History Modern casual fashion can be traced to
fashion sportswear from the 1920s, including tweed
blazers,
oxford shoes, and golf skirts. An increase in the popularity of bicycling brought about a need for
culottes, a forerunner for casual shorts. As the century progressed, "casual" came to encompass more styles, including denim
workwear and elements from
military uniforms. With the popularity of
spectator sports in the late 20th century, a good deal of athletic gear has influenced casual wear, such as
jogging suits,
running shoes, and track clothing. Basic materials used for casual wear include
denim,
cotton,
jersey,
flannel, and
fleece. Materials such as
velvet,
chiffon, and
brocade are often associated with more formal clothes. While casual dress evokes utilitarian costume, there is a wide range for expression, including
punk fashion and fashion inspired by earlier decades, such as the
1970s and
1980s.
Madonna popularized
lace,
jewelry, and
cosmetics into casual wear during the 1980s. In the 1990s,
hip hop fashion played up elaborate jewelry and luxurious materials worn in conjunction with athletic gear and the clothing of manual labor. ==Gender expression==