15 www.CharlestonWomenPodcast.com | www.ReadCW.com | www.Instagram.com/CharlestonWomen A BLAST FROM THE PAST By the 1980s, prevailing fashion trends took a jump back to the 1950s, by revisiting the preppie look with button down collars and khaki, although the preppie style had never really disappeared in Charleston anyway. But the decade also saw advances made by women in the workplace and were reflected in “power dressing” — darker colors, pants and blazers. It was considered a professional look, one that was derived from the wardrobe of businessmen. But the 1990s seemed to be the beginning of do-asyou-please fashion, an affront to the expectations of the aspirational, go-getting culture of women in the previous decade. The wearer could now mix and match different styles rather than follow any particular fashion statement. This trend continues today, with forgotten parts even starting to re-emerge. TRENDS OF TODAY According to local fashion designer Devin Smalls, today’s women “are free to just be able to put on what they want and express themselves.” Smalls is the founder of the annual Gullah Gala event which recently celebrated its third year in Charleston. He explained that fashion is a cycle, like the flared pants from the 1970s that are back now. So as a designer, Smalls blends past and current trends in his works. “Fashion is an expression of who you are,” he said. Women today have achieved higher statuses in the labor force, greater income earnings and more education than their forebears. Those achievements have ushered in fashion trends that personify more self-assuredness rather than adherence to expectations and specific stereotypes. Women are comfortable exhibiting their own personalities and identities through their wardrobe choices. ShinaultSmall admits to dressing comfortably and loosely these days to cover up in the sun, wearing gauze pants and big shirts with three-quarter length sleeves. She added, “I’ll accessorize with Afro-centric jewelry if I can’t find something ethnically inspired to wear.” And with Charleston being home to people of many diverse cultures, it’s not uncommon here to see women of various ethnicities and races wearing clothing reflective of their own cultural backgrounds. And with Charleston being Charleston, some local women are still tied to the tried-and-true local traditions of seersucker and madras. Today’s woman can borrow from a variety of fashion choices and blend them to create a style that is her own. Charleston Women in Style @gregglc @david_se_photography www.beautyredefined.co @beautyredefined.hmua HAIR & MAKEUP ARTIST Charleston, SC & Beyond
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