50 Years in the Making: Harris Poll Data Uncovers the Events Most Americans Wish they Witnessed
Neil Armstrong Walking on the Moon Takes Top Honors; Bikini Named Best Fashion Trend of Past Five Decades
NEW YORK , N.Y. - November 19, 2013 - With all the major events going into the history books over the past 50 years, which do Americans most wish they could have witnessed firsthand? That's what the Harris Poll set out to find out on the eve of its own 50th birthday.
According to results of the Harris Poll of 2,003 U.S. adults surveyed online between November 4 and 6, 2013 by Harris Interactive, Neil Armstrong walking on the moon is the single event from the past 50 years that the highest percentage of Americans wish they could witness.
In addition, U.S. adults were asked their thoughts on the best (and worst) fashion trends from the past 50 years. The bikini was Americans' top choice for the best addition to wardrobes, with 31% choosing the itsy bitsy item.
"We thought a retrospective on the events people most wanted to witness over the past 50 years was in order as the Harris Poll celebrates 50 years of polling," said Mike de Vere, president of the Harris Poll. "While we expected some of the more historically significant occurrences to make the cut, there were some surprising findings when it came to which events people most would have wanted to witness."
When asked which event of the past 50 years they'd most wish to have witnessed firsthand, Americans chose:
- Neil Armstrong walking on the moon (27%)
- The fall of the Berlin wall (21%) which tied for with first place among 45-54 year olds
- The "I have a dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (20%); a top choice for 18-34 year olds and women
In addition, results were broken down by decade. Interestingly, when asked specifically about the '60s, Dr. King's famous speech narrowly edged out the moon walk.
1960s: I Have a Dream vs. Man on the Moon
When asked which event from the 1960s they would most want to witness, more Americans chose Woodstock (19%) over the first Super Bowl (11%).
- 22% of respondents chose the "I Have a Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - this was also the top answer among 18-34 year olds and 35-44 year olds
- 21% chose the live broadcast of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon
- 19% chose Woodstock Music Festival
1970s: GI's and Jedi's
The Force remains as strong as ever, with the premiere of Star Wars ranking as the second most sought after event (19%) to witness in the 1970s behind witnessing the last Americans leaving Vietnam (21%). Additional findings include:
- Watching Secretariat win the Triple Crown (12%)
- Mother Theresa wins Nobel Peace Prize (12%)
- Break-in at Watergate (11%)
1980s: "Tear down this wall!"
Communism and The Cold War were top of mind with Americans in the 1980s with the fall of the Berlin Wall (27%) as the event of the decade.
- Olympic fever shone through with the U.S. Hockey Team's "Miracle on Ice" at the 1980 Winter Olympics coming in as the second most popular event (17%)
- Discovery of the Titanic Wreckage and the Wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana tied (12%)
1990s: Heeeeeeere's Johnny!
While many events stand out from the 1990s including Princess Diana's death and subsequent funeral, the infamous OJ Simpson white Bronco chase and the launch of the Hubble telescope, the highest percentage of Americans would choose the final broadcast of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson as the event they would most want to witness in the '90s.
- Final broadcast of the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (21%)
- Hubble telescope launched into space (18%) (#1 for 18-34, tied for #1 among 35-44)
- Princess Diana's funeral (16%) (in addition to women, also #1 for 45-54's)
- Princess Diana's funeral was the number one choice among women overall (22%).
2000s: Making History
The capture of Saddam Hussein was one of the biggest events of the 2000s with 25% of Americans claiming they would have wanted to witness it firsthand. Additional findings include:
- Inauguration of Barack Obama (22%)
- Red Sox winning the World Series for the first time in 86 years (13%)
50 Years of Fashion: Skin to Win
In addition, respondents were asked what they thought were the best and worst fashion trends of the past 50 years. The bikini was far and away the top choice for best fashion trend, at more than two to one over the next trend, the mini-skirt (31% vs. 15%). Baggy pants and parachute pants nearly tied for worst fashion trend.
When asked the best fashion trend to come out of the past 50 years, Americans chose:
- The bikini (31%)
- The mini-skirt (15%)
- Skinny jeans (13%)
And the worst:
- Baggy pants (19%)
- Parachute pants (18%)
- Leisure suits (12%)
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TABLE 1a
EVENT WOULD MOST WANT TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND FROM THE 1960S - by Age & Gender
"If you could have a 'front row seat' and witness one of these events from the 1960s firsthand, which one would it be? If you did in fact witness one or more of these events firsthand, please imagine whether you'd want to do so again, or witness one of the other events instead."
Base: All U.S. adults
|
Total |
Age |
Gender |
18-34 |
35-44 |
45-54 |
55-64 |
65+ |
Male |
Female |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
The "I Have a Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. |
22 |
28 |
28 |
20 |
16 |
13 |
17 |
25 |
Live broadcast of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon |
21 |
19 |
19 |
16 |
19 |
32 |
19 |
22 |
Woodstock Music Festival |
19 |
17 |
17 |
24 |
24 |
15 |
21 |
17 |
The first Super Bowl |
11 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
8 |
6 |
14 |
8 |
The Beatles' first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show |
10 |
5 |
8 |
8 |
18 |
13 |
8 |
12 |
Assassination of John F. Kennedy |
9 |
9 |
10 |
8 |
8 |
11 |
11 |
8 |
Signing of the Civil Rights Act into law |
5 |
7 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
8 |
6 |
5 |
The release of the first James Bond film, Dr. No |
3 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 1b
EVENT WOULD MOST WANT TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND FROM THE 1960S - Top 3 by Age & Gender
"If you could have a 'front row seat' and witness one of these events from the 1960s firsthand, which one would it be? If you did in fact witness one or more of these events firsthand, please imagine whether you'd want to do so again, or witness one of the other events instead."
Base: All U.S. adults
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Total |
"I Have a Dream" speech |
Neil Armstrong walking on the moon |
Woodstock Music Festival |
|
18-34 |
"I Have a Dream" speech |
Neil Armstrong walking on the moon |
Woodstock Music Festival |
35-44 |
"I Have a Dream" speech |
Neil Armstrong walking on the moon |
Woodstock Music Festival |
45-54 |
Woodstock Music Festival |
"I Have a Dream" speech |
Neil Armstrong walking on the moon |
55-64 |
Woodstock Music Festival |
Neil Armstrong walking on the moon |
Beatles' first appearance on Sullivan |
65+ |
Neil Armstrong walking on the moon |
Woodstock Music Festival |
"I Have a Dream" speech/ Beatles' first appearance on Sullivan (tie) |
|
Male |
Woodstock Music Festival |
Neil Armstrong walking on the moon |
"I Have a Dream" speech |
Female |
"I Have a Dream" speech |
Neil Armstrong walking on the moon |
Woodstock Music Festival |
TABLE 2a
EVENT WOULD MOST WANT TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND FROM THE 1970S - by Age & Gender
"If you could have a 'front row seat' and witness one of these events from the 1970s firsthand, which one would it be? If you did in fact witness one or more of these events firsthand, please imagine whether you'd want to do so again, or witness one of the other events instead."
Base: All U.S. adults
|
Total |
Age |
Gender |
18-34 |
35-44 |
45-54 |
55-64 |
65+ |
Male |
Female |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
Last Americans leaving Vietnam |
21 |
15 |
13 |
20 |
27 |
35 |
21 |
22 |
Premiere of Star Wars |
19 |
25 |
29 |
16 |
13 |
8 |
27 |
12 |
Watching Secretariat win the Triple Crown |
12 |
9 |
8 |
17 |
13 |
15 |
11 |
13 |
Mother Theresa wins Nobel Peace Prize |
12 |
9 |
12 |
10 |
12 |
18 |
8 |
16 |
Break-in at Watergate |
11 |
13 |
12 |
6 |
11 |
9 |
14 |
8 |
Elvis Presley's funeral at Graceland |
10 |
14 |
9 |
15 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
12 |
The Bee Gees recording Saturday Night Fever |
8 |
5 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
6 |
6 |
11 |
Birth of the first test tube baby |
4 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
Takeover of the U.S. embassy in Iran |
3 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 2b
EVENT WOULD MOST WANT TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND FROM THE 1970S - Top 3 by Age & Gender
"If you could have a 'front row seat' and witness one of these events from the 1970s firsthand, which one would it be? If you did in fact witness one or more of these events firsthand, please imagine whether you'd want to do so again, or witness one of the other events instead."
Base: All U.S. adults
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Total |
Last Americans leaving Vietnam |
Premiere of Star Wars |
Watching Secretariat win Triple Crown/ Mother Theresa wins Nobel P. Prize (tie) |
|
18-34 |
Premiere of Star Wars |
Last Americans leaving Vietnam |
Elvis Presley's funeral at Graceland |
35-44 |
Premiere of Star Wars |
Last Americans leaving Vietnam |
Mother Theresa wins Nobel Peace Prize/ Break-in at Watergate (tie) |
45-54 |
Last Americans leaving Vietnam |
Watching Secretariat win Triple Crown |
Premiere of Star Wars |
55-64 |
Last Americans leaving Vietnam |
Watching Secretariat win Triple Crown/ Premiere of Star Wars (tie) |
Mother Theresa wins Nobel Peace Prize/ Bee-Gees record Sat. Night Fever (tie) |
65+ |
Last Americans leaving Vietnam |
Mother Theresa wins Nobel Peace Prize |
Watching Secretariat win Triple Crown |
|
Male |
Premiere of Star Wars |
Last Americans leaving Vietnam |
Break-in at Watergate |
Female |
Last Americans leaving Vietnam |
Mother Theresa wins Nobel Peace Prize |
Watching Secretariat win Triple Crown |
TABLE 3a
EVENT WOULD MOST WANT TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND FROM THE 1980S - by Age & Gender
"If you could have a 'front row seat' and witness one of these events from the 1980s firsthand, which one would it be? If you did in fact witness one or more of these events firsthand, please imagine whether you'd want to do so again, or witness one of the other events instead."
Base: All U.S. adults
|
Total |
Age |
Gender |
18-34 |
35-44 |
45-54 |
55-64 |
65+ |
Male |
Female |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
Fall of the Berlin Wall |
27 |
25 |
23 |
21 |
31 |
37 |
30 |
25 |
U.S. Hockey Team's "Miracle on Ice" at the 1980 Winter Olympics |
17 |
14 |
19 |
18 |
17 |
17 |
24 |
10 |
Discovery of the Titanic Wreckage |
12 |
15 |
13 |
13 |
12 |
7 |
9 |
16 |
Wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana |
12 |
9 |
12 |
16 |
10 |
13 |
4 |
18 |
Eruption of Mount St. Helens |
11 |
10 |
12 |
8 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
8 |
Michael Jackson moonwalks for the first time |
8 |
11 |
9 |
6 |
7 |
3 |
6 |
9 |
Challenger disaster |
4 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
Hands Across America benefit |
4 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
Watching first video debut on MTV |
4 |
6 |
4 |
7 |
* |
-- |
4 |
4 |
Assassination of John Lennon |
2 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
* indicates a response rate or <0.5%; -- indicates this response was not selected
TABLE 3b
EVENT WOULD MOST WANT TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND FROM THE 1980S - Top 3 by Age & Gender
"If you could have a 'front row seat' and witness one of these events from the 1980s firsthand, which one would it be? If you did in fact witness one or more of these events firsthand, please imagine whether you'd want to do so again, or witness one of the other events instead."
Base: All U.S. adults
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Total |
Fall of the Berlin Wall |
U.S. Hockey Team's "Miracle on Ice" |
Discovery of the Titanic wreckage/ Wedding of Charles & Diana (tie) |
|
18-34 |
Fall of the Berlin Wall |
Discovery of the Titanic wreckage |
U.S. Hockey Team's "Miracle on Ice" |
35-44 |
Fall of the Berlin Wall |
U.S. Hockey Team's "Miracle on Ice" |
Discovery of the Titanic wreckage |
45-54 |
Fall of the Berlin Wall |
U.S. Hockey Team's "Miracle on Ice" |
Wedding of Charles & Diana |
55-64 |
Fall of the Berlin Wall |
U.S. Hockey Team's "Miracle on Ice" |
Discovery of the Titanic wreckage |
65+ |
Fall of the Berlin Wall |
U.S. Hockey Team's "Miracle on Ice" |
Wedding of Charles & Diana/ Eruption of Mount St. Helens (tie) |
|
Male |
Fall of the Berlin Wall |
U.S. Hockey Team's "Miracle on Ice" |
Eruption of Mount St. Helens |
Female |
Fall of the Berlin Wall |
Wedding of Charles & Diana |
Discovery of the Titanic wreckage |
TABLE 4a
EVENT WOULD MOST WANT TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND FROM THE 1990S - by Age & Gender
"If you could have a 'front row seat' and witness one of these events from the 1990s firsthand, which one would it be? If you did in fact witness one or more of these events firsthand, please imagine whether you'd want to do so again, or witness one of the other events instead."
Base: All U.S. adults
|
Total |
Age |
Gender |
18-34 |
35-44 |
45-54 |
55-64 |
65+ |
Male |
Female |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
Final broadcast of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson |
21 |
8 |
16 |
21 |
32 |
32 |
22 |
20 |
Hubble Telescope is launched into space |
18 |
22 |
16 |
11 |
16 |
20 |
20 |
15 |
Princess Diana's funeral |
16 |
16 |
15 |
22 |
15 |
10 |
9 |
22 |
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa |
13 |
12 |
13 |
13 |
11 |
16 |
10 |
15 |
Cal Ripken breaking the record for most consecutive baseball games played |
10 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
11 |
8 |
OJ Simpson white Bronco chase |
7 |
11 |
10 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
6 |
Tiger Woods winning The Masters for the first time |
6 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
6 |
9 |
4 |
Bill Clinton meeting Monica Lewinsky |
5 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
8 |
3 |
Birth of first cloned mammal, Dolly the Sheep |
5 |
10 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 4b
EVENT WOULD MOST WANT TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND FROM THE 1990S - Top 3 by Age & Gender
"If you could have a 'front row seat' and witness one of these events from the 1990s firsthand, which one would it be? If you did in fact witness one or more of these events firsthand, please imagine whether you'd want to do so again, or witness one of the other events instead."
Base: All U.S. adults
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Total |
Final Tonight Show w/ Carson |
Hubble Telescope launched |
Princess Diana's funeral |
|
18-34 |
Hubble Telescope launched |
Princess Diana's funeral |
Mandela elected president of S. Africa |
35-44 |
Final Tonight Show w/ Carson/ Hubble Telescope launched (tie) |
Princess Diana's funeral |
Mandela elected president of S. Africa |
45-54 |
Princess Diana's funeral |
Final Tonight Show w/ Carson |
Mandela elected president of S. Africa |
55-64 |
Final Tonight Show w/ Carson |
Hubble Telescope launched |
Princess Diana's funeral |
65+ |
Final Tonight Show w/ Carson |
Hubble Telescope launched |
Mandela elected president of S. Africa |
|
Male |
Final Tonight Show w/ Carson |
Hubble Telescope launched |
Cal Ripken breaking record for # games |
Female |
Princess Diana's funeral |
Final Tonight Show w/ Carson |
Hubble Telescope launched/ Mandela elected president of S. Africa (tie) |
TABLE 5a
EVENT WOULD MOST WANT TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND FROM THE 2000S - by Age & Gender
"If you could have a 'front row seat' and witness one of these events from the 1990s firsthand, which one would it be? If you did in fact witness one or more of these events firsthand, please imagine whether you'd want to do so again, or witness one of the other events instead."
Base: All U.S. adults
|
Total |
Age |
Gender |
18-34 |
35-44 |
45-54 |
55-64 |
65+ |
Male |
Female |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
Capture of Saddam Hussein |
25 |
21 |
28 |
23 |
27 |
28 |
31 |
20 |
Inauguration of Barack Obama |
22 |
18 |
23 |
19 |
25 |
27 |
18 |
26 |
Red Sox winning the World Series for the first time in 86 years |
13 |
8 |
11 |
16 |
15 |
18 |
14 |
13 |
Supreme court deliberations over the 2000 presidential election recounts |
9 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
10 |
13 |
12 |
7 |
First gay marriage |
6 |
11 |
6 |
8 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
Debut of the iPhone |
6 |
8 |
6 |
8 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
The launch of Facebook |
6 |
10 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl |
5 |
6 |
8 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
6 |
5 |
Michael Jackson's funeral |
5 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
8 |
Trial of Bernie Madoff |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 5b
EVENT WOULD MOST WANT TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND FROM THE 2000S - Top 3 by Age & Gender
"If you could have a 'front row seat' and witness one of these events from the 2000s firsthand, which one would it be? If you did in fact witness one or more of these events firsthand, please imagine whether you'd want to do so again, or witness one of the other events instead."
Base: All U.S. adults
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Total |
Capture of Saddam Hussein |
Inauguration of Barack Obama |
Red Sox Winning World Series |
|
18-34 |
Capture of Saddam Hussein |
Inauguration of Barack Obama |
First gay marriage |
35-44 |
Capture of Saddam Hussein |
Inauguration of Barack Obama |
Red Sox Winning World Series |
45-54 |
Capture of Saddam Hussein |
Inauguration of Barack Obama |
Red Sox Winning World Series |
55-64 |
Capture of Saddam Hussein |
Inauguration of Barack Obama |
Red Sox Winning World Series |
65+ |
Capture of Saddam Hussein |
Inauguration of Barack Obama |
Red Sox Winning World Series |
|
Male |
Capture of Saddam Hussein |
Inauguration of Barack Obama |
Red Sox Winning World Series |
Female |
Inauguration of Barack Obama |
Capture of Saddam Hussein |
Red Sox Winning World Series |
TABLE 6a
EVENT WOULD MOST WANT TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND FROM THE PAST 50 YEARS - by Age & Gender
"If you could witness firsthand any of these events from the past 50 years, which would it be? If you did in fact witness one or more of these events firsthand, please imagine whether you'd want to do so again or witness one of the other events instead."
Base: All U.S. adults
|
Total |
Age |
Gender |
18-34 |
35-44 |
45-54 |
55-64 |
65+ |
Male |
Female |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
Neil Armstrong walking on the moon |
27 |
23 |
29 |
22 |
32 |
30 |
30 |
24 |
Fall of the Berlin Wall |
21 |
16 |
17 |
22 |
24 |
27 |
24 |
18 |
The "I Have a Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. |
20 |
31 |
26 |
16 |
14 |
8 |
19 |
21 |
Inauguration of Barack Obama |
10 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
15 |
8 |
12 |
Wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana |
8 |
5 |
6 |
14 |
8 |
8 |
3 |
12 |
Red Sox breaking 86 year slump to win the World Series |
6 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
Michael Jackson Moonwalks for the first time |
4 |
7 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
Break-in at Watergate |
3 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
Bill Clinton meeting Monica Lewinsky |
1 |
1 |
* |
3 |
* |
1 |
2 |
1 |
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding; * indicates a response rate or <0.5%
TABLE 6b
EVENT WOULD MOST WANT TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND FROM THE PAST 50 YEARS - Top 3 by Age & Gender
"If you could witness firsthand any of these events from the past 50 years, which would it be? If you did in fact witness one or more of these events firsthand, please imagine whether you'd want to do so again or witness one of the other events instead."
Base: All U.S. adults
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Total |
Neil Armstrong walking on the moon |
Fall of the Berlin Wall |
"I Have a Dream" Speech |
|
18-34 |
"I Have a Dream" Speech |
Neil Armstrong walking on the moon |
Fall of the Berlin Wall |
35-44 |
Neil Armstrong walking on the moon |
"I Have a Dream" Speech |
Fall of the Berlin Wall |
45-54 |
Neil Armstrong walking on the moon/ Fall of the Berlin Wall (tie) |
"I Have a Dream" Speech |
Wedding of Charles and Diana |
55-64 |
Neil Armstrong walking on the moon |
Fall of the Berlin Wall |
"I Have a Dream" Speech |
65+ |
Neil Armstrong walking on the moon |
Fall of the Berlin Wall |
Inauguration of Barack Obama |
|
Male |
Neil Armstrong walking on the moon |
Fall of the Berlin Wall |
"I Have a Dream" Speech |
Female |
Neil Armstrong walking on the moon |
"I Have a Dream" Speech |
Fall of the Berlin Wall |
TABLE 7a
BEST FASHION TREND TO COME OUT OF THE PAST 50 YEARS - by Age & Gender
"Of the following, which do you believe to be the best and worst fashion trend to come of the past 50 years?"
Base: All U.S. adults
|
Total |
Age |
Gender |
18-34 |
35-44 |
45-54 |
55-64 |
65+ |
Male |
Female |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
The bikini |
31 |
33 |
39 |
28 |
30 |
24 |
46 |
17 |
The mini-skirt |
15 |
13 |
18 |
17 |
14 |
16 |
21 |
10 |
Skinny jeans |
13 |
20 |
9 |
14 |
13 |
7 |
4 |
22 |
Bell-bottoms |
7 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
11 |
7 |
4 |
10 |
Leisure suits |
6 |
6 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
11 |
5 |
6 |
Track suits |
6 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
7 |
12 |
4 |
7 |
Tie-dye clothing |
6 |
4 |
8 |
6 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
8 |
Leg warmers |
5 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
7 |
"Members only" style jackets |
5 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
4 |
5 |
Platform shoes |
3 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
Baggy pants |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
- |
3 |
1 |
Shoulder pads |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Parachute pants |
1 |
1 |
1 |
* |
1 |
1 |
* |
1 |
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
* indicates a response rate or <0.5%; -- indicates this response was not selected
TABLE 7b
BEST FASHION TREND TO COME OUT OF THE PAST 50 YEARS - Top 3 by Age & Gender
"Of the following, which do you believe to be the best and worst fashion trend to come of the past 50 years?"
Base: All U.S. adults
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Total |
The bikini |
The mini-skirt |
Skinny jeans |
|
18-34 |
The bikini |
Skinny jeans |
The mini-skirt |
35-44 |
The bikini |
The mini-skirt |
Skinny jeans |
45-54 |
The bikini |
The mini-skirt |
Skinny jeans |
55-64 |
The bikini |
The mini-skirt |
Skinny jeans |
65+ |
The bikini |
The mini-skirt |
Track suits |
|
Male |
The bikini |
The mini-skirt |
Leisure suits |
Female |
Skinny jeans |
The bikini |
The mini-skirt/ Bell-bottoms (tie) |
TABLE 8a
WORST FASHION TREND TO COME OUT OF THE PAST 50 YEARS - by Age & Gender
"Of the following, which do you believe to be the best and worst fashion trend to come of the past 50 years?"
Base: All U.S. adults
|
Total |
Age |
Gender |
18-34 |
35-44 |
45-54 |
55-64 |
65+ |
Male |
Female |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
Baggy pants |
19 |
11 |
13 |
17 |
24 |
33 |
19 |
19 |
Parachute pants |
18 |
22 |
19 |
22 |
14 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
Leisure suits |
12 |
3 |
11 |
17 |
20 |
13 |
12 |
12 |
Platform shoes |
10 |
7 |
8 |
7 |
15 |
15 |
11 |
10 |
Shoulder pads |
10 |
14 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
6 |
8 |
12 |
Skinny jeans |
7 |
10 |
11 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
9 |
6 |
Bell-bottoms |
5 |
8 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
Tie-dye clothing |
5 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
Leg warmers |
3 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
"Members only" style jackets |
3 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
Track suits |
3 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
The mini-skirt |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
The bikini |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
* indicates a response rate or <0.5%; -- indicates this response was not selected
TABLE 8b
WORST FASHION TREND TO COME OUT OF THE PAST 50 YEARS - Top 3 by Age & Gender
"Of the following, which do you believe to be the best and worst fashion trend to come of the past 50 years?"
Base: All U.S. adults
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Total |
Baggy pants |
Parachute pants |
Leisure suits |
|
18-34 |
Parachute pants |
Shoulder pads |
Baggy pants |
35-44 |
Parachute pants |
Baggy pants |
Leisure suits/ Skinny jeans (tie) |
45-54 |
Parachute pants |
Baggy pants/ Leisure suits (tie) |
Shoulder pads |
55-64 |
Baggy pants |
Leisure suits |
Platform shoes |
65+ |
Baggy pants |
Platform shoes |
Leisure suits |
|
Male |
Baggy pants |
Parachute pants |
Leisure suits |
Female |
Parachute pants |
Baggy pants |
Leisure suits/ Shoulder pads (tie) |
Methodology
This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States between November 4 to 6, 2013 among 2,003 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.
All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of Harris Interactive.
The Harris Poll® #86, November 19, 2013
About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is one of the world's leading market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for The Harris Poll®, Harris offers proprietary solutions in the areas of market and customer insight, corporate brand and reputation strategy, and marketing, advertising, public relations and communications research across a wide range of industries. Additionally, Harris has a portfolio of multi-client offerings that complement our custom solutions while maximizing a client's research investment. Serving clients worldwide through our North American and European offices, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help our clients stay ahead of what's next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.