Annual celebrations like the Fourth of July provide an upswing in product placement and fashion has always been in that mix. The holiday’s codes and colors have long been championed by designers like Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger, who have kept the Americana mix fashion forward. This year, the largest summer celebration in the U.S. is getting a bigger boost as America marks its 250th anniversary. Those shades and iconic stars and stripes may not always make a fashion moment, but they still offer a way to celebrate the occasion in style. Happy semiquincentennial!

Here, a look back at Americana expression on the runway from the Fairchild Archives.