Pop culture and what you wear.

If you have in any way kept up with trends in the past 5 years I am sure you will find a piece of 1950s inspired paraphernalia in your wardrobe. But why did the 1950s trend rise to the surface in recent times? Because of what you watch on tv of course!


5 years ago in 2007 Mad Men appeared and it exploded not just onto our TVs (or computers) but also into every high street clothing store within months. Whether you were a Joan, squeezing yourself into a wiggle dress or a Betty, aiming for the perfect floral printed circle skirt, you could find what you wanted with ease.


Secretary style was all the rage, collared shirts featured in couture collections and Penneys collections. Floral prints were modernised and perfected by Erdems digital printing and recreated in the average persons price range by Oasis.

Mad Men then took a hiatus and what were we to do? Who were we to look to for sartorial inspiration?



Luckily for us just as the 5th season of Mad Men came to an end another programme that harked back to bygone eras piqued the interest of those that provide us with our wardrobes. Boy did people go gaga for Downton Abbey. The clothes do not as easily translate to the average high street wearer and took more alteration to appeal to a modern consumer. But look at any high street on a busy day and you will find early 20th century influences in some of their fashion!

Equestrian style boots, jackets and jodhpurs featured prominently in the last two years and proved very popular as they are flattering and easy to wear. An easy trend to incorporate into any wardrobe. Finer touches of the early 20th century do appear in our everyday wardrobes if you look closer. The low heeled lace up boots that would have been the standard shoe of a house maid on Downton Abbey is now an absolutely necessary accessory for the coolest of students as they can go all day from lectures, to meetings and on to the pub!


The slimline maxi skirt to me is the epitome of Downton influenced fashion. The long lean lines of the three sisters are replicated with any of the form fitting maxi skirts found in River Island or online at Asos at the moment! Pair this with an ornately beaded top or a translucent blouse and top with a delicate single strand chain, you could be in 1914.

What I wonder is whether Mad Men and Downton Abbey will continue to shape the stock we see in the shops for the forseeable future or will there be a new popular show to influence those who influence the fashion markets! Will Game of Thrones style prove adaptable? Or will the vampire porn that is the new season of True Blood induce leather lust to resurface?