Here are some ways that fashion history informs contemporary designs ¹ ²:
- *Inspiration*: Fashion designers often look to historical art movements and pieces for inspiration for their collections, allowing them to interpret fashion as a form of art.
- *Understanding of the use of shapes and proportions*: Researching historical garments and images provides designers with an understanding of shapes and proportions and how to apply them to their designs.
- *Influence on materials and techniques*: Historical research influences the materials designers choose to work with and the techniques they use to put them together.
- *Informing company heritage*: Designers use historical research to reinforce a company's heritage and develop a narrative behind their work.
- *Development of personal approaches*: Designers use historical research to develop their own personal approaches to design.
- *Building complex narratives*: Historical research enables designers to build complex narratives about both past and present.

Fashion history plays a significant role in informing contemporary designs, as it serves as a visual marker of human evolution and societal changes. The evolution of fashion reflects the shift in perception of clothing's functionality, from being a practical tool to a means of self-expression, identity, and societal change. Understanding fashion history provides valuable insights into the cultural, social, and economic contexts that shaped fashion trends and styles  Contemporary designers often draw inspiration from past fashion eras, incorporating elements and reinterpreting them in modern designs. Fashion history also helps us appreciate the impact of fashion on society and communities, as well as the contributions of ancient civilizations to the development of modern fashion trends.