Fashion in Pop Culture - Assignment Example

Fashion in Pop Culture How Media Has Changed Fashion in Pop Culture Throughout the Years Pop culture and fashion haveoverlapped since time immemorial, and with the speed of communication and social media, it is only starting to pick up impetus. What the present pop actor or pop star wore on the red carpet the previous night would be in a store tomorrow. An accessory, hair, clothing…nothing is untouched (Tray 12). It is noteworthy that media has significantly changed fashion in pop culture throughout the years to what it is presently. How Media Influenced Fashion in Pop Culture in the ‘60s and ‘70s In the sixties, society was changing rapidly and fashion was anything goes. In the 1960s and 1970s, bell-bottomed pants for both men and women were portrayed by the media as cool and popular, and they were easy to find on the racks of many popular stores. Image 1: ‘60s and ‘70s bell-bottomed pants for women were trendy (Mazzulo). The women also wore hip huggers; these were jeans that sat inches below the normal waistline. The jeans were known as dungarees and were usually amazingly tight. The ladies who sported them were fervent to decorate them with studs or embroidery. Some owners even bleached them to vary the color. Skirts and dresses in the ‘60s and ‘70s were in 3 lengths: the mini dress which barely reached the knee; the midi which reached between the ankle and the knee; and the maxi that reached the floor. All teenage girls wanted a mini dress like the one of Marcia Brady (Wertz 17). Image 2: The mini dress of the 60s was still ultra-popular in the ‘70s (Mazzulo). Young men admired the gleaming white 3-piece Saturday Night Fever suit of John Travolta (Classic70s). It looked fashionable as portrayed in the media. Image 3: Travolta’s gleaming white 3-piece Saturday Night Fever was admired by many young men (Classic70s) How Media Influenced Fashion in Pop Culture in the ‘80s There is no other fashion decade that has been more influenced by the media, particular movies, and TV than the 1980s. This decade was the MTV generation. Together with the twenty-four hour television broadcasting of music videos, TV shows including Bill Cosby Comedy Show, Miami Vice and Dynasty, and movies such as Pretty in Pink and Flashdance set the tone of fashion. This decade was also a period of decadence, and the mantra “the bigger, the better” that influenced hairstyles on a grand scale was prominent (Dziemianowicz). Image 4: Bill Cosby’s vibrant sweaters made a fashion statement during the ‘80s (Dziemianowicz) Image 5: Puffed-up styles and large hair-dos especially among the ladies characterized the ‘80s (Mazzulo). Image 6: Movies such as Miami Vice and Michael Jackson’s music were major influencers (Mazzulo). In conjunction with the above-mentioned influencers of the 1980s fashion, former Princess Diana’s love of fashion brought in a blood-thirst for designer clothing – Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Perry Ellis and Nolan Miller became household names. Popular icons, such as Michael Jackson with his beaded glove, Madonna and Material Girl, were also major influencers. Image 7: Designer clothing such as Calvin Klein were well known in the ‘80s (Dziemianowicz). Image 8: Madonna and Princess Diana were major influencers of women and young girls globally in the ‘80s (Mazzulo). Glasses with plastic and large frames were very fashionable for both men and women during the decade. Image 9: Sylvester Stallone with ‘80s glasses that were in fashion (Hanckock) How Media Portrayed Fashion in Pop Culture in the ‘90s In the 1990s, fashion in pop culture started with a mix of preppie, grunge and hip hop. The media through the music industry, Hollywood, and television greatly influenced fashion in pop culture during this decade (Horton 23). The industry influences were so potent that ladies went for plastic surgeries for the Baywatch inspired boob job. Image 10: Trendy fashion in pop culture during the ‘90s (Wertz). Image 11: Mini dresses and skirts were popular among ladies (Horton 24). The mini dresses and skirts from the 1960s and 1970s were still trendy in the ‘90s as influenced by the media. How the Media Portrays Fashion in Pop Culture Today Today is what has to be the most addictive, diverse, splendid and endlessly entertaining period in the history of pop culture: from Hollywood icons to just about anything that Beyonce, Miley Cyrus or Rihanna touches to some of the grandest television of all time. Contemporary fashion in pop culture is largely influenced by celebrities as shown in the photos below: Image 12: Just like in past decades, celebrities are also major influencers today (Harder). Young girls often admire the fashion sense of their favorite celebrities and will go for fashion items they see their celebrities with. Other pop culture influenced by movies, magazines, music and television today is as follows: Image 13: Fashion in pop culture today (Hancock). Image 14: Celebrities are major influencers (Harder). Unlike in the earlier decades, i.e., from the ‘60s to the ‘90s, fashion in pop culture is today very noteworthy, and the media is filled with celebrities who are making fashion statements – some incoherent, some logical, while others so extreme like Miley Cirus (Harder). Essentially, fashion helps in shaping and defining pop culture, which in turn drives much of people’s culture largely. The past few years have offered many examples of the influence that fashion exerts on shaping pop culture. The media, in the form of films and television, has produced fashion trends. Movies and television today are institutionalizing their fashion influence. Models are hosting their own TV programs, star in movies and open restaurants. All-fashion networks are beginning to emerge and all-fashion television shows are making their appearance on cable stations. Today, fashion has become so entwined with pop culture and its influence and reach have extended to consumers who are younger. In essence, children are an emerging market for the fashion world, and a lucrative one (Harder). Works Cited Classic70s. Remembering the 70s. 2013. Web. Dziemianowicz, Joe. “The Top 10 Pop Culture Trends of the ‘80s.” New York Daily News 2012. Web. Hancock, Joseph. Fashion in Popular Culture. Intellect Ltd, 2013. Web. Harder, Cherie. Why Fashion Matters to You. 2013. Web. Horton, Michelle. ‘90s Fashion Trends. Coventry, England: CRC Press, 2013. Print. Mazzulo, Yvonne. Friday Flashback: Fashion of the 80s. 2013. Web. Wertz, Jay. Pop Culture History from Ancient Times to Today. 2010. Print. Read More