1930s: A Quilt Analysis

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 1920’s fashion was a period of liberation, change, and even more importantly a movement towards the modern era. Fashion in the 1920’s varied throughout the decade but one could see the noticeable change from the previous fashion statements and eras. At the start of the decade, women began emancipating themselves from the constricting fashions by wearing more comfortable apparel. As women gained more rights and World War I forced them to become more independent, flappers came to be, mass-produced garments became available, and artistic movements increased in popularity, one can see how the fashions from the roaring twenties characterized the time and redefined womanhood. (1920s clothing 1)

The Jazz culture inspired multiple dances, such as the Black Bottom and the ever-popular Charleston. These dances required lots of movement leading to a shift in women’s fashion. Women wore less undergarments, went without coresets, and designed dresses that allowed for more freedom of movement. In 1921, Coco Chanel introduced the “drop-waist” dress, which were worn with long strings of glass beads or pearls. By 1925 these dresses resembled the shifts that were worn under the dresses of the early 1900. Evening dress were made up of mesh material, sleeveless, low v-neckline or backless, and sometimes adorned with sequence. These new fashions were advertised in fashion magazines that made their appearance in the 20s, Vouge, The Queen, and the

Quilting can also be used for expression of oneself or for social commentary. Back in the 1800’s when there were many wars women would usually make quilts because they were what was needed in those times and the fabric was often hard to come by and it was usually saved for clothes making.” It was a means to escape from the isolation of their lifestyle and it allowed them the artistic freedom to express themselves. The quilts produced by our ancestors told stories about their lifestyles that could not be captured by pen and paper. Every quilt we see today, regardless of when the quilt was made, relates a story. The types of fabrics, the design of the quilt, the signature of the quilter, all reveal an intimate story of the woman or man who made the quilt.” (Meeske,Quilt Me a Story) They used quilting to get out of the bleakness and horrible things that were going on in their lives at the moment and put how they felt in the quilts. Around the mid-1800’s women quilted a lot more to show artistic talent, political views, and even their emotions. “Prior to a woman’s ability to vote, some women used their artistic talents and expressed their political views through a quilt. The issue of slavery in the United States in the mid-1800s led to quilt patterns called Slave Chain

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.

The pride of family heritage. The loving stories, passed down through the generations. The new legacies to become. Through the poem “The Century Quilt” by Marilyn Nelson Waniek, the complex meanings attributed to the century quilt (the relationship of past and of what is to become) are exhibited using imagery, tone, and figurative language.

The Little Chinese Seamstress is a story told through the eyes of a young narrator living in Communist China. Throughout this story the character constantly evolves in his mannerisms and his train of thought. His relationship with his best friend, Lou, constantly changes as well as Lou begins to hang out with the rural seamstress. One particular passage, beginning at 123 and ending through the end of 125. In this passage, the narrator has a dream about the Little Seamstress tumbling over a cliff side. The dream has deeper meaning and speaks volumes on the narrator’s jealousy, as well as fear, of Lou and the Little Seamstresses relationship.

Her own quilt satisfied her and gave her joy because of all the memories it held from her childhood just like Meema’s. The quilt described with this reminiscent tone enforces a feeling of comfort and serenity as it held past memories of family.

The sky is falling! The sky is falling! The Stock Market crashed in the 1930’s, causing many people agony. The Stock Market Crash was when Wall Street and stocks collapsed. This caused a lot of turmoil, many people were left on the streets with no money or food. America was not the only country going through the depression, this affected many other countries as well. Life today is effortless compared to the life in the 1930’s; socially, economically, and politically.

Throughout the poem “The Century Quilt” by Marilyn Nelson Waniek, the speaker offers insights into her diverse family by comparing them to her beloved quilt. Through her use of a nostalgic tone, visual imagery, and structure, Waniek is able to convey the importance of the true meaning behind the quilt. Waniek uses a multitude of colors throughout this poem to help her illuminate the real purpose of the quilt. Through this use of visual imagery, Waniek is able to illustrate how the speaker embodies the true meaning of the quilt as it connects to her diverse family.

Former president John F. Kennedy once said, “If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.” Back in the 1930’s, this was a rare and very unpopular opinion, especially in the south. Blacks suffered extreme discrimination and Jim Crow Laws while women were regarded as foolish and inferior to men. Now, in 2018, there is equality for all, upheld by the law and supported by society. There are many differences in social roles and standards from the 1930’s and in today’s society of equality and opportunity for all.

Culturally, the symbolism of a quilt is understood to be an heirloom piece that is closely guarded and highly prized. The ownership of the quilt and the generational lines it passes down is known before the piecing is begun. Stitching the pieces together is done by groups of women. The tiny bits of cloth each carry a memory, one from grandpa's shirt, one square from an aunt's Christmas dress, a piece from the flannel nightgown a mother wore as she pulled her sick child close to her bosom. The pieces are carefully and artistically pieced together into a collage of

In the 1950’s fashion madonna Madonna she was in the 80’s was really big as a celebrity. she wore some weird and cool clothing. that made her even popular. the decade that was used was 1950’s fashion,the position is that she was a huge celebrity.

I think is a good movie that extends the exploitation of this art craft. It has originally started with flour sack, a cotton bag to be another exploitation of fashion democratic, which has begun in the depression of the 1930 to be today a textile art. The quilts show has repertoire of block of patterns unique, expressive and some with a mark trade. It has opened my mind in other perception of a poor quilt made by a grandmother. For some it was a habit and others it was their identity represented in their art craft. We can see their personality in each quilt and understand their process of established their concept on their quilt.

The fabrics and print were influenced by two important ethnic of the 1920s. One was a Chinese influence, with kimono-styling, embroidered silks, and the colour red. Small floral and geometric prints were dominant all the way through the decade, especially toward the latter half. Floral prints were the rage in womens 1920s clothing. Colors used in this decade were overall of a muted or pastel palette. Such as jade green, dusty peach, deep pink (called Rose), navy blue, medium blue, faded yellow, light grey, sand, burnt orange, buff, and violet. Blue was quite popular and be seen as a fashionable colour during this time period because women instinctively understand blue as a garment colour and was often worn because it emphasizes the wearer