Illustrations from a delightful piece called the “Future Dictates of Fashion” by W. Cade Gall and published in the January 1893 issue of The Strand magazine. On the premise that a book from a hundred years in the future (published in 1993) called The Past Dictates of Fashion has been inexplicably found in a library, the article proceeds to divulge this book’s contents – namely, a look back at the last century of fashion, which, of course, for the reader in 1893, would be looking forward across the next hundred years into the future. In this imagined future, fashion has become a much respected science (studied in University from the 1950s onwards) and is seen to be “governed by immutable laws”.
The fashions run from 1900 to 1993. You can see all of them here, and read the full original piece from The Strand here. The 1950s tickle me the most, it has to be those rather fab pirate/cavalier boots. And I’m a sucker for capes and cloaks. The 1970s were never that fabulous. :D
“In 1810 Fashion did the same thing. Men complied, and daily cold baths became established. In 1900 it was pushed to extremes. The ultra-sect cut holes in the ice and plunged into the water. The fashion changed. For forty years only cads bathed.” 8-D
In the article, the skirt length of the lady from 1922 is said to alarm the prim contemporary ladies of 1893. Am I right that the fashionable hem line was a bit higher in actual 1922?
Mr 1955-56 looks like John Lennon of mid-to-late 1960s.
I like the 1978 attire.
Ice Swimmer:
Yes, you are. I have an authentic Flapper dress (and shoes), handed down from a grandmother. It’s not that long.
So do I! That is one great looking outfit.
I rather like 1970, actually -- but I don’t know if the Queen if Hearts look will ever take off; it certainly didn’t in 1989. The 1910s also don’t look too bad.
A particularly delicious line:
… but really all the commentary is fantastic.
There really aren’t that many things that can be done with fashion, that won’t be done over and over again. I just saw a cool exhibit at the Carnegie museum, of an artist who does clothes on a 3D printer. The future looks… expensive and uncomfortable, unless your idea of fun is wearing 3D printed steel wool.
I am still waiting for the napoleonic cavalry look to come back in: I’m ready.
They predicted Parachute Pants in 1975! That’s pretty good! (I suspect mine are still in my parent’s attic)
rq:
I like everything about 1970 except that goofy collar. Maybe a nice tier of lace or summat. Oh, the Queen of Hearts -- that looks absolutely impossible to walk in. You sure as hell couldn’t run in it.
Marcus:
I don’t know about that. Anyroad, there are things I’d welcome back, like 18th century fashion, in particular for men, because most men look fabulous in such clothing, and it’s much more peacock than the boring ass suits of today. I’d be good with doublets coming back, too, but how many men are gonna wear them?
Get a man in a sweet, sweet pair of leggings, and they’ll try the doublet, too -- there’s no going back!
That’s true, the leggings are first. Then the heels…
The heels shouldn’t be so bad, all kinds of men were walking around on platforms back in the ’70s.
They should probably be marketed as ‘manheels’, or find a suitably heroic slang term: “I found this extremely masculine pair of Achilles on sale yesterday!” But just imagine what that will do to that lovely calf muscle in summer shorts…