American Style

1 season available

An examination of how America's changing style through the decades has mirrored the political, social and economic climate of the times.
1940s/50s: War Boots to Work Suits
S1 E1

American soldiers go to war and women go to work; the influence of Hollywood expands; the fashion world is transformed as the economy grows; a growing Cold War builds.

1960s/70s: Born to Be Wild
S1 E2

A new sense of confidence brings changes to society; the youth culture comes into its own and fashion, like politics, will go to extremes; new subcultures emerge out of the turmoil of the era and demand equal rights.

1980s: Material World
S1 E3

The Reagan presidency ushers in a new era of optimism which leads to extravagance and greed; brands capitalize on the spending while Wall Street capitalizes on the public; marginalized communities find new ways to express themselves.

1990s/2000s: 21st Century Vogue
S1 E4

As the millennium draws to a close, fashion pushes back against the excess of the '80s and women make strides in the workplace and the media; in the 2000s, a new decade brings a brave new world in the form of the internet and social media.