History Main / FashionDissonance

Since most costumers aren't psychic, this happens a lot when old shows are rerun. It can also cause FridgeLogic if the show is set in the future. "Wait... why do people in the year 2800 wear clothes from the '70s?" Fashion Dissonance isn't completely restricted to shows set in the future, though - in fact, it can also be obvious if they're set in the time they were made, or [[HollywoodCostuming even if they're set in the]] ''[[HollywoodCostuming past]]'' (see GorgeousPeriodDress for one example of this.

Since most costumers aren't psychic, this happens a lot when old shows are rerun. It can also cause FridgeLogic if the show is set in the future. "Wait... why do people in the year 2800 wear clothes from the '70s?" Fashion Dissonance isn't completely restricted to shows set in the future, though - in fact, it can also be obvious if they're set in the time they were made, or [[HollywoodCostuming even if they're set in the]] ''[[HollywoodCostuming past]]'' (see GorgeousPeriodDress for one example of this, but a better example is the question of why no one in ''HigurashiNoNakuKoroNi'' has EightiesHair...).

* Many of the very chic fashions in AnnieHall look dated and silly by today's standards, notably, Tony Roberts's perm and white leisure suit. Ironically, HollywoodNerd Alvie's rather dowdy wardrobe seem inoffensive by comparison.

[[caption-width:325:[-These were the latest fashions in the [[strike:1720s]] 1920s.-] ]]

* ''GeminiMan'' -- all six episodes of it

* ''TheBobNewhartShow'' - exceptionally funny writing and delivery, and the fashions just add to the funny.

* Al's fashions in ''QuantumLeap'' were truly bizarre, even for the Eighties, and even if he was from TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture. A [[AngelUnaware surprisingly knowledgeable]] homeless lady once warned him that his chances of getting into heaven were poor, as they had a DressCode. (This serves a purpose from a narrative perspective, though: Al's bizarre fashion sense makes him stand out, no matter what decade the episode takes place in.)

* Al's fashions in ''QuantumLeap'' were truly bizarre, even for the Eighties.
** He was supposed to be from the future, though, remember? Where they had CrystalSpiresAndTogas?
*** True, but an [[AngelUnaware surprisingly knowledgeable]] homeless lady *did* warn him that his chances of getting into heaven were poor, as they had a DressCode.

Unfortunately, fashion is highly context-sensitive. There are only a few fashions that have stood the test of time (like tuxedos, T-shirts and jeans, and SugarWiki/TheLittleBlackDress), and odds are, yours didn't. If a character from a show that [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture supposedly takes place in the 21st century]] has EightiesHair, he's going to look weird... almost [[CaptainObvious as if he's from the eighties]].

Unfortunately, fashion is highly context-sensitive. There are only a few fashions that have stood the test of time (like SugarWiki/TheLittleBlackDress), and odds are, yours didn't. If a character from a show that [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture supposedly takes place in the 21st century]] has EightiesHair, he's going to look weird... almost [[CaptainObvious as if he's from the eighties]].

[[FanService Usually]], your [[InnocentFanserviceGirl characters]] need to [[NakedFirstImpression wear clothes.]] If your show is set in modern times (and sometimes if it isn't), you'll dress the characters in appropriate clothes for the time. After all, it would look weird if a modern character wore last decade's styles, right?

Unfortunately, fashion is highly context-sensitive. There are only a few fashions that have stood the test of time (like SugarWiki/TheLittleBlackDress), and odds are, yours didn't. If a character from a show that [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture supposedly takes place in the 21st century]] has EightiesHair, he's going to look weird... almost [[CaptainObvious as if he's from the eighties]].

The Eighties were almost as silly as the Seventies, but are looked back at with marginally more fondness (mainly because many of the looks from the era fetishized the Cool aesthetic). Note, in particular, EightiesHair.

<<|IndexDissonance|>>

The Seventies were polyester heavy. Hair was worn thick and often frizzy; men wore bushy mustaches and beards. And trousers were flared. And there was too much corduroy. An sixties features like beads were still hanging on. And eyeshadow was bright blue, regardless of the wearer's skin tone. Here are some of the examples of shows associated with Seventies fashion:

* ''{{Legion of Super-Heroes}}'' had a number of different eras, but Phantom Girl's bell bottoms and Tyroc's afro stand out.

* ''OhMyGoddess'' is a particularly weird example. Since the series has been ongoing for more than 20 years but only a few years have passed in the story itself, it seems like fashion progresses from its 80s starting point to the present at a tremendous pace. There's also been a couple of art shifts and Keichi gave up smoking without it ever being mentioned, possibly showing the changing attitudes about smoking over the past couple of decades.
* SavedByTheBell, though it ran from 1989-1993. (The early parts of a decade often have fashion holdovers.)
* YuYuHakusho. Just look at what the girls are wearing. It's so frighteningly eighties.

<<|IndexDissonance|>>

Unfortunately, fashion is highly context-sensitive. There are only a few fashions that have stood the test of time (like SugarWiki/TheLittleBlackDress), and odds are, yours didn't. If a character from a show that [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture supposedly takes place in the 21st century]] has EightiesHair, he's going to look weird... almost [[CaptainObvious as if he's from the eighties]]. In other words, fashions that don't just tell you what year the show was made, they scream it loudly enough to [[{{Metaphorgotten}} deafen your eyes]].

* YuYuHakusho. Just look at what the girls are wearing. It's so frighteningly eighties.

* [[http://sarajaye.superbusnet.com/Pictures/fashiondissonance.JPG Alan Chan]] of ''TheAmazingChanAndTheChanClan'' was truly a product of his time, right down to the stripped bellbottoms and groovy shades.

* [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TFBFHx0gM8k/SvxQ_Eb3u-I/AAAAAAAADts/7eAY-LRyx6U/s1600-h/alanchan.jpg Alan Chan]] of ''TheAmazingChanAndTheChanClan'' was truly a product of his time, right down to the stripped bellbottoms and groovy shades.

Compare OutdatedOutfit, XCalledTheyWantTheirYBack, IWasQuiteAFashionVictim, NoNewFashionsInTheFuture, HollywoodCostuming.