“Nostalgia is a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.” Nostalgia has a specific foundation in fashion as when new trends emerge and the future progresses, designers feel a longing to the past clothes and the comfort brought with them, causing trends to be recycled as the next generation of designers emerge. Nostalgia motivates us to remember the past in our own life whether it be what we wore, what watched, or what we cared about, which helps to unite us to that authentic self and remind us of who we have been and then compare that to who we are today, and who we want our future selves to be. One of the biggest ways we can physically see this idea, is through the film industry. Films and movies produced have motive, and they take you back to a time, a place, a scene, or even a feeling that causes the viewer to relate to the film or characters in a certain way. The start of this was known as the golden age of Hollywood, the movies made in this age also reflected on the past and current events, from movies about the wars and independence, to just the generally hard or even the prosperous times throughout America. Hollywood glamorized many of these idea and times, even if they were painful or vulnerable times. It allowed Americans to reminisce in a more blissful way, and the industry took off from that point forward. 

My inspiration came from looking back through history starting with some of the monumental moments like America gaining independence, freedom and unity and some of the symbols that have represented those times, along with looking at the fashion worn in America during those decades and centuries. I also drew inspiration from the golden age of Hollywood and the very first red carpets which has had a lasting effect on America, and the Met/Met Gala itself. I picked colors relating to a sense of our country’s pride and colors that have remained a staple throughout history, for instance the red and white stripes on our flag, and the shade of the statue of liberty.