1910s

During the 1910s, fashion began to loosen up. French designers like Paul Poiret encouraged the trend after 1907 by designing women’s clothes for an uncorseted figure. Their clothes were softer in line and followed a woman’s body rather than forcing the body to conform to clothing as previous designers had done.

Vogue in the 1910s

Today, catwalk and street fashion are both influenced from the 1910s and an example includes Bora Asku's spring/summer 2012 collection. The sheer chiffon button-up shirt, with the floor length skirt is very elegant whilst keeping with the 1910s feel.

Magazines such as Vogue and designers have taken the art nouveau style to another level.

1900s: Belle Époque

In first decade of the 1900s, fashionable women needed morning dresses, afternoon dresses, evening gowns, and simpler dresses that were less occasion-specific. This picture is of fashionable shoppers outside Harrods. Men wore top hats and suits for everyday wear and women wore dresses with corsets to enhance their hourglass figure. 

Fashion in the 1900s was characterised by the hourglass S-shaped figure and class was defined by this silhouette.

The 1900s has highly influenced todays catwalk and street trends including the inconic art nouveau.