Women's Fashion in the 1920's
"Thus, the Roaring Twenties redefined womanhood — a new woman evolved; it became more acceptable to smoke and drink in public, closer body contact in dancing, shorter hair, make-up, different styles of dress, and greater participation in the workforce - all contributed to the new woman". http://www.1920-30.com/fashion/
Dress-
Fashions in the 1920’s changed, as their hemlines got shorter, clothes got brighter and lighter. Since hemlines got shorter shoes and stockings were of greater importance. Stocking came in all different colors, and shoes were more important. Some women even started wearing pant-suits and hats. Because of the war many homes were left fatherless, so more women sewed their family’s clothes because they could not afford otherwise. The style they looked for was simple to make, with moderately priced materials. They made one piece dresses, with corsets. A Shirt-Waist Dress, which is like a button up blouse, but is longer and ties around the waist were popular. Another popular style was the waist-line dress, which is somewhat like an empire waistline dress; flowy at the bottom, with a band around the waist and a tight fitting top. Tuxedo style dresses were shaped with a very deep-v neckline that would plummet down a woman’s chest. Tuxedo dresses had wide, flowy sleeves. Fabrics commonly used were cloth, heavy satins, crepe, tricotine because they were heavier and easy to use. Other working women liked the luxury of buying cheaper, readily made clothes from retail stores. As you’ll see in many photographs or ads from the 1920’s the clothes were quite loose and flowy, with a lot of draping. (1)
Hair-
Hair previous to this time was usually long and flowing. The 1920’s brought about short bobbed hair; The Bob. Apparently, there were strict rules on who could and should wear the bob. The bob offered a “delightful suggestion of youthfulness and careless freedom” on young women. However, for the “overtall or for the heavy, settled-looking woman, never!”. It was also said that elderly women should probably not wear a bob. They were very particular about the style of hair a woman should wear, based on age, height, weight and face shape. Otherwise, they say to just leave it long. (2)
Purses-
A major statement piece of fashion, the purse, began as a more utilitarian and useful item for men and women. By the 1920’s the purse had evolved into something more, not only useful for holding personal items, but an important fashion statement. In the early 1900’s purses were made in a variety of materials and styles. Because there was new technology and faster transportation, it was possible to make new fashionable designs. European and Italian designs were favored that “featured Renaissance landscapes and architecture, flowers, ladies in hoopskirts, and other fanciful historical themes and motifs”. Many designs were inspired by Japanese and Chinese ornamentation. “Art Nouveau” and floral designs such as lily pads were very popular. Printed metal mesh bags with long metal straps were popular. While many purses were designed with oriental flare, they were still made in the same shapes as American women were used to. The bags often were of cloth, beaded, or mesh bodies with a stiff frame and opening at the top. Beading, tapestry weaves, and embroidery were popular embellishments. Hand-tooled leather was also used to make the bodies of purses. Leathers like ostrich, alligator, lizard and snakeskin were sought after to make purses as well. Purses could be embellished with imitation stones, semiprecious stones, pearls and enamel. Double-hinged, square opening bags became popular in the 1910’s. In the 1920’s the Art Deco movement inspired purse designs. Art Deco bags featured geometric shapes and fasteners, sleek shapes, embellishments like rainbows, flat flowers, sunbursts, and often were carried under the arm. Clutches and wristlets were popular. In the 1920’s bags became more versatile and had spaces for a woman’s lipstick, compact, money, or cigarettes. As celebrities are trendsetters for us, film stars spurred the rise of certain trends in the 1920’s as well. (3)
(1) 1920-30.com. "1920's Fashions for Women." Accessed on April 7, 2013, http://www.1920-30.com/fashion/1920s-fashions.html.
(2) 1920-30.com. "Selecting a Hairstyle." Accessed on April 7, 2013, http://www.1920-30.com/fashion/hairstyles/select-hairstyle.html.
(3) Berg Fashion Library. "A Brief History of the Purse up to 1930". Last edited in October 2011. Accessed on April 7, 2013, http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com.mcc1.library.csulb.edu/view/bewdf/BEWDF-v10/EDch10315.xml?q=1920&isfuzzy=no&dressFacet=1958.
Fashions in the 1920’s changed, as their hemlines got shorter, clothes got brighter and lighter. Since hemlines got shorter shoes and stockings were of greater importance. Stocking came in all different colors, and shoes were more important. Some women even started wearing pant-suits and hats. Because of the war many homes were left fatherless, so more women sewed their family’s clothes because they could not afford otherwise. The style they looked for was simple to make, with moderately priced materials. They made one piece dresses, with corsets. A Shirt-Waist Dress, which is like a button up blouse, but is longer and ties around the waist were popular. Another popular style was the waist-line dress, which is somewhat like an empire waistline dress; flowy at the bottom, with a band around the waist and a tight fitting top. Tuxedo style dresses were shaped with a very deep-v neckline that would plummet down a woman’s chest. Tuxedo dresses had wide, flowy sleeves. Fabrics commonly used were cloth, heavy satins, crepe, tricotine because they were heavier and easy to use. Other working women liked the luxury of buying cheaper, readily made clothes from retail stores. As you’ll see in many photographs or ads from the 1920’s the clothes were quite loose and flowy, with a lot of draping. (1)
Hair-
Hair previous to this time was usually long and flowing. The 1920’s brought about short bobbed hair; The Bob. Apparently, there were strict rules on who could and should wear the bob. The bob offered a “delightful suggestion of youthfulness and careless freedom” on young women. However, for the “overtall or for the heavy, settled-looking woman, never!”. It was also said that elderly women should probably not wear a bob. They were very particular about the style of hair a woman should wear, based on age, height, weight and face shape. Otherwise, they say to just leave it long. (2)
Purses-
A major statement piece of fashion, the purse, began as a more utilitarian and useful item for men and women. By the 1920’s the purse had evolved into something more, not only useful for holding personal items, but an important fashion statement. In the early 1900’s purses were made in a variety of materials and styles. Because there was new technology and faster transportation, it was possible to make new fashionable designs. European and Italian designs were favored that “featured Renaissance landscapes and architecture, flowers, ladies in hoopskirts, and other fanciful historical themes and motifs”. Many designs were inspired by Japanese and Chinese ornamentation. “Art Nouveau” and floral designs such as lily pads were very popular. Printed metal mesh bags with long metal straps were popular. While many purses were designed with oriental flare, they were still made in the same shapes as American women were used to. The bags often were of cloth, beaded, or mesh bodies with a stiff frame and opening at the top. Beading, tapestry weaves, and embroidery were popular embellishments. Hand-tooled leather was also used to make the bodies of purses. Leathers like ostrich, alligator, lizard and snakeskin were sought after to make purses as well. Purses could be embellished with imitation stones, semiprecious stones, pearls and enamel. Double-hinged, square opening bags became popular in the 1910’s. In the 1920’s the Art Deco movement inspired purse designs. Art Deco bags featured geometric shapes and fasteners, sleek shapes, embellishments like rainbows, flat flowers, sunbursts, and often were carried under the arm. Clutches and wristlets were popular. In the 1920’s bags became more versatile and had spaces for a woman’s lipstick, compact, money, or cigarettes. As celebrities are trendsetters for us, film stars spurred the rise of certain trends in the 1920’s as well. (3)
(1) 1920-30.com. "1920's Fashions for Women." Accessed on April 7, 2013, http://www.1920-30.com/fashion/1920s-fashions.html.
(2) 1920-30.com. "Selecting a Hairstyle." Accessed on April 7, 2013, http://www.1920-30.com/fashion/hairstyles/select-hairstyle.html.
(3) Berg Fashion Library. "A Brief History of the Purse up to 1930". Last edited in October 2011. Accessed on April 7, 2013, http://www.bergfashionlibrary.com.mcc1.library.csulb.edu/view/bewdf/BEWDF-v10/EDch10315.xml?q=1920&isfuzzy=no&dressFacet=1958.