From baggy trousers and pinstripe vests to pencil skirts and vintage dresses, the grim economy is affecting consumers’ wallets — and personal styles.Fashion trends usually repeat themselves in some way, shape or form, but this fall’s clothing trends have returned to mimic those of the 1930s Great Depression.”We are looking for more comfortable clothing at this time,” said Jessica Pattison, textiles, apparel and merchandising instructor. “We are going toward more casual work wear, so we’re going to see more functional clothes.”After World War I and leading into World War II, a shortage of available textiles resulted in the shortening of hemlines and the minimizing of garment circumference, Pattison said.During the Great Depression, it became fashionable for women’s ankles to show, as trousers and skirts became shorter. Men’s sleeve, jacket and trouser lengths also shortened, Pattison said.”It’s not just for women that we see these changes,” she said. “You just don’t see fuller looks when you have a shortage of supply. I don’t think we will see mini skirts, but we do see hemlines and the circumference of [garments] becoming narrower.”Women had to fulfill men’s spots in the labor force during World War II, forcing them to wear more masculine, functional and practical clothing.”We are a non-traditional society where women play all types of roles,” Pattison said. “That’s another factor of the change in evolution of dress.”This fall’s trends reflect the Depression “paperboy” look as casual vests, trousers and plaids become more popular as an expression of comfort and functional work-wear.Pattison said consumers can expect to see more overalls, 1930s-style boots, Oxford lace-up shoes and hats on retail shelves this season.Whitney Walker, Material Girl sales associate, said she’s noticed a high demand for wide-leg, looser-fitting jeans and baggier dresses and trousers.”A more vintage-style look is becoming more popular because of the comfort,” Walker said.With the urge to have more eco-friendly products and to save money, more denim designers and companies are finding alternatives for dyes and bleaching processes.”The hot new thing about denim is that companies are starting to make washes and dyes to mimic the 1930s Depression,” Pattison said. “We’re seeing a more rugged look that we would see from 1930s photos.”Sustainability and recycling go hand-in-hand with the unstable economy, she said. And more consumers will recycle old looks to stay under budget.”We will minimize our spending to one hot item in the season and put it together with previous items,” she said. “We don’t try to buy the total complete look because it’s too expensive.”Pamela Vinci, textiles, apparel and merchandising professor, said retailers will promote adding one new item to consumers’ closets rather than completely replacing it.”They’re convincing the consumer that they can buy one small item and update their wardrobe,” Vinci said.But Pattison said consumers will continue to look to celebrities for inspiration and how to achieve different styles at lower prices.”Apparel trends have definitely been proven to be reflective of the economy,” Pattison said. “But for our economic crisis now, it’s not just physical clothing we see changing.”The cosmetic industry is booming in contrast to the apparel industry. Home remedies like hair dye and nail kits sales have increased during the past two months, Pattison said.Traditionally during hard economic times, lipstick sales have increased. Buying lipstick is a quick and cheap fix for those who can’t afford new outfits but can still afford cosmetics, Vinci said.”We are pretending to be wealthier, healthy and livelier,” Pattison said. “When more cosmetics become prominent, it overcompensates for the apparel we can’t afford.”—-Contact Leslie Presnall at [email protected]