Fashion

5 Fashion Moments That Changed the World

In her new book Fashion That Changed the World (Prestel), Jennifer Croll details historic moments that were inspired by what people wear. Here are five times fashion caused change and how those shifts resonate today

Elianna Lev

5 ways fashion changed the world
<b>Suzanne Lenglen’s Patou tennis dresses</b>
1 / 5 Suzanne Lenglen in 1926 (Photo: Everett); Alexander Wang Spring 2015 (Photo: Anthea Simms)

Suzanne Lenglen’s Patou tennis dresses

What: French tennis legend Suzanne Lenglen epitomized on-court badassery long before the Williams sisters. In the early ’20s, she shocked crowds with custom designs by couturier Patou featuring bare forearms and short skirts—scandalous at the time.

Why it’s relevant now: Tennis attire is perennially in style. Stella McCartney has designed tennis dresses for the pros that are cute enough to wear off the clay;  and designers continue to return to the court for inspiration. Case in point: Alexander Wang sent structured tennis dresses with lattice detailing down the runway for spring 2015.