Fashion throughout the ages has changed dramatically from the styles to the hairdo’s. Clothing styles are a fun way of expressing personalities. Between the 1800’s all the way to the 2000’s, clothing has been a massive part of history. From dresses to skirts, knickerbockers to bellbottoms, clothing reflects the attitudes and societal norms of each period.

First the girls in the 1800’s started out with a dress with a pinafore, an apron worn over their dresses. If a girl wore anything but a dress to school everyday that would be seen as weird. Also if women or girls were seen in public without wearing a dress, it would be seen as scandalous. Mainly when the boys were younger under 5 years they wore dresses. Mostly boys wore pink because it was seen as masculine, and red was seen as very masculine. Then as the boys get older, they start to wear knickerboxers and mainly wear the same outfit everyday, kind of like a uniform. The styles from the 1880’s until now have changed massively over the years. Functional clothing was more important during that time.

In the 1900’s the shoes are almost unrecognizable to what people wear now. During school in the 1940’s the most popular shoes were saddle shoes. The shoes were worn both by men and women. They were black, white, and leather all worn around the 1940’s through the 50’s. Short boots called loafers were also worn in the 1930’s. Hairstyles were also a big part of the fashion industry in the 1900’s. In the 1930’s short hair was very popular. The girls always had short and slick hair, while boys had their hair slicked down or side parted. Just like in the 1800’s, the girls still wore dresses or blouses all the time. The girls usually wore pleated skirts or tights to school because they weren’t allowed to wear pants until the late 1960’s. Boys mostly wore suits and ties to school; otherwise, they wore flannels. Again, the fashions of this period reflect the more formal atmosphere of society.

The fashion in the 1950’s through the 60’s started to become more casual. In the 50’s the boys wore jeans, and corduroys with casual shirts and tennis shoes. The girls wore dresses that were hemmed very well below the knee and wore lace collars and sweaters. In school, boys wore button-up shorts with slacks or jeans. Girls still wore dresses and skirts to school and in public. In the 1960’s time period most of the things were bright colored and fun with dark shoes. In the period following the second world war, this shift in clothing styles represented a more relaxed culture surrounding school attire.

Early in the 2000s, fashion oriented around wearers’ personal style and clothing choices. Some of the styles include denim jeans or jean jackets, graphic tees, sweaters or sweatshirts moving more toward the comfortable or casual look. Then into the 21st century clothes started to get really casual like wearing sweatpants more often. Girls during the time period wore sweatpants, sweatshirts, black leggings, and wide leg or ripped jeans. Boys mostly wore sweatpants, sweatshirts, and shorts to school. Shoes were also a big part of fashion in the 2000’s. The Ugg, Converse, Birkenstock, and Nike brands have all made their way back to the schools nationwide.

Fashion has progressively changed from the 1800’s to the 2000’s, ranging from clothing like dresses to sweatshirts and sweatpants. Shoes have also changed from leather and buckle-trimmed in the 1800’s to Uggs in the 2000’s. Hairstyles were also a major trend. In the early 1800’s, loose curls pinned up around the face was the style for hair. By contrast, in the early 2000’s, girls had very long or straight hairstyles. Current hairstyles are seen to be more curly than straight with more styling. Regardless of the time period, fashion in schools served as a powerful representation of societal expectations and attitudes towards attire.

** This is a four part series being produced by 7th grade Torch writers to showcase the evolution of clothing dating all the way back to the 1800s until now that young students at Cannon Falls schools would have worn.

Sometimes there are old family photos that get passed down, kind of like an heirloom. Photos now versus photos from the 1800s all the way up to 1899 look very different. There are all kinds of differences between them that anyone can find, but the most drastic difference is in the clothes. The main reason they wore these clothes is because they could wear them for a long time and were durable, there weren’t many stores around leading them to do this. That is why people study fashion throughout the ages.

Girls very rarely wore anything other than a dress with a pinafore, which is an apron that was typically worn over their dress. If they were at school they had to wear a dress. Those were the standards back then, according to Gold Rush Baby Children’s Fashion in the 1800s. If a girl now wore a dress every day it wouldn’t seem normal to most people; back then if a girl wore anything but a dress to school everyday that would be seen as weird. If a girl or woman was seen in public wearing anything other than a dress it was considered scandalous and disrespectful. Isla Harrison says “If I was in the 1800’s I would be surprised because everything I have learned about goes against that.”

When boys were little, typically five years old and under, they wore dresses. According to the article, Little Boys In Pink Dresses, Maryland Center for History and Culture, when boys and girls were little they all looked similar based on what they wore.

There were some key differences and ways you could tell if they were a boy or girl. Typically boys would wear pink since pink used to be masculine because red was considered very masculine. Once boys graduated from wearing dresses they would get their first pair of knickerbockers which are similar to pants, but ended just below the knee. Tucker Nobach says “ If I lived back then I would look forward to wearing knickerbockers cause doesn’t it get cold?”.

During school, girls and boys wore pretty much the same thing every day. They wore clothing similar to uniforms. Typically boys wore knickerbockers and a nice shirt; it was also common for them to wear overalls or suspenders. On the other hand, girls wore dresses and pinafores every day.

If someone were to wear shoes from back then they might not even know how to put them on or what foot to put them on. On some occasions, it didn’t matter what foot they put the shoes on; the width was the same on both shoes. Parents typically tried to convince their kids not to wear shoes when they didn’t have to. The main reason for this is because the shoes were really expensive and the shoemaker didn’t come around often. The shoemakers helped the parents by making the shoes a little bit bigger than they needed to be, and made them a little uncomfortable so the kids didn’t want to wear them as often, according to Image 7 of [Rural Life In The 1800s].

There are so many differences between fashion now and then, but the revolution is amazing and the way it changes. There are many different fashion periods where different styles were in. From the 1800s up to 1900 fashion looked so different it is almost unrecognizable today.

In today’s world if somebody walked into school wearing a suit and tie, most people would be a little skeptical, but if it was the early 1900s nobody would bat an eye. In a grocery store, a mall, a restaurant, everywhere in the world there are many different people with countless different styles to see. Shoes differ from Converse and birkenstocks all the way to water shoes! But what is so special about this? “I think fashion is a way to express yourself,” says 7th grader Isla Harrison. 100 years ago fashion might not have looked the same as it does today, but it still was an important part of shaping the world around us.

Over the years fashion styles have had abundant changes, new trends and styles go in and out each year, and sometimes it’s hard to keep up. One of the many fashion changes from over the years are shoes. In school in the 1940s one of the most popular shoes were saddle shoes. Saddle shoes were both worn by men and women. They were leather black and white shoes that were at the peak of popularity around the 1950s. There were a variety of types of saddle shoes ranging from athletic golf shoes to regular school shoes. Loafers or short boots were also worn to school in the 1930s.

Yearbook pictures are taken at the beginning of every school year. Yearbooks capture fashion over the years. They show the changes from one era to the next. 100 years ago fashion was very different. Instead of wearing sweatpants or sweatshirts, the girls wore dresses or blouses every single day. Girls weren’t allowed to wear pants until late 1960s, so pleated skirts and tights or dresses were usually worn to school, and styled with crochet gloves. For boys on the other hand, they went to school in suits and ties most of the time. Otherwise boys were seen wearing flannels.

Hairstyles were a big part of fashion 100 years ago. Short hair was very popular in the 1930s

For girls, hairstyles were always short and slick. Ringlets were popular as well as bob cuts. Girls also wore bows. Boys hairstyles were usually slicked down, side parted. Children’s hair was always well put and pulled their outfit together.

Fashion has grown in many different ways over the years, and is still constantly changing. Everyone has different opinions on fashion but it has definitely made a mark on this world. Every new fashion trend marks the start and end of an era. Fashion has evolved into something that many people enjoy, and through all the different styles and trends, a lot of people still find it a very fun way to express themselves, even if back then it was wearing dresses and suits to school.

Imagine walking into a classroom and being hit by a wave of color. There is slicked back hair and slacks, curly hair and poodle skirts. Something that would definitely not be seen today. This was the fashion of the fifties. Changes in fashion over the years is interesting to many modern students. Fashion depends on the time someone was growing up or where they were growing up. A seventh grader, Lola Winchell said “Over the course of the past decades, clothes have continued to change and to get more casual. I like that we changed what we wear; it is much more comfortable and more practical, though sometimes I think people need to dress up more for certain occasions.” As Winchell stated, students have gotten more comfortable in their own skin than students were in the fifties.

The 1950’s and 60’s were a happy time. The fashion was becoming more and more casual, but effort was still a definite part of getting ready each day. In schools, it was commonplace for boys to wear nice button-up shirts with slacks or jeans. Girls were less casual and wore sweaters, skirts, and dresses. They also matched their outfits with accessories. “I think that there are a lot of differences between now and the sixties. Some include hairstyles, clothing, and what we eat. I have liked how the outfits that we wear have changed. I would not like to wear dresses and skirts every day. Now we can wear sweats, leggings, and sweatshirts,” says seventh grader Bella Boyum. Another thing that contrasts with what is known today is that individuality was not a common thing yet, so the more alike outfits were, the better. Finn Peterson, a seventh grader said “I think the differences between now and the sixties are that in the sixties everything was bright, fun, and ‘”groovy.’” Now a lot of “trendy things” are neutrals, black, and some pastels. I think the more we progress in time the faster trends come and go.”

The 1970’s to 1980’s were much closer to what is seen today. There were sweaters, jeans, t-shirts, and sweatshirts worn by on both boys and girls. This era was the start of girls not being forced to dress up and wear skirts and dresses every day. This period was the start of individuality in school, with kids no longer dressing alike, but embracing their differences. There were some differences though between now and then. One example of this is that there were a lot of turtlenecks and brighter colors on clothing than are seen today. This makes sense considering the drastic change from the 1960’s to 70’s. A seventh grader, Lizzie Tipton, thought “I think fashion in the eighties was very bold because there was a very blank and boring era from the 1900s- to the 50s and technology was expanding so the color was expanding too.” The seventies and eighties were the start of fashion becoming what it is today.

The 80’s and 90’s are very similar to today, with this generation having their own fashion trends that go in and out. However, their trends stuck around longer than the trends today, where now they last only a couple weeks. There were video games and computers, like today, but most importantly, the clothes were similar to today, with some differences. The only differences were the trends, like bangs and flair pants, and today brand-name clothing is in.

The differences between decades can be vast and thin, but as we get closer to this decade, the clothes get closer and closer to what we know today. Every decade has its fads and trends, that can last one day or one decade, but a lot of trends can happen in fifty years! As seventh grader, Lillian Olund, put it wisely “I think that the difference in fashion from all those time periods is amazing. I think that it has evolved wonderfully, I can confidently say that I feel that fashion looks better now than it did decades ago.”

Teachers/staff:

Amy Dombeck                              Nicolette Hernke                                 Holly Winget

Dan Meyers                                   Bruce Erlanson                                   Renae Otto

Josh Olson                                     Josh Banks                                         Kirsten Hoffman

Brett Zimmerman                        Stacy Larson

From the earliest of years, clothes have been a key part of people’s lives. In early times, individuals would spend loads of time pampering themselves. Whether for a ball, group gathering, or even a trip to town. The styles of each generation have been unique and different from each other. One of the most iconic eras of fashion being the twenty-first century. The styles from the early 2000s to current date have changed and adapted, based on the needs of the wearers, comfort being one of the main reasons. Clothes, hairstyles, and shoes are always and currently changing, adapting, and adjusting.

In the early 2000s, fashion was a big deal. Clothes, hair, and shoes were a way to express personal style, and show how someone feels. A few examples of trendy clothes in the early 2000s were denim jeans and jackets. Among those were Juicy Couture jackets, which were a comfortable choice, and were worn by almost everyone. Sweaters and graphic tees were also often worn to school by both girls and boys.

According to Elizabeth Boyum, current CFHS staff member, and 2007 graduate, “Girls wore low rise, flared jeans. Often spaghetti strapped cami’s with another spaghetti strapped lace cami and a zipped up hooded sweatshirt with a belt was very popular.” It is obvious that, at the time, a huge trend was layers. Tube tops, and fitted shirts were among the most popular shirt choices; for the pants, short shorts and sweatpants with writing on the backside were popular for ladies. To school, boys wore a long sleeve T-shirt, and then a T-shirt on top of that. Boyum says “Graphic tees, cargo-over the knee shorts, and jeans were loose fitted.” Layers were even popular with the guys. 

Colors were a big deal of the time; they could be found in sweatshirts, jackets, shoes, even socks. The rainbow range of colors were considered to be an “in” thing at the time. School aged kids found colors as a way to express themselves, and their current emotional state.

Later into the 21st century, clothes started to gradually get more and more casual. Sweats were worn more and more often. For example, twenty years ago, it was common for boys to wear khakis, cargo pants, or jeans. Now, wearing one of those clothing items is considered to be slightly “dressed up”.

During this period, sweat pants and sweat shirts, black leggings, and wide leg and ripped jeans are worn more days than not by school-aged girls. For boys, sweatpants, sweatshirts, and shorts are most commonly worn. They are rarely spotted in anything but that. Some boys may wear jeans, though most go for sweats. Even in the winter, lots of boys opt for shorts. Though there may be some clothes that are more popular than others, there are most definitely brands that are more popular than others. Lululemon, Nike, and Carhart are just a few of the thriving brands right now. “The most popular brands are Lululemon, Nike, Uggs, and Hollister,” comments Isla Harrison.

Currently trending shoes are very similar to back in the early 2000s,  Ugg and Converse have both made an appearance over schools nationwide. Converse come in a variety of colors, and Ugg comes in a range of styles. Birkenstock is another brand seen vastly throughout school, mostly in their classic style. A classic shoe brand (and clothing brand) is Nike. Though Nike styles have changed, the brand has remained just as popular as it was many years ago. Nike Air Max 270 is just one of the many types of popular Nike shoes.

There are also many visible changes in hairstyles from the 2000s to current date. Back then, chunky highlights was the most common variation of hair dye for ladies. Unlike nowadays, when people may be seen with their whole head of hair dyed and exotic color. Long bangs that swoop were a popular choice for girls back then. A well liked hairdo for girls was to have little twists and braids in their hair, held back by a bobby pin. Guys’ hairstyles early during this period were really only styled one way, very short. Hair gel was used and overused, and boys could be commonly seen with the tips of their hair highlighted and spiked up. This was, up until 2022 through the current date. Now, boys have more of a hairstyle, rather than a haircut, one style being longer hair that swoops out slightly. Some of the more popular styles for girls’ hair currently include shoulder to elbow length hair with layers. To school, lots of girls like to wear their hair straightened, curled, or in a slicked back ponytail or bun. 

One of the most significant changes in clothing over the years, was a change made not for the fashion of people, but for the safety. In the spring of 2020, places started closing down because of the threat of covid-19. Due to the restrictions of the virus, when people wanted to gather together, masks were necessary. Schools had to either go to social distancing, or make mask wearing mandatory, and keep students 6 feet apart, especially when eating. So, masks became a daily ritual for students. Some wore the disposable masks, made of non-woven fabric, while others opted for cloth ones. Some of the masks come with fun designs, such as floral, stripes, and polka dots.

From generation to generation, clothes have changed a lot. Some brands stay popular, and may stay popular forever, though some come and go. Fashion can be seen by people as a hobby, a way to express themselves, and a pastime for people world wide. Fashion trends never stop expanding, in twenty years, people may be wearing outfits made out of unimaginable materials. All in all, the only thing that the populace of schools can do is keep up with the fashion trends of today.