The paradigm shift I will be focusing on in my essay is the evolution of women’s fashion throughout the years, specifically the time period of 1950s to today. More specifically, my TED talk will be focused on a rebellious move in the fashion industry that would change fashion forever: the invention of the miniskirt.

The time period of the 1950s until today is a very important time for women’s fashion because many styles were invented and explored during this time. It is crucial to start with the 1950s because that was the time when rock and roll, rebellion, and delinquency were a common theme. Clothes became less conservative at the end of the 1950s into the 1960s, such as the shorter skirts (miniskirts). These less conservative clothing designs opened the fashion world to modern times. Fashion was now being reflected off of the societal norms of women’s rights, that were still evolving. This time period I chose also went through many different styles of fashions, such as the mod 60s, the hippie-era, the disco-era, 80s infamous spandex and shoulder-pads, 90’s grunge, etc. There were so many different fashion designs because it reflected the change of our society within those times. As women dressed more provocatively, or just less conservative, it represented the shift of how women were treated differently in society. Today, style is still changing, and it always will as long as it reflects on what is happening in our world at the moment.

Although this shift may be viewed as fun, different, changes in style, it is also very important because it represents the struggle women had to dress how they wanted to, and to be accepted by society. They did not want to be judged for how provocative a style was, but more for the unique, trendiness of the clothing. They did not want to be just viewed as women who must dress how men wanted them to, they wanted to create a sense of individuality. This issue is still very relevant in today’s society.

Also, by understanding the different styles of clothing throughout the years, it also helps to understand the historical landmarks in our society that shaped how women, and even men in this case, dressed. For an example, Woodstock, a three-day festival of peace and love, represented a more relaxed of style of longer hair and baggy clothing, also known as “hippie clothing”. This style represented how the world thought at time. The Vietnam War was happening and there were many citizens who opposed war and just wanted peace. This “earthly, peaceful” sense of clothing that was viewed at Woodstock helps understand how citizens acted and thought during that time in society.

Since this topic is so broad, it may needed to be narrowed down to key elements in fashion that shaped how we dress today, and how it is symbolic to that time in history and women’s rights. This shift of focus may be more gravitated to famous inventions of clothing, such as the little black dress and the miniskirt.