20/08/2021
Some experts in the history of fashion believe that the birth of fashion began in the XII-XIII centuries, when elements began to appear in a suit in a large number, not due to necessity, but intended for its decoration.
According to the proposals of fashion historians, in the 15th century, with the development of tailor's art, the design of clothes was born, the technology of making clothes began to become noticeably more complicated. In the 15th century in Western Europe, the foundations of the cut were laid, which influenced the change in the forms of women's clothing.
In the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century, the fashion of Spain influenced the European style of dress. During this period, called the Golden Age of Spain, the country achieved world economic and political leadership, and accordingly, many elements of the Spanish costume of that time became widely popular.
At the end of the 16th century, Italy began to influence the trends in European clothing, where the Baroque style was born at this time. Italy was famous for its gorgeous fabrics, and all the wealthy public seeking to dress luxuriously wanted to wear clothes made of Italian velvet, satin, taffeta and lace. The main trendsetter of Italian fashion in the 15th century was Florence, and in the 16th - Venice.
During the High Renaissance in Italy, fashion was scientifically detailed for the first time. During the Renaissance, the first literary sources appeared, which spoke about clothing, the first guidelines on how to dress and make up, how best to meet the requirements of modern fashion. These requirements were formulated in the Italian literature of the time. For example, in the treatise of the Italian philosopher, humanist, writer Alessandro Piccolomini "Raffaella, or the beautiful manners of women" (La Raffaella ovvero della bella creanza delle donne), published in 1539, from the dialogue of two heroines - Rafaella and Margherita, discussing clothes, cosmetics, jewelry and other earthly joys, you can learn about some views on fashion. When the young and naive Margherita asks the older, more experienced Rafaella about what is the most important feature of fashion, Rafaella frankly tells her that fashion should be “rich”, that the dress should be wide, with many folds.
The relatively frequent change in the shape of the costume in the late Middle Ages, the fascination with novelty, the emergence of imitation give reason to believe that fashion as a socio-psychological phenomenon began to emerge during this period.
However, there was still no general fashion as such.
General fashion in Europe began to establish itself from the middle of the 17th century, and national characteristics faded into the background.
