You know how predictions for the future are a fusion of what might happen layered on top of the way things are now?
We see the new and guess how it will impact tomorrow. But it’s not really the future. It’s today with the new added in.

In particular, you see it with fashion. The clothes in “the future” look a lot like what people were wearing when the prediction was made. These images from the Smithsonian’s blog Paleofuture are perfect examples.

Hot air balloons for instance, here’s how they guessed they might be used in the distant future […. 2000!]. Made smaller, one per person and worn with corsets and leg ‘o mutton sleeves.

Or flying machines, during the early years of the 20th century they guessed that in 2012 they’d be used for shopping trips. Shopping, with long dresses and big hats.

I love this one, the city of the future will be under one roof. No need to leave, everything will be right there. And of course, the women are in dresses, high heels and hats. Who would have ever imagined otherwise?

In the future, woman will be taller and larger. It made sense if you looked at the way things were going. And yes, maybe even very short dresses. But pants? No,… no,…, never that.

Except for this prediction, from a wonderful 1930’s film guessing what fashion in the year 2,000 might be. Amazingly here is a woman in pants! The voice over says, “This designer goes so far as to predict that skirts will disappear entirely!” What? No Skirts?!? Too bizarre.