American Style

American soldiers go to war, and women go to work. The influence of Hollywood expands, the economy grows, and the fashion world transformed. Amidst an unprecedented expansion in prosperity and consumerism, America feels pressure for conformity as paranoia over a growing cold war builds.

A new president and a new sense of confidence bring great changes to society. The youth culture comes into its own, and fashion, like politics, will go to extremes. Out of the turmoil of the era, new subcultures will emerge and demand equal rights and recognition of their own unique identities.

The Reagan presidency ushers in a new era of optimism which leads to extravagance, excess and eventual greed. Brands capitalize on the spending while Wall Street capitalizes on the public. In the urban centers, marginalized communities are finding new ways to express themselves that will forever change American identity.

As the millennium draws to a close, fashion pushes back against the excess of the 80's and women make strides in the workplace and the media. In the 2000s, a new decade brings a brave new world in the form of the internet and social media, drastically changing almost every aspect of American life and identity.