SPANISH FASHION EVOLUTION FROM HISTORIC TO MODERN

The Middle Age: All About Extravagance (10th Century – 15th Century)

- The 10th to 13th century Spain was all about mantles, surcoats, and
tunics in silk brocades with heavy Arab influence due to the materials
being sourced from the Muslim-dominated regions. The 14th century saw
the elite and aristocrats supplementing their wardrobes from abroad to
keep up with the changing styles.

The Golden Age: Fashion Forward (16th Century – 17th Century)

- The publication of the first known Spanish book and manual on tailoring
in 1580 indicated a change in perspective in styling and fashion. In the
latter half of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th-century, Spanish elite
wore silk clothing that was vividly colored and embroidered, brocaded, or
adorned in silver or gold.

The Catholic Effect (17th Century – Mid-19th Century)

- After Catholicism became the prevalent religion in Spain, fashion and

styles adapted accordingly. Black became the favored color for both men
and women, and still stays a staple hue of Spanish fashion, it was the
color of formal court dress. But it carried religious connotations, as the
clergy and the grieving used to, and still wear it.

The Wardrobe From Paris (19th Century – 20th Century)

By the mid-twentieth century, wealthy Spanish citizens patronized

Parisian fashion and flocked to Paris to enrich their wardrobes.In turn, the
most prominent Spanish dressmakers traveled to Paris to attend haute
couture exhibitions, where they acquired models for themselves or to
modify the styles and designs for their middle-class Spanish clientele.

The Modern Age: When Art and Fashion Unite (21st Century – Present Day)

 Cristobal Balenciaga and Coco Chanel were a breath of fresh air for the Spanish
fashion industry. These two legends revamped the fashion scene, pushed the
boundaries of creativity and imagination, and introduced the grandeur of Spanish style
worldwide.

The Way to High-Street

 Spain has also produced a number of brands offering high-street fashion. Some of the
most well-known high-street Spanish brands are Zara, Mango, Manolo Blahnik,
Loewe’s, Massimo Dutti, and Adolfo Dominguez.