Fashion is like history: it is an eternal restart . Nevertheless, there are details that have upset the classic codes.
Here are 9 clothes or accessories that changed the fashion world forever (or almost).
Jeans It was in the 17th century that the Italian city of Genoa, already at the forefront of fashion, exported a textile made from papyrus, called “genoa”. Levi Strauss obtained a patent in 1873 to immortalise jeans. Indeed, it was at the time, designed for workers and often represented as overalls with a pocket in the front to store tools. Over time, jeans have become so popular that they are now essential in a wardrobe, for both men and women.
Heels Did you know that until the 17th century, only men wore heels ? Previously, during the mediaeval period, wooden clogs were the best footwear, as they were durable and easily cleaned. Later riders wore boots with heels , so as not to slip on the stirrups. Finally, the heels on the Stilettos weren't designed until the 20th century. What woman today doesn't own a pair of high heels?
The bikini Louis Reard was avant-garde. He had designed this first bikini in 1946 and the model Michèle Bernardini was the first woman to parade in 2 pieces . Obviously, everyone was shocked by this unusual outfit, but it also aroused curiosity and interest. The name bikini was given to this 2-piece swimsuit in honour of the small eponymous atoll. A few years later, it was Marylin Monroe and Brigitte Bardot who popularised it once and for all.
The leather jacket The perfecto was the jacket worn by American pilots during the First World War. Indeed, it allowed them to be protected from the cold and was not cumbersome as could be a big coat. In 1928, Schott made leather bombers with a zipper. It took Elvis Presley to wear them for leather jackets to become a fashion phenomenon. Marlon Brando also displays them on the big screen: the queen of jackets has become the symbol of all freedom-hungry rebels.
The mini-skirt Model and designer, Mary Quant had a very trendy little boutique in London . Young people like to come here to discover more and more pieces at the cutting edge of fashion. At the end of the 1950s, the mini-skirt made its appearance there. A real fashion phenomenon , it was quickly adopted by the majority of women. Since the 1960s, they have been present in all women's wardrobes . Even Jacky Kennedy wore it, as did Queen Elizabeth II, who incidentally awarded the medal of the Order of the British Empire for this creation.