KS1 History: Changes within living memory - Clothes

Changes within living memory: Clothes

There are lots of different types of clothes.

These are clothes…

And these are all clothes!

But how are clothes now, different from the past?

Here’s our timeline! Let’s look at the clothes from the 1950s to the 2020s, to find out more…

In the 1950s, lots of men and boys wore smart suits, and many women and girls wore smart dresses. Some people made or repaired their own clothes at home as it was cheaper than buying new clothes.

But by the 1960s, most people bought new clothes more often. And many young people wanted to dress like famous singers of the time in cool leather jackets and patterned short dresses.

In the 1980s, sporty clothes like tracksuits and colourful stretchy leggings became popular.

In the 1990s, many people liked wearing cargo trousers with pockets down the sides, baggy jeans, and puffer coats. And some people still do. Today, there are many different styles of clothes to choose from. But because there’s so much choice, it’s important to think about what we buy, how it’s been made and how long it will last.

Clothes have changed a lot over time…

They have! Can you remember what popular 1980s clothes were like?

Let’s compare these photographs. Is the 1980s clothing A, B or C?

In these photos, the people are wearing smart dresses and smart shirts.

In these photos, the woman is wearing a short dress and the man is wearing a leather jacket. He looks like famous singer.

In this photo, the people are wearing colourful leggings and other things called legwarmers. They look very sporty.

I think the photo from the 1980s decade is…

C!

That’s right!

This is Claudine…

She has lots of stories to share about clothes.

So, what would you like to know?

When you were a child, what clothes did you wear?

I was born in the 1970s, so my shirts had big collars and I wore big flares. I really loved bright colours and lots of prints and I still do now.

How can we tell if clothes are old or new?

It can be hard to tell if clothes are old or new because fashion goes in cycles. So, something that may have been made last year could look like it came from a long time ago. The labels on clothes can tell you more. Old clothes tend to have less information, but labels in newer clothes are more detailed.

What do you remember most about clothes as a child?

I remember that a lot more people made their own clothes. My mum taught me how to sew and knit when I was really small, and I started making my own clothes and I still do now.

How can we find out more about clothes from the past?

You could visit charity shops and second-hand shops with a grown-up and find out more about what they wore as a child.

Clothes have changed a lot since the 1950s. Clothes now are made of different materials and people get new clothes in different ways.

Now it’s your turn… Can you describe what your clothes are like… and how clothes have changed?