to the required attribute, it was a small hat. The more intricate – the better, especially for female students.
1940 – the 1950s
In the late 1940s, the streets of British cities were full of people representing some of the brightest subculture styles. The distinctive teddy style for students was developed in London’s menswear atelier on Savile Row.
Local tailors sought to create a new youthful image for wealthy clients: low-key suits in dark colors with elongated fitted jackets with lapels, skinny trousers, and smart vests. The shirt was white, with a cut-off collar, classic boots, and a trilby hat.
1960 – the 1970s
Picture a young man in a black sweater with a high collar, a T-shirt without pictures or a vest, straight trousers, and a beret. A girl was dressed in a long skirt, capri pants, and in a black or plain turtleneck or sweater. And certainly – they wore sunglasses, adding an aura of mystery. This is the traditional fashion look of the 1960s for young people.
During the Cold War, the hippie style emerged as a protest against the arms race. Their style implied freedom of expression. Shabby clothing with patches and holes was on the peak. Baggy shapes and boiled jeans were popular. Indeed, a student was ready to give all the money for such clothing.
The 1980s
Young people of the 80s were very fond of radicalism in their images. New youth subcultures have emerged: rockabilly, new wavers, punks, metalheads, the second wave of dudes, and a bunch of others.
It was the time when a casual style was formed: straight-cut jeans, Adidas, Gola, Puma, or Reebok sneakers, a polo shirt, a cardigan, a raincoat, a light parka, or a trench coat. Since the 2000s, the image of the casual has become very popular again.
1990 – the 2000s
This period in terms of fashion was a little more restrained than in the 80s. Moreover, it brought much fewer new trends than other decades. Leather jackets, plaid shirts, and provocative images maintained their popularity. The first oversized and unisex things appeared because it was convenient. All in all, most students preferred to look like stylish homeless people.