Fashion Through the Decades
Instructions: From poodle skirts to bell-bottoms to shoulder pads — how well do you know the fashion trends of each era?
- 1.
Poodle skirts became a fashion craze among teenage girls in the 1950s. What type of fabric were they typically made from?
ACottonBDenimCFeltDSilk - 2.
Saddle shoes, the two-toned oxford shoes popular with 1950s teenagers, were most commonly what two colors?
AWhite and blackBBrown and tanCBlack and redDBlue and white - 3.
The towering beehive hairdo, popularized in the early 1960s, was created by a stylist from which city?
ALos AngelesBChicagoCNew YorkDParis - 4.
Go-go boots, the knee-high fashion boots of the 1960s, were popularized by which fashion designer?
ACoco ChanelBYves Saint LaurentCMary QuantDAndre Courreges - 5.
The miniskirt, one of the most revolutionary fashion items of the 1960s, is most associated with which British designer?
AJean MuirBZandra RhodesCVivienne WestwoodDMary Quant - 6.
Bell-bottom pants became mainstream fashion in the 1970s, but they originally came from what source?
ABritish rock bandsBUS Navy sailor uniformsCFrench haute coutureDMexican folk costumes - 7.
The leisure suit, a symbol of 1970s fashion, was typically made from what synthetic fabric?
AAcrylicBRayonCNylonDPolyester - 8.
Tie-dye clothing became a symbol of the counterculture movement in the late 1960s. Which music festival in 1969 helped make tie-dye a mainstream fashion statement?
AMonterey Pop FestivalBIsle of Wight FestivalCAltamontDWoodstock - 9.
Platform shoes reached peak popularity in the 1970s. How tall were the soles on some of the most extreme disco-era platforms?
A8 inchesB2 inchesC6 inchesD4 inches - 10.
Mood rings, the color-changing jewelry fad of the 1970s, contained what type of special material?
ATemperature-sensitive dyeBLiquid crystalsCMercuryDPhosphorescent paint - 11.
Power suits with exaggerated shoulder pads became a defining fashion trend of the 1980s. Which TV show is often credited with popularizing the look?
AKnots LandingBDallasCFalcon CrestDDynasty - 12.
Leg warmers became a mainstream fashion trend in the early 1980s after appearing in which popular movie?
ADirty DancingBFootlooseCFameDFlashdance - 13.
Members Only jackets, the iconic 1980s fashion staple, were originally manufactured by which company?
APierre CardinBCalvin KleinCEurope Craft ImportsDRalph Lauren - 14.
Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses, first introduced in 1956, saw a massive resurgence in the 1980s after appearing in which Tom Cruise film?
ARisky BusinessBThe Color of MoneyCTop GunDCocktail - 15.
In the 1950s, pearl necklaces became a symbol of elegance and were closely associated with which First Lady?
AMamie EisenhowerBBess TrumanCJackie KennedyDEleanor Roosevelt
Answer Key
Poodle skirts were made from felt because it was inexpensive and didn't need hemming. Juli Lynne Charlot created the first one in 1947 as a last-minute Christmas party outfit.
The classic saddle shoe combination was white with a black 'saddle' across the middle. They became a staple of 1950s teen fashion, often paired with bobby socks.
Margaret Vinci Heldt, a Chicago hairstylist, created the beehive in 1960 for Modern Beauty Salon magazine. She was inspired by a fez hat she owned. The style became an icon of the era.
French designer Andre Courreges introduced the white, low-heeled go-go boot in 1964 as part of his futuristic fashion collection. Nancy Sinatra's 'These Boots Are Made for Walkin'' cemented them in pop culture.
Mary Quant is credited with popularizing the miniskirt from her London boutique, Bazaar, in the mid-1960s. She named it after her favorite car, the Mini Cooper.
Bell-bottoms originated with US Navy sailors in the early 1800s. The wide legs could be rolled up for swabbing decks and made it easier to remove pants quickly if a sailor fell overboard.
Leisure suits were almost always made from polyester, which contributed to both their popularity (easy care, wrinkle-free) and their eventual downfall as the fabric became associated with tackiness.
Woodstock in August 1969 brought tie-dye into the national spotlight. The ancient fabric dyeing technique became a visual shorthand for peace, love, and the hippie movement.
Some disco-era platform shoes had soles up to 6 inches high. Both men and women wore them, and they became essential footwear at clubs like Studio 54.
Mood rings contained thermochromic liquid crystals that changed color in response to body temperature. Inventor Josh Reynolds introduced them in 1975, and they became an instant craze.
Joan Collins' glamorous power suits on 'Dynasty' (1981-1989) helped define 1980s fashion. Costume designer Nolan Miller created increasingly dramatic shoulder-padded outfits for the show.
Jennifer Beals wore leg warmers in 'Flashdance' (1983), launching them from dance studios into everyday fashion. The film's influence on fashion extended to off-the-shoulder sweatshirts as well.
Europe Craft Imports launched the Members Only jacket in 1980. With its signature epaulets and snap-tab collar, it became one of the decade's most recognizable fashion items, selling millions.
Tom Cruise wore Ray-Ban Wayfarers in 'Risky Business' (1983), boosting sales from 18,000 pairs a year to over 1.5 million. He later boosted Ray-Ban Aviator sales with 'Top Gun.'
Mamie Eisenhower was rarely seen without her signature pearl necklaces, helping make them a must-have accessory for well-dressed women in the 1950s. Her style influenced fashion across America.