The Most Influential Fashion Trends, Decade by Decade

In the course of history, 100 years isn’t a particularly long time. But in the course of fashion history, it’s the difference between trying to get around in a bone-cinching girdle and ankle-length skirt and easing into the Nike leggings and Vans sneakers you’re probably wearing today. In the intervening years, there have been major shifts in technology, politics, culture, and social norms, and fashion has reflected that in its ever-changing cycle of trends. From the sky-high platforms of the ’70s to the high-waisted bikinis of the ’40s, we see plenty of the popular looks of decades past serving as inspiration for designers today. Below, take a look back at the most influential trends from the 1900s through today (and see which ones you’d actually still consider wearing).