The Invention Of Fashion In The 1920's

Fashion in the early nineteen twenties was all about comfort. Men’s pants got wider and women stopped wearing their corsets and tight dresses, while older women of the age considered this scandalous and still held the thought that women should not show their ankle. Though the majority of adults disagreed with the fashion revolution, young women continually hiked up their skirts, stayed out late, and kept up with fashion trends. Times were changing, and thus the flapper age was born. Hemlines rose to the knee, and then later above it- exposing the muscular

In the beginning of the 20th Century, women wore skirts and gowns with boned corsets to enhance the female figure and changed outfits almost four times a day. During the day, women would wear skirts with a long train in the back, high necks, and the chest was concealed with wide cape-like collars that draped over the shoulders. Sleeves were usually measured from shoulder to elbow and fullness would extend to the wrist. In the evening, gowns were more bold and worn off the shoulder. Fabrics were soft, skirts were round and the confined below the knee, small balloon sleeves and nipped-in waists were last seen in the early 1900s.

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.

Fashion in the early nineteen twenties was all about comfort. Men’s pants got wider and women stopped wearing their corsets and tight dresses, while older women of the age considered this scandalous and still held the thought that women should not show their ankle. Though the majority of adults disagreed with the fashion revolution, young women continually hiked up their skirts, stayed out late, and kept up with fashion trends. Times were changing, and thus the flapper age was born. Hemlines rose to the knee, and then later above it- exposing the muscular dancer’s legs-toned

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

Laces usually fastened corsets at the back and were drawn tightly to alter the silhouette. The product was a “wasp waist” effect, or as some have expressed, the “hour glass figure”.

She was the woman who took away the corset and made way for the flattering and flowing silhouette seen in most of the styles during this decade.

By 1925, dresses had become shorter than ever, coming up higher above the ankle. They also had longer waists, becoming more reminiscent of little girl’s dresses in previous years. Because of the shorter length, garters also became more popular among women.

Women’s fashion in the 1960s rejected previous traditions of the past and became symbolic of the changes women were gaining through the feminist movement. During this period, women concluded that they would not accept the feminine mystique, which generally accepted views that an ideal

The popular corset bodices, which were usually waist length and sleeveless had been replaced by one that was extending beyond the waist. This was mainly worn for an appearance of a slimmer body. Wide skirts with a modest decorative detail were also influenced from similar British portraits in that time period. Later, during the 20th century Canada began to have their local departments have their own designers. Popular Fashion Icons During That Time

Women's fashion had undergone many characteristic modifications prior to 1750 and more so into the eighteenth century. Fashion trends were being set in the Old World, from France to England, and Colonial women were all too painfully aware of the need to adapt towards a sophisticated and up-to-date appearance.

She is the first woman who completed the entrechat quarter, a move the place that the dancer crosses their legs over four times in mid-air. In addition, Camargo thought the women’s costumes of the time were too heavy and bulky, so she shortened her skirts to be able to move better and wore flat shoes, which also called ballet slippers, rather than heeled shoes, so she could present simple jumps. Only short enough to display her ankles in front of the audience, but the audience was shocked since ankles were considered very private back in those days. Although the audience was shocked, wearing ballet slippers and shorten skirts became the regulation length and new fashion. In the 1800s, dancers started wearing "Romantic Tutus," which is now called the “Classic Tutu.” Those tutus are long, fluffy, lightweight skirts, and they present the foremost effects of spectacles’ masks and clothing. Furthermore, Cotton, flax woven, and silk were mixed into semitransparent gauze; and splendor at court comprehensively presented those luxury ballet costumes. Later, skirts became shorter and stiffer until the skirt stuck straight

To accentuate the hips even more, slit side pockets were present (Payne, 256-257). Subsequently, the 1960’s brought the emergence of miniskirts, which was then a public shock for it was not considered tamed. Minis were pioneered by Mary Quant and made trendy by Andre Courreges (Murray, 112-113). Meanwhile, pants suits for women were popularized in the 70’s. They were first introduced as skinny and tailored, leaving little space for legs. Then they evolved into a flared leg style, with a wide opening at the bottom, or bell bottoms (Payne, 261). “Pants appeared in every form imaginable, from divided skirts and culottes to the classic, pleated-front tailored pant and the baggy ‘Fred Astaire’ version.” (Murray, 116)

dwardian skirts were mainly around Victorian times. Seen on role models such as Queen Victoria. Edwardian skirts

There is another intersting story behind the mini skirt. In her book From A to Biba, Barbara Hulanicki provides an alternative explanation for the invention of the mini skirt. Soon after Biba opened on Kensington Church Street in 1966, she received a delivery of skirts made out of stretchy jersey fabric which had shrunk dramatically between leaving the manufacturer's and arriving at her shop.. The skirts were only 10 inches long. She almost got a heart attack & thought she will go bust &