The impact of postmodernism on fashion since 1980

by Pena, Melody Anne

The major objective of this research was to identify aspects of postmodern influences in dress as found in the 1980s issues of Vogue magazine and Harper’s Bazaar in an effort to determine the extent of postmodernism’s influence on fashion in the United States during the 1980s. Four major characteristics were determined as being representative of postmodernistic influences on dress. These were a (1) a denunciation of fashion authorities, (2) gender blurring in dress, (3) a confusion of signs in dress, and (4) a recycling of past dress styles. A checklist was formulated out of the selected postmodern characteristics for the purpose of objective and methodical coding. A longitudinal content analysis method was employed by using the abovementioned periodicals as a database. The findings from this research have suggested that postmodernism did have a significant impact on fashion as depicted in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar from 1980-1989.