BEST OF FASHION
Sabrina Maddeaux From the bikini to baseball caps, scorching summer heat has inspired some of the most iconic – and controversial – styles of all time. Yet the often rich and quirky histories of our favourite seasonal pieces are largely overlooked. As a primer, we delve into the stories behind 10 of the greatest summer fashions to ever grace the beaches and patios of the world.
10. SUNGLASSES
Sunglasses were invented by the Chinese in the 12th century to not only protect their eyes, but hide their facial expressions in courts of law. However, Roman Emperor Nero might have started the trend when he watched gladiator fights in the Coliseum through polished emeralds. The world’s most epic sunglass wearer? The eccentrically chic Elton John, who owns over 20,000 pairs.
9. BIKINIS
Bikinis have always been about the tan lines; they were first introduced by French designer Louis Reard when he noticed French women rolling up their swimsuits to get better tans on the beaches of St. Tropez. Reard couldn’t find a fashion model willing to wear the suit, so he hired a nude dancer for his first ads.
8. CROP TOPS
You can thank Madonna and her 1983 “Lucky Star” music video for crop tops. Since then, pop stars like Britney Spears, Rihanna and Katy Perry have propelled the trend forward to the disdain of many parents and school principals.
7. DAISY DUKES
Who wears short shorts? Originally, it was actress Catherine Bach in her portrayal of Daisy Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard, which aired from 1979-1985. Daisy Dukes became popular again in 1993 thanks to the rap song “Dazzey Duks” and again in 2005 when Jessica Simpson played Daisy in a big screen remake. These days, they are standard summer festival wear.
6. FLIP-FLOPS
Flip-flops got their name because of the flip-flap sound they make when you walk around in them. The first flip-flops were documented in cave paintings about 15,000 years ago and are now a $20-billion industry that outpaces athletic shoes.
5. HAWAIIAN SHIRTS
After the Second World War, servicemen and servicewomen returned from Asia and the Pacific islands with aloha shirts made in Hawaii since the 1930s. When commercial flights became available to Hawaii, the trend exploded and even Elvis Presley proudly wore them. These days, you’re likely to spot them on men over a certain age, beleaguered restaurant servers and at theme parties.
4. T-SHIRTS
We can’t overlook this classic summer staple. A whopping 91 per cent of Americans say they own a favourite tee. While they’re standard fare now, the first-ever promotional t-shirt was printed for the film The Wizard of Oz in 1939. Tees didn’t gain widespread popularity though until stars like James Dean and Marlon Brando started wearing them in 1950s flicks.
3. BASEBALL HATS
The first baseball team to wear baseball caps was the Brooklyn Excelisors in 1860. Before that, players wore straw hats or no hats at all. Want to keep cool like Babe Ruth this summer? Use the baseball legend’s trick of placing a wet cabbage leaf under your cap. Don’t worry about hair loss. The fear that hats can accelerate balding is a myth.
2. POLO SHIRTS
The de facto formal wear of summer, polo shirts are often thought to have been created by Ralph Lauren, but they were actually first worn by polo players at the beginning of the 19th century. Brooks Brothers started producing the first polo shirts for consumers in 1896, and they became a staple fashion piece for wealthy men. The next most notable figure in polo shirt history is Renee Lacoste, who used his top tennis player status to make the style popular for players.
1. FANNY PACKS
Love them or hate them, fanny packs will never die. In fact, they happen to be a hot fashion trend with designers like Alexander Wang and Stella McCartney producing their own versions. Primitive fanny packs were fashioned by cave men to carry tools. The best way to wear one? According to The Rock, “Any time you have a leather fanny pack, one must insert the thumb behind the pack. It’s a chick magnet.”