living conditions and childcare. The Golden Age and the Roaring Twenties: A Fashion Legacy The Roaring Twenties and the Golden Age are now considered revolutionary periods for world fashion. With the emergence of influential designers like Jacques Doucet, Mariano Fortuny and Coco Chanel, this era of change left a lasting impression on the fashion world as we know it today. The fashion evolution of these respective periods is a direct reflection of the evolution of American and European culture, making the world of fashion more than just a hobby for the wealthy, but an art form for an entire culture. Gilded Age,” a term coined by Mark Twain in his satirical novel, refers to the American period when social and economic problems were “gilded” with a thin layer of metaphorical gold as if to hide the country's growing problems. During this period we witness the growth of industrialization, the expansion of the railroad system, the women's suffrage movement, two great national depressions, and countless other forms of social reform. The evolution of fashion during the golden age correlates with the change in culture, mainly for women. Urbanization offers women a new opportunity to become more visible in the social world. Women's fashion styles demanded a perfect, well-rounded woman, someone who could be both a beautiful housewife and a sporty socialite. This ideology resulted in the creation of a fashion figure called “The New Woman”. The "New Woman" refers to the women of the middle and upper class sects who dominated public attention during the Gilded Age. These women were leaving their domestic responsibilities to enter a new sphere of social activities. They...... middle of paper...... arijuana and vodka. Although the means by which we rebel are different, the principle remains the same and will remain so for generations to come. To sum it up, fashion is just another medium through which we can view our ever-changing world. It is just as important as literature, cinema and other means of creative expression that document history. However, fashion plays an even more important role than most other art forms, as it can shape the identity of a generation. Likewise, the clothes you wear can tell a story about who you are and your role in shaping a culture. In history classes, we often view historical events and facts so objectively that we forget that the people whose stories we are reading about had their own colorful cultures, like us. Observing fashion and its history ultimately brings the past to life and helps us understand how we function as a society..