When you first hear the word ‘Rebel‘ you would instantly picture the typical hard core character, maybe a punk, or someone in a leather jacket leaning on a motorbike- like a character from West side story. Someone with tattoos, in black and looking very edgy and cool, maybe even quite intimidating.
Though the word rebel has a lot more of a meaning to it. It has a lot more that relates to it, you don’t have to wear black and look strong, have tattoos to be classed as a rebel…
A rebel is really someone who breaks the rules- maybe in the time period (something seen to shock people as its not the norm), goes to new heights to express themselves and be daring and courageous. They step out of their comfort zone carelessly and express their style because thats what they want to look and be like.
Now a rebel can still be still typically associated with the leather jacket, high knee boots, edgy, studs, the whole 50’s look that has evolved from the biker look.
I have looked at some of the times in which I feel I have seen rebellious fashion expressed that might not have come to mind when you first picture a rebel in fashion.
A rebellious period of time that inflicted fashion was the 80’s. The is because in the 80’s it was a important time for women as it was the era of the first women prime minister to be elected, Margaret Thatcher, just before the 80’s.
This inflicted on women feeling as if they are able to be accepted in the work place and feel equal to men. Due to the rise in woman in work, it impacted on fashion. Women begun wearing power suits and shoulder pads. This look may not instantly come to mind when thinking of a rebel in fashion, but it is a rebellious style because it empowered women to come out of their shell of being made to feel as if they couldn’t do as much because they weren’t seen as able as men.
The choice to wear shoulder pads created status for women, It made them look strong and powerful by create a physique that made them stand out.
Another time period that showed much rebellion was the transitioning into the 60’s. The 60’s was a rebellious era in general, it was all about making a statement. Hemlines shortened creating the iconic rebellious 60’s ‘Miniskirt’ by Mary Quant. It was the era of sexual rebellion known as the sexual liberation that occurred, meaning it was more acceptable for women to dress in a way that shows more than their ankles. Due to the release of the contraceptive pill, women could have more control and this impacted how they dressed and their rights.
The youth culture of the 60’s didn’t want to dress like their parents anymore, they had a voice and this created a lot of rebellion in the way they perceived theirselves through what they wore, which by combining all impacted on the 60’s fashion
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A designer who showed a rebellious act that changed fashion was Chanel. In the 20’s, Chanel brought out the iconic ‘ Little Black Dress’. This popular garment was introduced in 1926 and was a short simple black dress that was knee length.
It first shocked society as the first world war had just finished and back in the 20’s the colour black was a colour seen only to be worn for mourning. Though Chanel brought out this black dress as a garment to be worn for more, so this did get some backlash.
Now this dress has become one of the most iconic pieces that is well known and is a classic that has been modernised and worn now.
Another designer that went against the norm and expected was Dior. Just after second world war had finished Dior brought out ‘ The New Look’. This was related in 1947, and was a look that consisted of a long over the knee length, aline skirt, paired with a long-sleeved jacket. The waist would be pinched to create this sophisticated, elegant look.
Though this was seen to be an issue, as due to the look being related just after the Second world war, Dior had designed a lot that required a lot of material and this was the time period of rationing. There was a shortage of fabrics, which made it more of a rebellious statement when Dior released this look.
Both these time periods and designers have expressed rebellious statements that have shown a different side to what a rebel would be seen as and has inflicted on fashion. These daring looks have shaped fashion and because they weren’t the norm at the time it has given them the ability to become iconic and that is rebellious fashion.
GEORGIA HEEKS 