1920s Fashion Research Paper

The Vanity Fair images showed the typical flapper, who were known for their bobbed hair, excessive makeup and costume jewelry.45 Instead of dark stockings, she wore flesh-colored stockings that exposed the leg, especially since hemlines were up six to ten inches above the ankle. Instead of high laced shoes, the flapper wore low pumps that showed off her ankles. Although, what the images fail to show was the shame that young flappers brought to their society.6 These “Flapper” behaviors were not the “normal traditional lady like behaviors” that were seen before World War I, instead of the traditional housewives and mother’s the society became used to, flappers listened to jazz music, danced, drank alcohol,

The fashionable flapper remained throughout the 20s, until the craze faded away with the oncoming 30s. The fads and rages of the flappers left an impression on Americans for years to come. These radical women, who were considered immoral and distasteful, remain symbolic of the famous Roaring 20s.

Women’s fashion was a social controversy in the 1920’s. This controversy was influenced by women’s clothing, swimwear, hairstyles, makeup, and attitude alone. This attire and new found character traits added a certain attitude and confidence to these women, starting what would eventually be remembered as a revolution.

Thanks to Coco Chanel, the iconic flapper image most closely associated with the roaring twenties came about. The flapper and flapper image didn’t actually come to be until around 1926 and even then was only in style for about three years. Typical flappers were women who appeared to have a bold attitude and were independent women who didn’t adhere to the previously innocent housewife image. A flapper usually had a bob haircut, a shorter than average dress, a flat chest, wore tons of make-up, drank illegal alcohol, smoked with a long cigarette holder, exposed her limbs and danced the Charleston. This was a drastic change from the typical American housewife to the reckless rebel. The flapper dresses stressed above the knee hemlines and construed straight, sleek shapes. This was the first time in centuries women’s legs were being seen in a garment. (1920s Fashion 1) Flappers loved to jazz up their costume and even their image. Many flappers’ dresses were adorned with jewels and intricate beading. The main object of the flapper image was to appear almost boyish rather than looking feminine. (1920s clothing 1)

Flappers were a new revolutionary type of woman that came about in the early 1920s. Daughters of women that fought for suffrage and equal rights, they had no interest in politics, and even less in the issue of ´social norms´. Girls from well of families drank alcohol, smoked cigarettes, and took part in ´petting parties´. They cut their hair in bobs and wore short skirts that went up above the knee, Which at the time was socially unacceptable. Many people were appalled by the ways of the flapper, some even taking the case of immodesty to court. But the flapper movement would not be stopped, and would pave the way for the modern woman.

As Coco Chanel quotes: “Fashion is an architecture: It is a matter of proportion.” Fashion during the Harlem Renaissance and the roaring 20s define the culture of males, females, whites & blacks.

A flapper was a fashionable young women who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, and listened to jazz. During the 1920s the social norms for women fashion was to wear long modest dresses and long hair. Women also got the right to vote when the 19th amendment was ratified. This was a time of newfound independence for women. many women had taken on new jobs during World War I and weren't ready to give up their independence.

Fashion changed the mentality of Americans in many ways as well. The most common type of girl in the 1920s was flappers. The term “flapper” first appeared in Great Britain after World War I, it was a word used to describe young girls (Rotenberg). It then began popular in the 1920s. Flappers were northern, urban, single, young middle class women, many held steady jobs (“Flappers”). Flappers engaged in active city night life. Speakeasies were common destination for the flappers (“Flappers”). It was a place where they could completely be themselves. The flapper movement began when young women decided that they were not willing to waste away their young lives waiting idly for spinsterhood; they were going to enjoy life (Rosenberg). Many people disliked flappers. The flapper attitude was characterized by stork, truthfulness, fast living, and sexual behavior (Rosenberg). Flappers were usually younger women. The flappers were viewed disdainfully by an older generation as wild (“1920s dress fashion rise and fall”). The flappers’ style was very rare and

“The 1920s represented a time of social change.”(#2 History.com/Rosenberg). This era took a bold step forward with fashion. “For women, short bobs became fashionable” because “dancer Irene Castle was one of the first to decide to bob in 1915.” “Many famous persons followed.”(#3 vintagedancer.com/Sessions) Shorter skirts also became popular because “shorter hemlines made it easier to drive cars and move quickly.”(#4 bellatory.com/Monet) These types of clothing would have never allowed in previous decades.(#5 www.thefinertimes.com/Nash)

Flappers are compared to young girls between ages 13-30, there was a big influence and change of a woman in 1920. Girls where whatever pleases them and others. The amount of makeup worn is increasing every season. Flappers showed women and young girls that there is no problem acting and doing what men do. Young woman today are examples off from the flappers, which is changed how our American society is looking at towards today’s young

Not only did the flappers affect how they act but how the women dressed as well. Flappers developed women to start to wear short dresses from their shoulder to their knees (Cellania). They began to wear a close-fitted bead cap that was very authentic, if they did not want to wear a cap, they would tie around a satin belt or scarf and make it into a headband (Trasko). Back then the shorter the hair the better. Women cut their hair into what we know is called the “bob”.

Flappers were women of the new decade who were known to assert themselves in society and began to create their own identities. They started to drink and smoke in public, and talked about sex openly, all of which were highly frowned upon during this time. While smoking, a woman might wear a Turkish-inspired “smoking suit” along with a turban. They began cutting their hair shorter into bobs, which was often considered boyish. Fashion designer Coco Chanel and actress Louise Brooks helped to popularize this look. The style became the staple hairstyle of the flapper. Aspects of menswear were also inserted into women’s fashion, with looks such as tailored vests and pants, but were prohibited in some areas. This boyish look was often referred to as the “garconne” look.

While the women in the 1920s wore, lose and provocative clothing for the time. The fashion change in the 1920s was said to be caused by a specific genre of music, jazz. Jazz gave way to new styles

Women’s fashion was a social controversy in the 1920’s. This controversy was influenced by women’s clothing, swimwear, hairstyles, makeup, and attitude alone. This attire and new found character traits added a certain attitude and confidence to these women, starting what would eventually be remembered as a revolution.

The 1920s was a period of change and reform in many things ranging from entertainment, consumerism, and fashion. Fashion, one of the greatest changes in the 1920s was influenced by designers such as Coco Chanel, Jean Patou, Clara Bow, also known as the “It Girl” all influenced fashion for both women and men in the 20s. Previously, women had to behave polite and modestly and had to wear long dresses down to the ankles. But some women started to go past those social boundaries that were set by society. These women would go to speakeasies and smokes in public. The women who did these things are referred to as flappers. Men and some women saw flappers as a disgrace and were disgusted by their way of living. Slowly, as the years began to pass, women such as Coco Chanel, Jean Patou, and Clara Bow came into the fashion and entertainment industry changing the fashion and women’s ideas.