Women Fashion in the 1920s, Research Paper Example

Introduction

In the 1920s, women fashion experienced a milestone as it entered in a completely new disposition. The 1920 milestone is referred by many as the ‘flapper’ or ‘roaring 20’s’ probably because of the massive introduction of new changes in the fashion industry (Buckley and Fawcett 76). In this era, women decided to shun the archaic fashions, and opted to do comfortable clothes namely trousers and skirts. They started matching the dresses, handbags, stockings, shoes, hats, and jewelry to broker unique and elegant harmony. In terms of colors, they became extremely sensitive, and started to differentiate between dull and bright colors. Even so, change did not just happen abruptly, most women were adamant to accept the new fashions, but as time elapsed, they coped with the new changes. The era was deemed as a relief from the hostilities the world had experienced in the First World War, and as such, women decided to embrace colorful and new fabrics. In the following discussion, the focus is mainly on women fashion in the 1920s.

Background and Overview to Women Fashion in the 1920s

Following the end of the First World War, the world experienced a new period that embraced new cultural changes, morals and social customs. Specifically, women lives changed in the United States, following the amendment of the constitution that allowed them to vote. Following the new sense of rights and freedom, feminine expression came in handy especially through fashions. During this time, the old were slowly fading away, and the new disposition was taking over thick and fast. Massive liberations in the world of art were witnessed, and the world experienced massive and terrific growth in women fashion. Specifically, women fashion started to experience transition, as Paris designers started taking effect such as Patou, Chanel, Lelong, Lanvin, Poiret, Vionnet, and Callot Soeurs among others (Buckley and Fawcett 116). Additionally, British designers were not left behind as they took women dresses to a new level. Indeed, the 1920s can be termed as a period that saw Cultural Revolution take the world by storm. The women fashion trend got a boost from the emergence of Jazz Age in the New Orleans City, and Louis Armstrong music, which became the new trend in town (Buckley and Fawcet 119). Film invention and the massive influence of Hollywood opened a new platform for fashion marketing. The introduction of modernist movement and Arts Decoratifs coupled with mingling of races and classes brokered a sense of freedom and emergence of consumerism. In view of all the afore-mentioned factors, the young woman of the 1920s, embraced the new trendy fashions, and abandoned the era of Jane Austin that was heavily marred with corseted restrictions.

Features of Women Fashion in the 1920s

Prior to the 1920 era, women had a tendency of doing fashions that made them look much older than normal age. The coming of the 1920 fashion was utterly aimed at changing women outlook for good.

Body Shape

Women started to make effort in maintaining a youthful look, copying the new trends and looks of teens and younger women. Previously, women struggled to have an S-shaped figure with wide hips, large bottom, and breasts. At the start of 1920, the focus shifted and they started hiding the curves to attain a thin body with straight shape, small breasts, and smaller hips, characteristic of teenage girls (Manlow 23). This shape and figure that women fought so hard to achieve in the 20s would become the description of the current model woman. Following the new shape, the hairstyle also changed, and women started to keep it short, singled and curled.

Hairstyle and Makeup

At the emergence of the decade, women preferred bobbed hairstyle, but in 1923, the new hairstyle, shingle, took over. It mainly left the hair flat, lying on the scalp. In view of the eyebrows, they were thinned in order to attain a youthful look. Women started to apply makeup around the eyes, all in a bid to make them look larger and younger (Nunn 34). In view of the lips, they were decorated in an attempt to make the mouth appear narrower from the sides. By bowing the upper lip and emphasizing the lower lip depth, the new shape of the lips would only be anything close to Clara Bow (Manlow 33). Following the increased interest in application of makeup on the face, lips, and eyes, the makeup industry became extremely lucrative. Even so, a section of women would opt to make homemade makeup, especially the mixture of soot with petroleum jelly to get mascara. Tanning gained popularity during this period, because it helped to make products for preventing sunburns.

Shoes and hats

During the 1920 era, women embraced the ankle-strap heeled shoes. As for the hats, they wore the brimmed ones, and the most fashionable was the cloche hat, which was mainly won low above the eyes. As time progressed, hats were replaced with the feathered headbands, especially for wearing in the evening hours when the scorching sun has gone hiding. Observably, the 1920 saw women embrace tops with large floppy collars popularly called ‘Peter Pan’. Prior to the 1920, women avoided showing bare arms and legs.

Underwear

Women underwear came in various colors, shapes, and sizes. Women undergarments came in bright and light colors and in dull ones too. Most of them were decorated in flowers, butterflies, and frills all to please women and make them look presentable and adorable. Although camisole knickers were regularly worn, most women would stay without the underwear, especially when women rebelliousness and freedom became evident (Bob 200). Most of them were reacting to previous generation that saw women freedom curtailed in terms of dressing. In the wake of 1920, women attitude in terms of expressing their sexual disposition was boosted by the new fashion. Underneath the loose and light dresses, coupled with stockings, most women decided to remain naked.

Dresses

At the wake of 1920 fashion, short dresses became trendy, and women started showing their legs. Particularly in 1926, the shortest known dresses were introduced, and they went past the knees. Notably, the sleeves were equally short, and in some cases, the dresses were sleeveless. Women with large chests opted to flatten their breasts and adjust their hips in order to fit in the loose, light dresses. The baggy dresses were abandoned, and the straight-lined figures took centre stage.

In the 1920 era, the tailors or the dressmakers made clothing at home. The era of readymade clothes only became popular in the 1930s, following the emergence of departmental stores. Clothe fashions would be mostly found in magazines, and commercial manufacturing became extremely popular. The 1920s fabrics were extremely elaborate, because they incorporated designs and prints of Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Egyptian origin. Scarves were improved and fringes found on them were introduced. Mid 1920 saw the introduction of beadwork, and seamless stockings produced from rayon, which was deemed less expensive than silk and which made sexy and admirable stockings that gave legs a naked appearance (Cunningham 113). Women probably due to its shiny look were rejecting rayon, although with the application of powder, it was possible to reduce it. By 1926, women dresses had gone even shorter, and skirts were introduced. Short dresses mostly worn in the evening were complemented with bright colors, fringes, and beads and as a result, cocktail dresses came in handy.

Flappers

Although Clara Bow was popular and fashionable at the time, flappers were embraced by women. The flapper aimed at combining all the trends that women deemed fashionable in the 1920s. It had short hair, and it would reach the knees, with stockings being rolled beneath the powdered knees. Although women had abandoned the baggy dresses, the flapper one was baggy, exposed the arms, but hid the body curves (Black and Madge 89). Pearls and numerous metal bracelets in the upper section of the arm were worn, and flappers would apply makeup in the public. The flapper look was heavily associated with jazz music, and the flappers would smoke in public. This trend of fashion was mainly a ridicule of the old fashion, because besides being reckless, flappers were showing too much skin.

Conclusion

Conclusively, the 1920 decade was the era that saw women fashion change for the better. Women embraced the emergence of freedom and recognition through trendy and attractive fashions that shunned the old generation. From introducing new types of dresses and underwear, women embraced new hairstyles, and trendy shoes. Indeed, the 1920 era serves as the turning point in the world of fashion not only for women, but also for the entire generation.

Works Cited

Black, J. Anderson, and Madge Garland, A History of Fashion, New York, Morrow, 1975. Print

Bob, Batchelor. “Fashion in the 1920s.” American Pop: Popular Culture Decade by Decade, Volume 1: 1900–1929. Greenwood Press, 2009.

Buckley, Cheryl and Fawcett, Hilary. Fashioning the Feminine: Representation and Women’s   Fashion from the Fin De Siècle to the Present. Chicago: I.B.Tauris, 2002. Print

Cunningham, Patricia. Reforming Women’s Fashion, 1850-1920: Politics, Health, and Art. New York: Kent State University Press, 2003. Print

Manlow, Veronica. Designing Clothes: Culture and Organization of the Fashion Industry New. Jersey: Transaction Publishers, 2011. Print

Nunn, Joan. Fashion in Costume, 1200–2000, 2nd edition, A & C Black (Publishers) Ltd; Chicago: New Amsterdam Books, 2000. Print