This semester long course will follow the fashion trends of humanity beginning in the Stone Age and continuing with an in depth study of the fashion trends in Western Society through the centuries until the present. Both women’s and men’s clothing will be discussed.
1.	The origins of Clothing
    a.	Protection from the elements
    b.	Animal fur and hides
    c.	The first needles – holding it all together
    d.	The plan for our study – hemlines, necklines, sleeves and silhouettes
2.	Egyptians 
    a.	Ancient Egyptian tomb paintings and writing reveal a variety of clothing worn depending on status and 
 activities
    b.	Linen, wool, goat hair and palm fiber were used for construction
3.	The Greek and Roman Eras 
   a.	Tunics
   b.	Minimal cutting and construction
   c.	Fabrics and dyes reflected status and wealth
4.	14th and 15th Centuries
    a.	The birth of tailoring – seams began to outline the human form
    b.	The linen chemise and the art of layering
    c.	Introduction of luxury textiles and embellishments
5.	16th and 17th Centuries
   a.	The rise of western civilization – Italian and European Renaissance
   b.	Fashion history is seen in the art of the time
6.	18th century – 19th century
   a.	The first fashion designers
         Rose Bertin (1747-1813)
        Charles Frederick Worth (1825-1905)
   b.	The first Industrial Revolution 1760-1820
        Electricity powers spinning, looms and sewing machines)
        Commercially made patterns for the general public are introduced
7.	1910’s
    a.	A changing silhouette – lithe and fluid
    b.	The first fashion shows
    c.	Paris – the epicenter of fashion
    d.	The dawn of fashion magazines and newspapers
8.	The Golden Age of French Fashion – the period between the two World Wars
    a.	Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel – Casual jersey clothing combined simplicity with elegance
    b.	Jeanne Lanvin – romantic “robe de style”
    c.	Jean Patou – wholesale copies of original designs
    d.	1920’s - The Jazz Age
        Androgenous style – bustless, waistless silhouette
        Clothes for every occasion and time of day
        Edward, Prince of Wales - trend setter
   e.	Art Deco – Paris Exhibition 
9.	1930’s
    a.	A refection of the Great Depression – a return to a more romantic feminine silhouette 
    b.	Elsa Schiaparelli – innovative fashion
    c.	Madeleine Vionnet – inspired by ancient statues
    d.	Main Rousseau Bocher aka Mainboucher – 1st American designer in Paris
    e.	Hooray for Hollywood!
10.	1940’s
    a.	Many French fashion houses close – German Occupation in France
    b.	Hemlines go up as demand for fabric for military uniforms rises
    c.	The American designers soar
        Vera Maxwell – Weekend Wear
        Bonnie Cashin – innovative uncomplicated clothing
        Anne Klein – American Sportswear
        Christian Dior – “New Look”
   d.	Ready-to-Wear – not just second best
11.	1950’s
    a.	Still looking to Paris – but not for long!
        Hubert de Givenchy – Designer to the socialites
        Pierre Balmain – Sophistication and Elegance
        Cristobal Balenciaga – Spanish designer living in Paris
    b.	The move to less formal clothing
    c.	Hollywood continues to influence fashion
    d.	The invention of “lycra”
12.	1960’s
    a.	A radical shake-up, a distinct teenage culture and the counterculture movement all influence fashion
    b.	Hemlines rise!
    c.	Fashion from the streets of London - Mary Quant – launching the mini-skirt
    d.	Notable designers of the 60’s
        Yves Saint Laurent – elegant contrasts
         Emanuel Ungaro – imaginative use of color
         Rudi Gernreich – futuristic designs
         James Galanos – luxurious ready-to-wear
         Emilio Pucci and Paco Rabanne – OpArt and psychedelia
    e.	Bellbottoms and hippies
13.	1970’s
    a.	Unisex fashion
    b.	Africa and African culture influences
    c.	The “disco” look
   d.	Designers of the 70’s
        Kenzo Takada – a mix of Western/Asian 
        Sonia Rykiel – fluid knitted garments
        Laura Ashley – long flowing dresses in country floral prints
        Halston – NY celebrity
        Geoffrey Beene and Bill Blass – smart little dresses and well-cut suits
        Betsey Johnson – fun fashions full of imagination
  e.	Big changes for men’s fashion
  f.	The rise of Milan as a fashion center
 g.	Jeans – here to stay
14.	1980’s
   a.	Instead of looking to the future, fashions looked to the past and crisscrossed international boundaries
   b.	All kinds of styles for all kinds of people.
   c.	Ralph Lauren - a classic look for the active life in ready-to-wear reaching a wide range of social classes 
 and age groups
   d.	Perry Ellis – natural fibers to create the basics
   e.	Manolo Blahnik – stilettos for the shoe crazy
15.	1990’s
   a.	Simple, comfortable wearable clothes – The Gap, Banana Republic & Eddie Bauer
   b.	Tom Ford for Gucci – Luxury leather goods of the 1920’s to chic and shocking collections that are still popular in the 2000’s
   c.	Prada – Miuccia Prada niece of company’s founder created a line of ready-to-wear catering to privileged women
   d.	In America
        Michael Kors – simple well-cut garments
        Marc Jacobs – designed in the European fashion
        Calvin Klein – first to successfully market worldwide
   e.	In Italy
        Versace – sexy and colorful designs
        Dolce-Gabbana – Super feminine style
16.	21st century – The New Millennium
    a.	Teens set trends
    b.	We wear what we want, when we want.
    c.	Return to more natural fibers