The Economy and Fashion; They’re More Related Than You Think

To the average person, the economy and fashion only seem to be slightly related. However, the state of the economy greatly impacts fashion at various levels. Hemlines are known to rise and fall with the economy. As the state of the economy worsens, trends often become more modest, and the opposite proves true as well. During the 1920s, the economy was booming, and for the first time in American fashion history, women wore clothing that showed off their arms and ankles. The average person was feeling more liberated, and was happy to show some skin. However, during the Great Depression, dresses were once again modest, and appendages were fully covered. Not only do silhouettes change with the economy, clothing materials and quality is altered as well. In the 1930s, as the economy was tanking to its lowest point in history, families were forced to make their own clothes out of flour sacks, and even adding their own prints with whatever materials they could find. Designer clothing was only purchased by Hollywood stars, and was completely inaccessible to the public. Even in recent history, these same purchasing trends hold somewhat true. During the recession, fewer people were purchasing new clothing and high-end items. Instead, people turned to consignment shops and thrift stores. Trends were being recycled, and microtrends were virtually nonexistent. Today, with a thriving economy, the everyday consumer is purchasing designer and high-end items, and more people are turning away from second hand stores.