Foto Emma Zajdela/Daniel Abrams/Commercial Pattern Archive
In order to “digitize” fashion, researchers from Northwestern University (USA) used historical patterns and archival materials, as well as data from fashion shows. They focused on key characteristics of the garment – hem length, waistline and neckline shape. This allowed them to trace how silhouettes transformed over the decades and to identify recurring cycles.
According to the results of the analysis, fashion does not evolve randomly. At the heart of change is a balance between the desire to stand out and the desire to conform to society. When a certain style becomes too common, designers begin to gradually move away from it, creating new variations. However, these changes occur smoothly so that the clothes remain familiar and acceptable to consumers.
Historical examples support this theory: short dresses in the 1920s were replaced by more restrained silhouettes in the 1950s, and then gave way to miniskirts again in the 1960s. Similar fluctuations can be seen in other elements of the closet, including necklines and waistlines.
However, beginning in the 1980s, the clarity of these cycles began to diminish. Modern fashion has become more diverse and less dependent on a single trend. Today, different lengths and styles coexist simultaneously, reflecting the growth of individuality and freedom of expression.
Scientists note that their model helps not only to explain past changes, but also to better understand how new trends are formed. This opens up possibilities for predicting future fashion comebacks and studying the mechanisms of spreading ideas in society.
