history of clothing — Blog

I continue to be fascinated by the clothing people wore to express themselves in previous eras. It’s a lot to consider—their personality, ideas about clothing passed down to them by parents or caretakers, wider cultural ideas about what specific pieces meant, the social-political zeitgeist, and how a person put it all together to create their unique sartorial expression. I like to take this stroll down memory lane a step further by conceptualizing what these people from eras past would wear today, in our time and culture. When I see a picture of someone from the past, I consider what factors impacted their clothing choices that day. While I take creative liberties, I look for relatable themes I use to construct what their outfit might look like today if they were the same age in the picture. For this installment of Different Time Same Style (DTSS), I’m exploring our mom’s clothing choices— mine and my friend Myriam’s mom to be exact. I’m focusing on special occasions, as getting dressed up to go out really brought out the fashionista in these women.

In order to understand our moms’ sartorial choices, let’s consider their history. Myriam’s mom, Ms. Zula, always liked clothes, and her interest in clothes came from her mother. Though she did not grow up with a lot of money, her mother made sure she was put together with her hair combed and styled. She was drawn to dressing up, and described her style as “fancy".” In her adult life, Ms. Zula moved from Haiti to the States. Like many Caribbean women, she worked hard to create a good life for her children and family in a new country; and instilled many values in them like responsibility and pride. So being well-dressed one way to express these values.

In this picture, Ms. Zula is dressed up for a holiday function— a time we all love to show off or best gear. When Ms. Zula was asked about her outfit choice in this picture, she said she felt good about her dress. She liked the color and the way it fit. She had no qualms about wearing red and pink because “they go together.” Sometimes people shy away from the tension created when you combine variations of a hue, but not Ms. Zula! She just felt it was pretty and that was enough. I find that carefree approach so refreshing. Also, Ms. Zula’s fine jewelry is significant to her. Both the necklace and broach are the first expensive pieces she bought with her own money, and she still has the pieces today! I think having sentimental pieces is the ultimate form of self-expression— it cuts through trends to create a wardrobe that has personal meaning.

The elements that stood out for me in Ms. Zula’s outfit are the prettiness, the carefree quality of combining variations of a hue, and the refined, significant pieces of jewelry. See how I think Ms. Zula would style her outfit today.

Carolina Herrera dress/ Saint Laurent sandals/ Marni bag/ Oscar De La Renta broach/ Kate Spade necklace / Inspo photo

And next we have my mom. If you saw me talk about her in my intro video, you heard me say my mom wasn’t into fashion at all. For the record, I’d like to correct that statement. What I meant to say was that she did not necessarily know name brands, or scour through fashion magazines. BUT, she definitely enjoyed expressing herself through clothes and had her own unique way of dressing. Like Ms. Zula, my mom came from the Caribbean— Jamaica. She later lived in England for 15 years before deciding to relocate her family to the States. I think for her, America represented opportunities, and a chance to live a good life—one that she enjoyed expressing through her clothes.

In this picture, my mom was going to church— an integral part of my her life that gave her many opportunities to get dressed up. When I asked her about her outfit in this picture, she said it is a “two-piece” light pink suit; and she wanted to wear a suit because it was “more sophisticated” than a dress. She chose light pink because “everyone was wearing” it at that that time. And of course, it all had to match to appear really put together. She also wore a lacquered rattan purse with a wooden handle (the same one I rock today) because she thought it looked “stylish” and couldn’t find it anywhere else. All of this lets me know, appearing polished, cultured, and unique was high on her list, and a reflection of what she valued.

The elements that stood out for me were the suit with pastels and pleats. The masculine touches on this otherwise feminine ensemble likely created the sense of “sophistication” my mother was drawn to. The matching, monochromatic color scheme suggests effort and thoughtfulness—very much unlike the carefree, I-woke-up-like-this look we value now. I thought about how my mom would incorporate the sense of pride reflected in matching her pieces (which is more ironic and nostalgic now) with the more carefree style of dressing we revel in today.

Marco De Vincenzo dress/ Max Mara blazer/ Mehry Mu bag/ Prada shoes/ Thada velvet headband/ Inspo photo/ Chloe shades

Here is my mom again at my brother’s graduation. It was the end of the 70’s and everything felt heavier and weightier, and clothing felt thicker and less airy (think old school polyester). Though much time has past, some staples remain. It’s hard to see from the picture (sorry about that) but my mom is wearing a light pink skirt suit—super cute then and now, right?! When asked why she chose the outfit, she said “I thought it was very pretty…When I saw it I loved it right away…It fit me so well.” Now here is a woman who knows what she likes. For those who tend to deliberate before buying something, there’s definitely something to be said for knowing “it” when you see it. If you have to think too much about it, it may not be the right piece for you— agree?

The major element that stood out to me was the tweed-like matching skirt suit, reminiscent of Jackie O. Perhaps if my mother were the same age today, she would update it with a bustier (probably not, that’s more me) and thong mules that make the outfit appear lighter, and less stuffy than in previous years.