German Day is an annual event of competitions and fun for middle and high school German students sponsored by U-M's Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures.
April 10, 2026: Mode ist der Spiegel der Welt
Through this year’s German Day theme, we will explore the dynamic interaction between fashion trends and society in the German-speaking world throughout the 20th and 21st century, from the Roaring 1920s to Generation Z.
For example, how the “Flapper” style evolved from the fight for women’s voting rights in the 1910s and a rebellion against the stodgy Victorian Era dress forms. Additionally, mass production and the creation of cheaper fabrics allowed women a greater variety of options to enhance their wardrobes.
Delving through the decades, we will navigate the coordinated movement of music, fashion, and social media in order to not only discover the ways in which society and socioeconomic situations affected these trends but additionally how these trends influenced society at large. We will be taking a critical look at how fashion and trends have impacted our identities, body positivity, and gendered stereotypes.
Questions? Please email German.Day@umich.edu.
