Timeline Description: People have loved clothing fashion for thousands of years. From the early days in Egypt through present day, clothes are an expression of who we are.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 3000 BC | Ancient Egypt Drawings, documents, and archeological findings have revealed the fashions worn by people in various ancient civilizations. Ancient Egyptians typically wore lightweight cottons; men wore short kilts, and women wore long, fitted dresses. |
| 3000 BC | Ancient Greece The Greeks wore different styles from their neighbors to the east. Both men and women wore long gowns, often in thicker wool. |
| 400 AD | The Romans Romans began taking rule and became known as the epitome of style and fashion. Their togas were always to be arranged in a certain manner, which let others know their social status or rank. |
| 1000 | The Middle Ages (1000-1300 AD) As more people migrated north toward what is now Europe, styles changed. Women often wore more materials to keep warm, and men could often be found in armor or plain working clothes. |
| 1600's | Fashions for the enlightened ages Once countries in Europe became fully dominant in rule, fashions morphed once again. Finery became important in establishing one's wealth, and fine materials like silk and satin were used. |
| 1628 | Clothes in the American colonies Pilgrims migrated westward to the Americas. Because they had no means for making new clothes, garments were ordered and sent across the ocean on ships; men wore suits with leggings, and women always wore long dresses, and caps on their heads. |
| 1790 | The high-waisted dresses Styles continued to morph from the voluminous dresses to softer, sleeker, high-waisted dresses. It became known as the "Empire waist" because of Emperor Napoleon's wife, Josephine Bonaparte. |
| 1830 | French fashion becomes desired The Godey's Lady's Book was a top fashion voice in the 1800's. They praised French fashions, and it quickly became very popular in the United States of America. |
| 1840 | Voluminous skirts regain popularity Stylists began moving back toward the more voluminous skirts from the 1700's. This was done through the use of petticoats and material. |
| 1856 | Synthetic dye is invented Synthetic dyes allowed clothing to be dyed in various colors. This opened the door to new, brighter styles. |
| 1870 | Ready-to-wear clothing Up to this point, all clothes had been made on a per person basis. Abba Gould Woolson began the movement to create ready-to-wear fashions where clothes would be made in bulk and sold to the masses. |
| 1900 | Skirts get slimmer, pants get longer As the turn of the century neared, women's skirts began getting slimmer and a bit shorter. Men's pants slowly went from knee length to ankle length. |
| 1919 | The t-shirt The U.S. Navy was the first to introduce a modern day staple. They were the first to create the t-shirt, to be worn as an undershirt. |
| 1930's | Shorter skirts and jeans Between the World Wars, women's fashion evolved to shorter skirts, often just below the knee. Men's Levi's jeans became increasingly popular. |
| 1960's | A transitional time The sixties and seventies gave way to great transition in fashion. It became more and more acceptable for women to wear pants. Clothing became shorter and looser. |
| 1980's | Modern clothing (1980's-present day) The 80's brought about big fashions and big hair, for both men and women. As times moved away from the twentieth century and into the twenty-first, fashions continued changing year by year; they continue changing today. |