1930s Predictions for Post-Millennial Fashion Shockingly Accurate

I recently came across the above video on Diane Pernet’s blog and was immediately intrigued. At the start of a new year, it’s fascinating to look ahead and try to guess what the dominating trends of the year will be. But one may also look back and see, for instance, what the trendsetters of the 1930s imagined we’d be wearing. Bizarrely enough, a number of the predictions featured here are totally on point for the upcoming year -- from peek-a-boo styles to body hair.

In addition to nailing the SS09 transparent trend—“one dress of the future will consist of transparent net; the net probably to catch the male”—the video is right about “skirts disappearing entirely” (remember the underwear as outwear trend I touched on earlier this fall?). The “ooh swish” of gowns worn in the right atmosphere might not be possible just yet, but fashion rags are definitely trying with their windswept February covers. “As for him, if he matters at all, there won’t be any shaving,” which is definitely now the norm for the post-recession man. Lastly, he’ll be “outfitted with a phone” (check). And, if you’re lucky, “candy for cuties.”