Decades of Fashion... Ft. Disney Princesses

Students will discover what life was like for Americans, especially American women, over the last 120 years through examining the way people dressed. This class is interdisciplinary; it is about 70% social studies and 30% design and is the perfect way to learn about history for artistic kids! 

Each class will focus on 10 years of American history, starting with 1900 and ending with 2019. We will look at pictures of things people wore, and uncover why they dressed that way through newspaper articles, inventions, advertisements, and historical events. 

As a design addition, each student will pick a Disney princess, and re-imagine her living in each decade. Would Ariel have been a 1920s flapper? Would the Civil Rights movement be enough to wake Aurora up? Using Disney Princesses as a tool, students will examine the roles of women throughout American history, as well as understand some fundamental design principles, like color palettes and design aesthetic. 

This is how a class session will look:
Students will discuss what they know, or think they know, about the decade. 
We will look at some pictures of what people were wearing, and ask questions about it.
I will give a rundown of the major events that happened during this time. 
We will look at some primary sources, such as news reels and advertisements. 
We will attempt to draw conclusions about the clothing choices people made, and discuss if they were actually choices at all. 

Homework (could begin at the end of class): Design your princess's outfit as if she lived in the decade. What about her personality made you choose what you chose? Students will share their designs for teacher feedback before the following class. 

Schedule:
Class 1: 1900-09
Class 2: 1910-1919
Class 3: 1920-29
Class 4: 1930-39
Class 5: 1940-49
Class 6: 1950-59
Class 7: 1960-69
Class 8: 1970-79
Class 9: 1980-89
Class 10: 1990-99
Class 11: 2000-09
Class 12: 2010-19

Love fashion history? Join the fashion history group to sharpen your skills, share your projects and passions, and more! All periods welcome. https://outschool.com/classes/fashion-history-explore-the-past-through-fashion-Eq7fxXdO#usgnLONkoY