The relationship between cars and fashion this century

Discover the reciprocal relationship of cars and fashion and how they have influenced one another this century. Pop culture changes, shifts in consumer priorities and technological advancements have combined to influence dramatic differences in styles over the years.

The automobile revolution

The 1920s was the age of automobiles when cars went from a status symbol to a staple. By 1930, almost 2 million cars had been sold in the UK and over 60% of households in the US had a vehicle in the driveway. Henry Ford’s famous Model T was the car of the moment, a contemporary take on the horse and carriage with a fold-back roof, sofa-style seats and boxy shape.

This complemented the mood of the decade which celebrated freedom from traditional constraints, demonstrated in the departure from tailored three-piece suits and corsetry to loose-fitting trousers and jackets and flimsy flapper dresses with higher hemlines.

The swinging ‘60s

As post-war austerity ended with the ‘50s, fashion saw a revival. Following years of ‘make-do-and-mend’, staid clothing saw an uplift with brighter colours and geometric shapes, and second-wave feminism and the Civil Rights movement drove a celebration of self-expression.

Vehicle designs were also updated to celebrate the decade’s hedonism. Open-top convertibles and sporty long-nosed Mustangs were youthful upgrades on traditional family cars, made for people to be seen. James Bond got his first Aston Martin, the iconic DB5 deliberating designed to be a smooth ride at speed. London residents can find contemporary takes on these classic models at used car dealers in affluent London suburbs like Wimbledon.

The rise of F1

Riding on the tailwinds of the ‘60s, the 1970s saw a rise in the popularity of motor racing with professionals risking their lives to achieve track speeds previously thought impossible. Rivalries between the leading sports car brands such as Ferrari and McLaren drove fast-changing designs as they tried to balance power, weight, flexibility and control.

F1 racing is still a part of popular culture, with over 10 million people watching each race on ESPN last year. Major competitions are held worldwide in Silverstone, Monaco, and beyond. This century, its influence has crossed from the circuits to clothing and accessories with Ferrari releasing a fashion line and high-end designers such as TAG Heuer creating themed collections.

The era of electric vehicles

Current car designs are heavily influenced by this decade’s buzzword: sustainability. The fuel-powered engines that have characterised cars for almost 150 years are being replaced with rechargeable batteries to create fully electric vehicles and hybrid models. Tesla was well ahead of the competition in the development of EVs, selling over a million by the end of 2020 less than 18 years after the company was founded.

Continuing their symbiotic relationship, the fashion industry is seeing similarly eco-minded trends such as a departure from fast fashion to repurposed pieces and changes to how our clothes are made.