The Future of Fashion Predicted by the Past : 150 years of Retrofuturism



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Ever wonder how the world of the future will dress? It seems a popular subject reaching back at least to the Victorians. Some creative individuals looked into the distance to predict what strange and unfamiliar inventions we would embrace. Many of them predicted years that have now passed (or nearly so), so we’re able to better judge their accuracy. And the result is definitely a mix.

Ranging from individualism to short skirts to antenna hats, every era had its own view of where we were headed. The 19th c saw a future of practical clothing that allowed us to be active and functional, but still highly decorative. Post-WWI expected technology to take over, changing our fashions to keep up with flight and adventure. In the Mid-century we can see plans for huge advances in inventions, taking us to space and broadcasting it to our wrists, all while our clothing keeps us comfortable at home. But the 1960s and 1970s foresaw a darker future, filled with environmental dangers we’d be forced to overcome. From unique and instant clothing to unisex tunics, these predictions tell us as much about the era they came from as they do where we are headed.

So where will we be in another 10 or 100 years? Or, better yet, where do YOU think we’ll be? The idea of Retro Futurism is far from defunct, though perhaps it has become more practical.

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00:00 Practicing to Predict
04:08 19th c Individualism
07:35 20th c Flight
11:01 Inventing the Future
17:14 Distopia & Beyond

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27 thoughts on “The Future of Fashion Predicted by the Past : 150 years of Retrofuturism”

  1. I think the 60s were on to something with their more dystopian view of fashion. I could absolutely see a future where fashion has to adapt to climate change. We're already seeing more emphasis on breathable fabrics that keep you cool. Perhaps future clothing will have built in sensors to monitor for overheating or pollution exposure. Wearable technology will certainly be on the rise. Our phones and smart watches already monitor our movements, sleeping habits, and blood pressure, so why not put smart technology in clothes? The cynic in me also foresees a much stronger class differentiation. As prices sky rocket, only the wealthy will be able to afford new clothing, while the rest of us will create our outfits out of recycled early 21st century fast fashion. As privacy disappears in the age of smartphones, perhaps rich people will have technology blocking clothes that disrupt the cameras around them.

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  2. So the man of the future will wear long rompers and fanny packs… lol Already happens.
    And molded clothes sounds a little like latex clothes that were popular in the last year or so.
    Loved this video!

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  3. Ohhh, this is about retrofuturism.
    After reading the title I had the expectation you would be analyzing historical patterns (sleeve get big, skirts get wide, hair gets high or the opposite) and identify frequencies for these developments and then predict what we can expect in the next few decades!

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  4. It's always funny seeing how people insert their current world into the future of attire. Just look at all the scifi movies where people have super intense fashion trends of the decade the movie is made, even if it's hundreds of years in the future. Even right now we tend to put characters in very 2000's fashion when making futuristic projects.

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  5. Antenna/halo man reminded me of all the 'maker' styles that came out a few years ago when electrically conductive fabric hit the stores. People were knitting conductive wire into hats, gloves, sweaters, etc. Others were using the fabric to light up their clothing. All very fun and odd at the same time.

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  6. "Wings for the purpose of easier shopping" 😆 Absolutely perfect quote. Going to snatch it and use it everyday, inappropriate ir not😃👍♥️

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  7. My predictions: I feel like our future fashions are going to have to become more sustainable in terms of environmental impact, whether that's an increase in using biodegradable fabrics for fast fashion or recycling materials such as plastics into new fabrics (as we're already somewhat doing). The silhouettes themselves will probably continue to come down to individual taste, purpose & climate.

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  8. I just keep thinking of Star Trek movies (second to sixth) where they have everyone who needs to look important wear corsets to properly fit their very structured and blinged out uniforms. Men included. Maybe men especially.

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  9. Fascinating video, one of the most interesting I’ve seen on YouTube for a week or more. Cheers for that.

    Btw, scammers, I didn’t win a prize you’re not official, you’re not fooling me.

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  10. I'm not convinced that t-shirts and hoodies are going anywhere anytime soon because late stage capitalism wants to sell us the most inexpensive clothing that can be manufactured on another continent and worn by anyone. Those who choose to wear garments that reflect their individuality will be a minority of influencers. At least until the economic system breaks down and people have to go back to making most of their clothing themselves.

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  11. I look forward to when i can show up to my job in full fairy or DnD raid gear for no other reason then my mood for the day. Can you simply imagine waking up one morning and thinking “I chose chaotic evil today”? I can and now motivated to ask my part time boss of she would mind.

    In all honesty she would probably approve so long as said outfit was made through Thrift flipping what i buy anyway for said outfits.

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  12. Seeing how old predictions of future compare to reality is fascinating. There are always so many surprises in both the predictions and the reality. People have such amazing imagination that we constantly surpass ourselves. It will be interesting to see how today's visions compare to the actual future.

    Reply

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