In the 1920s, cloches replaced hats.
The "roaring" 1920s saw the end of the First World War and a great boom period for the United States. War-weary American women adopted a liberal modern culture and partied in jazz and dance clubs. Named "flappers," these bold women flaunted daring fashions. The onset of the Great Depression in 1929 made 1930's women's haute couture minimalistic; however, as it was dictated by affluent women and Hollywood celebrities like Joan Crawford, 1930s fashion had a conservative and elegant appeal.
Women's Dresses
During the early 1920s, women wore vibrantly hued, ankle-length, rayon, chemise-like dresses. These featured straight, slack, masculine, geometric silhouettes due to the influence of the Art Deco movement. Evening dresses were embellished with beads, fringes or feathers. All 1920s dresses featured low waistlines and deep U or V necklines.
By 1924, the day and evening dress hemlines rose to mid-calf level. In 1927, dress hemlines rose to knee level and fell slightly after that. Business attire for women of the 1920s included pantsuits.
Chanel, Patou and Molyneux brands retailed sports outfits including tennis split skirts, bicycle costumes and golf knicker suits as women's participation in sports increased.
Women's Underwear
Heavy Victorian-era corsets and bustles disappeared as the boyish "no bosom," "no hip" look gained ground. Flapper women held their breasts in place with elasticized strips. The brassiere was introduced and small corsets appeared.
Accessories
In the 1920s, women wore silk or rayon stockings in flesh hues and small-heeled shoes. They replaced hats with a helmet-like cloche, as short bob hairstyles did not permit the use of hatpins.
Women of the 1920s carried embroidered tapis handbags or decorative beaded handbags. A long rope of pearls or flashy Chanel costume jewelry was the neck accessory du jour. Ostrich fans were popular evening wear accessories.
1930s Dresses
In the 1930s, American fashions for women included below knee-length dresses that accented the natural adult woman's figure, including her bosom, waist and hips.
Daywear was comprised of cotton, silk or fine wool crepe frocks with curvaceous silhouettes, collars and puffed sleeves. Hemlines were decorated with ruffle trimmings that stood 14 inches above the ground. Loose trousers called slacks were women's leisure activity wear.
Women wore graceful ankle-length bias-cut evening gowns with bare backs and halter necks. These hip-hugging bodice gowns also possessed flared hemlines. Dresses were designed without sleeves, with half-puffed sleeves or with full-length Dolman wing sleeves. Dolman wing sleeves are sleeves that are so wide at the armholes that the bottom of the armholes almost reach your waist; the sleeves taper down to about wrist size at your wrists. When you hold your arms out while wearing an item with such sleeves, it looks like you have bat wings.
The 1930s double-breasted overcoat was tailored for a perfect fit. After 1939, government rationing of textiles during the Second World War increase popularity for the little black dress.
Office wear in the 1930s included skirts, blouses and jackets. After 1939, women's work suits had shoulder pads and skirts became fuller.
1930s Underwear
New 1930s women's underwear included modesty vests worn under low-neck dresses. Modesty vests are insets of fabric that cover the cleavage area. Corsets also became longer by a few inches.
1930s Accessories
Beige stockings and high-heeled peep-toed shoes were popular in the 1930s. Women wore non-sagging nylon stockings as well as black or red fur stoles. Large, impractical hats decorated with hatpins were 1930s winter accessories. Hat styles were feminized with the addition of delicate bows, ribbons and flowers.
Pearl necklaces, arranged so that they didn't hang very low on the wearer, were popular.
During the Second World War, elevated base platform shoes with wood or cork soles replaced scarce rubber and leather shoes. Practical clutches replaced fancy handbags.
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