BRIEF:

 

There has been a complex and often confusing political and cultural relationship between the Philippines and the western world for hundreds of years. Having been colonized by both Spain and the United States, western ideologies have been intertwined into the culture. This can clearly be seen in the silhouettes and trends of 20th-century Filipino fashion. Filipino fashion and beauty trends have continued to follow American trends; when hemlines rose in America, they rose in the Philippines as well. Most Asian countries are known for staying detached from the western world and developing their own trends and methods of manufacturing, but the Philippines did not have the same kind of isolation. Colonial politics created a colonial mindset and lifestyle amongst the Filipinos and fashion became a projection of ego and wealth.