International 1990

International 1990

In 1990, the fashion world was becoming very international. American designers began borrowing European ideas from countries like England, France, Italy, and Spain. In the UK, full length coats were in with the popular colors being camel, black, navy, and grey. The use of Lycra was also becoming very fashionable continentally in hot, bright colors. In the spring of 1990, stretch pants replaced tailored trousers and Pucci prints were in.

Throughout the world, 1990 was a decade of mixed messages. The “power shoulder” was eliminated, accessories became very popular, the classic cardigan was in, matt glamour disappeared, and models in their thirties and forties were strutting their stuff on runways and in magazines. There were also two major fashion flashbacks from the sixties and seventies with flared pant legs (now known as bootlegs) and platform shoes. Parkas, bright colors, and gentle earth tones were hot in New York, Paris, and Milan.

As the year 1990 was the start of a new decade, the fashion of the time was in the process of change. The economy was doing well during this time so consumers were willing to spend more money on items other than staple goods. Also because of the booming economy, the United States began borrowing from international ideas because they had the money and resources to do so.

Sources:

“Twentieth Century Fashion” Linda Watson. London: Carlton Books Limited, 2003.

http://www.englandattraction.com/1990s-fashion.html

http://www.fashion-era.com/the_1990s.htm

Vogue 1990 December Issue

Harpers Bizarre July 1990, article "109: Fall Forecast World Class Choice".

US Census

Bureau of Labor Statistics