Name_____________
Class______
Clothing, Textiles and Fashion Merchandising
History of Fashion
You are free-lance costume designers. A film producer
from Paramount Studios in Hollywood is filming a period movie and
wants your team to design the wardrobe. You must research the
style of the period and place and make a visual presentation to
the producer and director for their approval before you proceed
with the designs.
Choose one of the following clothing styles and research it.
Use the definitions and focus questions below. You may use books,
magazines or visit the Websites on this Fashion Quest. Prepare a
poster to present your research. See the History of Fashion
Rubric below.
American/ European early 1900’s
1920’s flapper
1930’s glamour, depression
1940’s wartime
1950’s post war
1960’s Camelot, Carnaby, anti-war
1970’s ethnic, disco
1980’s punk, new wave, new money
1990’s simple, retro, and athletic
Turn of the century, new millennium
History of Fashion
Focus Questions: These questions should be answered on/in the
visual and during the oral presentation. ALL TEAM MEMBERS
ARE TO EQUALLY PARTICIPATE IN THE PRESENTATION.
10 minute minimum.
** THOSE DOING THIS AS A GRAD PROJECT ARE REQUIRED TO
COMPLETE A 3 PAGE/ 12 FONT/ DOUBLE SPACED TYPED RESEARCH
PAPER BY_________. YOU MUST USE AT LEAST 2 SOURCES AND CITE
APPROPRIATELY ACCORDING TO NPHS GUIDELINES. Please use the
focus questions to guide you in writing your research paper.
1. What is the style of clothing you are researching?
How do the clothes reflect the country’s culture during the time
period? For example: war, women’s movement, music, celebrities,
hobbies, movies, politics and economics.
Who in society would be wearing these styles: wealthy, middle
class, teenagers, hippies, blue collar employees, etc.
Give many examples of the styles typical of this time period.
Show examples of men, women and children’s clothing
(if applicable). The producers need to see tops, bottoms,
accessories.
2. A custom is a long accepted practice or tradition.
(For example, women not exposing their ankles or legs or men
always wearing hats) Are there old customs that were
discontinued by the introduction of the style you are
researching? Were any new customs introduced? Give details
and examples.
3. Clothing can reflect beliefs held by people. People’s religious
beliefs or belief in magic are expressed in clothing. The Amish
believe in simplicity and modesty and this is reflected in their
clothing. State any beliefs represented in the style you are
researching. Give details and examples
4. Clothing can reflect the values held by individuals and groups.
Some people may value appearance and some may think that
comfort is more important. Were the clothes worn for
protection from weapons, for example, like a coat of armor What
values are reflected in the style you are researching? Give details
and examples
5. The term economics relates to the way people produce,
distribute, and use goods and services. People were once limited
to the clothes they could make for themselves unless they were
wealthy. During World War II, clothing was kept very simple in
order to save fabric for uniforms. Describe how economics plays
a role in the style you have chosen to research. Give details and
examples
6. The way a society uses its resources to produce things is
referred to as its technology. Technological change has included
machinery, new fabrics and mass production. In addition, modern
transportation and communication has enabled people to share
ideas about fashion more easily. How has technology affected the
style you are researching? Was the clothing hand-made or mass
produced? Who would make it? (The wearer, a tailor or
seamstress, a relative, factory, etc. (Give details and examples)
7. What kinds of fabrics were used to make these clothes? Were
the clothes highly decorated or plain? What were the clothes
decorated with? Ruffles, lace, ribbon, feathers, fur, gems,
buttons? What colors were popular?
8. What about the accessories like belts, fans, hats, veils,
collars, corsets, shoes, and boots?
9. Popular Culture: Who were the celebrities of the time? What
types of music were popular? What did people do for fun? Any
hobbies? Movies, TV shows, games, food, etc. Who were the top
designers of the decade. What designs were made them famous?
10. Compare and Contrast:
Discuss with the class the similarities and differences of your
chosen decade with today.
History of Fashion Visual Rubric
criteria
Unsatisfactory
(0-3)
theme
Visual is difficult
to understand
even when its
purpose is
explained
Satisfactory
(4-7)
Theme is clear at
first glance
Exemplary
(8-10)
Theme is clear
and well
developed;
more information
comes out as the
viewer looks at
visual
There is strong
unity of theme
and design in the
visual, main ideas
are clear and are
supported by
appropriate
details.
organization
Visual seems like a
random collection
of information;
there are no main
ideas linking the
items
Visual holds
together and has
a sense of
wholeness; there
are clear main
ideas
Information
Info presented in
visual is largely
inaccurate;
important points
are missing
Info presented is
primarily
accurate; conveys
most important
points related to
the theme
All info is
accurate and
relevant to
theme; visual
conveys all
necessary info
Core concepts
Students seem
not to understand
concepts behind
the assignment
Graphics are not
used, detract
visually, are
inappropriate, or
make the visual
hard to
understand
Work is messy,
unclear or visual
unappealing
Dull and fails to
hold the viewer’s
interest
Students seem to
grasp core
concepts behind
the assignment
Graphics enhance
the overall
effectiveness of
the poster
Students show a
highly developed
understanding of
the material
Graphics enhance
clarity and
contribute to the
visual impact of
the poster
Work is neat and
presentable
Work is
particularly neat
or attractive
Is particularly
attractive and
compelling
Graphics:
pictures, photos,
drawings,
diagrams, graphs
Neatness
Visual impact
Totals
Comments:
Total points earned:
/70
Is attractive and
holds the viewer’s
interest
Points earned