When fashion was
King (or Queen, if you will)
America’s fashion choices have changed dramatically since
those Puritan times of the Revolution. We, along with the rest of the world,
changed with the times, and when the popularity of the jean came about, we
American’s took it one step further. Our fashion choices now revolve around
uber-causal pajama pants that we take out into public places and oversize T-shirts
with a myriad of logos and phrases. If we are to be saved by our sloppy
indiscretions, we need to resurrect these great designers of the past.
The Grand Dame of 20th Century
style, Coco Chanel.
Coco Chanel: The grand dame of fashion is probably
rolling over in her at the carelessness of fashion today. While ready-to-wear designers
come out with new and innovative looks each season, the amount of items that
are actually wearable off the runway is slim-to-none. Coco
was queen of the tweed suits, a look that is still fashionable today. And,
never, ever did denim enter into her fashion equation.
Iowa-born, Evansville raised, Halston set
standards for
fashion that endure to this day.
Halston: Roy Halston
Frowick, Evansville native and Bosse High School
graduate, reigned in the 1960s and ‘70s with his all-American sportswear, and
luxurious eveningwear. He wasn’t afraid to push the casual boundaries, and is
known for creating some of the most popular silhouettes of the time.
Givenchy made trench coats fashionable for everyone
– not just private detectives and flashers.
Hubert de Givenchy: Personal
designer for Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Givenchy was an
industry great, and helped costume designer Edith Head win an Oscar for his
work for the movie Sabrina. His evening wear and day dresses were his bread and
butter, but he knew casual too. Inventor of the black crop pant, he’s best
known for making the trench coat an all-occasion piece. Put it over jeans and
flats, and you’re done!
