In what decade, in Anglo-American society, did dress start becoming a thing of freedom?

Question

I mean, I was hearing this legislator several days ago, talking about the "good old days," (his assessment) when university dormitories thought "bare feet on women were too sexy." When did a person's dress become a matter of personal freedom/expression, rather than a matter of distinguishing "polite" society from
those who would not conform?

O.k., let me add that several responders in the past have misinterpreted "Anglo-American" .... I mean basically the U.K. and the U.S. .....

Answer 1

Perhaps during WWII when women began working in the defense industries and after when we became free to wear slacks and later, Jeans!! Women then became slaves of the current fashion at the time, "having" to change their wardrobes with each fluxuation in style. I remember wearing my skirts down to just above my ankle in '47! Then as we began stressing individuality--or maybe, just because I grew older and wore what I wanted to--more "freedom" of choice was expressed.

But "fashion" STILL rages and after the Centuries of foot-binding, crippling the girls/women so that they couldn't run away all in the name of fashion--we're STILL wearing high heels!! Or, rather they are still in vogue. I don't--I'm into great sneakers!!

Answer 2

I think it's a much older issue than your question implies. If you consider, for exmple, that certain religious sects/groups have codes and restrictions on how one dresses, it would suggest that how we dress ourselves has long been seen as a form of communication. If I remember correctly, Orthodox Jews require that men wear yarmulke (the little round skullcap), certain Islamic traditions have various requirements about female attire in public, Shakers wear "simple" clothing (i.e. dark colors, no zippers, etc.). In this context, what you choose to wear, or not wear, is tied into and part of your personal freedom of expression.

Answer 3

It began in the twenties and flowered in the sixties.