The 1920s were landmark years in many ways. As far as fashion is concerned, the 1920s ushered in an era of women’s clothing that was actually comfortable. Flapper dresses, with their straight lines, meant that corsets and girdles were no longer needed (though this didn’t prevent many women from wearing them anyway).
Most clothing of the 1920s was made from cotton or wool. However, a new fabric named rayon gained in popularity, especially since there was a shortage of silk.
The cloche hat was all the rage (“cloche” is the French word for “bell”, referring to the hat’s shape). Hair was bobbed, as it fit better under these hats. Since corsets were now relegated to the past, underwear changed, too. A camisole was now worn, with bloomers.
To the shock of many older people, dresses now had skirts that ended just below the knee. This was far more suitable for dancing, especially when dancing the Charleston or any other high-energy dance requiring a lot of leg movement. The figure was now more boyish, emphasized by the short hair. Fashion maven Coco Chanel was one of the first public figures to wear pants, in addition to cutting her hair short. With the coming of the 1930s, women wearing pants became a much more common sight. The hourglass figure, created primarily through the use of corsets, now made way for a freer figure. Along with the high hems, the dresses were sleeveless, exposing the arms.
Coats copied the straight lines of the dresses, and capes came into fashion. The famous “little black dress”, of which every woman is expected to own one even now, came into being in 1927, when actress Clara Bow wore one in her classic movie, It. In those days, the idea of buying a dress off the rack, ready to wear, was still in the future. Most women made their dresses at home, and they did so quickly. Patterns were readily available, and were easy to follow.
Swimsuits, once involved what seemed to be yards of fabric (in addition to stockings and bathing shoes) were now drastically reduced. Rather than the swimmer wearing several items of clothing, swimsuits became one-piece items, showing even more leg and arm than the popular flapper dresses.
Stockings skyrocketed in popularity, since the new dresses showed so much leg. Sales went through the roof, and many new types of stockings and garters were introduced.
Most clothing of the 1920s was made from cotton or wool. However, a new fabric named rayon gained in popularity, especially since there was a shortage of silk.
The cloche hat was all the rage (“cloche” is the French word for “bell”, referring to the hat’s shape). Hair was bobbed, as it fit better under these hats. Since corsets were now relegated to the past, underwear changed, too. A camisole was now worn, with bloomers.
To the shock of many older people, dresses now had skirts that ended just below the knee. This was far more suitable for dancing, especially when dancing the Charleston or any other high-energy dance requiring a lot of leg movement. The figure was now more boyish, emphasized by the short hair. Fashion maven Coco Chanel was one of the first public figures to wear pants, in addition to cutting her hair short. With the coming of the 1930s, women wearing pants became a much more common sight. The hourglass figure, created primarily through the use of corsets, now made way for a freer figure. Along with the high hems, the dresses were sleeveless, exposing the arms.
Coats copied the straight lines of the dresses, and capes came into fashion. The famous “little black dress”, of which every woman is expected to own one even now, came into being in 1927, when actress Clara Bow wore one in her classic movie, It. In those days, the idea of buying a dress off the rack, ready to wear, was still in the future. Most women made their dresses at home, and they did so quickly. Patterns were readily available, and were easy to follow.
Swimsuits, once involved what seemed to be yards of fabric (in addition to stockings and bathing shoes) were now drastically reduced. Rather than the swimmer wearing several items of clothing, swimsuits became one-piece items, showing even more leg and arm than the popular flapper dresses.
Stockings skyrocketed in popularity, since the new dresses showed so much leg. Sales went through the roof, and many new types of stockings and garters were introduced.
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