1920s Fashion Essay

The 1920s was the era of the Flapper. Young women started to cut their hair, shorten their skirts, so that they could more easily dance the wild, flapping dances of the age (hence the term 'flapper'). They drank and smoked and wore makeup, and went out with boys without a chaperone. They played sports, golf, tennis, and swimming were all very popular. Sunbathing became popular with women for the first time.

The Roaring Twenties of America, which was from 1920-1929, saw a great social and economic prosperity. People were happy, and were celebrating the victory of World War 1. The gasoline price was lowered, right to vote for women was granted, and America was climbing towards a great success. In 1929, Herbert Hoover became the president of the United States of America, and he said, “ Given a chance to go forward with the policies of the last eight years, we shall soon with the help of God be in sight of the day when poverty will be banished from this nation”(Roark, Pg. 703). After few months of his inauguration, his words contradicted, the Roaring Twenties halted. During the Roaring Twenties, the stock market prices increased steeply. The rapid

The 1920s were a time of new and exhilarating things such as music, film, and most importantly, fashion. Fashion in the 1920s made political changes that influenced generational changes. Flappers made a big impact on 20s fashion, and we can still see how their sense of style and other fashion statements helped shape today's society.

World War I greatly impacted the change from elaborate Victorian clothes to the classic 1920s flapper style. World War I did this by taking so much materials that Victorian woman could not maintain their wardrobes. Furthermore the Victorian style was impractical because women had to work to make up for the loss of men. Thus after the war flappers became the new model of fashion and new social trends were then established.

Jazz was a hit in the 1920s, African Americans were given credit for leading the jazz industry, the Jazz industry had an amazing impact on many other popular cultures. Jazz was the favorite type of music among the flappers. The Jazz age was known to be powered by the prohibition of alcohol.

The 1920’s was considered a decade of change in American history. There was a new modern society and new mass culture. Also it is important to point out that many Americans were working less hours, which allowed for many people to go to a movie or a baseball game. New inventions like the movie theaters, radios, and art styles

There were many social changes during the 1920s, especially changes to the arts. One major social change of the 1920s was women’s rights. Women gained the right to vote and became more liberated. The iconic flapper style, loose short dresses and blunt bobs, was created during that time (History.com Staff). Many cultural changes occurred during the Jazz Age.

The twenties saw tons of changes in mindset and showed everyone in the world that nothing was impossible if you put your mind to it. Seemingly impossible feats were accomplished in the twenties like the first ever liquid fueled rocket launch and the invention of a miracle drug. But those were not the only things that were happening then. Fashion was changing, it was more acceptable for women to show skin. Rules changed, the 18th amendment made the drinking of beer illegal, sparking the widespread desire to do just that. And the movie world was flipped upside down, leaving the first ever cartoon synchronised with sound. All of these changes had big

The 1920’s which was also called the Roaring Twenties was a era of economic prosperity and dramatic social change. The 19 amendment that was ratified on August 1920 gave the right of women to vote and the impact of World War I resulted in women questioning traditional morals and values, becoming rebellious. When men left for the war it caused women to have new jobs such as working in factories. Also, “the number of women attending college rose to 10% of the population by the end of the 1920's." Due to women having the opportunity to have jobs and go to college women became more mobile. The corset limited women to be mobile in this era which caused the production of coresets to quickly decline. Less women wearing corset made their figure to be more boyish and straight. The women of this era was called the Flappers, free spirited women, representing the new change of how women looked. The Flappers “lacked hips, breasts, and a defined waist”. They would dress in dresses above their knee and ankle showing more legs and having bare arms. They would also stray away from having long hair and cut their hair into a bob to symbolize freedom and independency. As a reason of women questioning traditional values they began to drink, smoke and be more sexual in this era. The 1920’s was also the age of Jazz which influenced women to go out and dance and women having more flamboyant and exuberant moves. In the 1920’s to be equal among men they had to have a figure of men,

The 1920s, or better known as the roaring twenties changed the lives of women in America politically, physically and mentally. Women were granted more freedom, the right to vote, changed their physical appearance, and focused on materialistic goals instead of moral values. Before World War I, women would wear a high collar, long straight skirts below the knee and long hair that was tied loosely. The roaring twenties brought along swing dancing and jazz which changed the way women dressed and danced. Not only did the roaring twenties bring along flourishing taste in music, but flappers came into play. Flappers were women who wore short sparkly dresses, cut their hair into a bob, wore heavy make-up, drank alcohol, smoked cigarettes and partied all night.

“ For collegians, as well as for their elders, the 1920s were an age of hero worship, and many of these heroes substantially influenced men’s fashion of the day.” (DISCovering U.S. History). Because of all the new and upcoming sports most of the men left the formal daily attire for the athletic clothing for the first time. “ The most distinctive looks of the decade were of flappers and sheiks. Flappers were generally young women who bobbed their hair(cut it short).

The Roaring Twenties began in the 1920s. It was known as the Modern Age because it brought changes and innovations. The Roaring Twenties took place right after World War I. Millions of people died and it was a horrible event. Soldiers returned and everyone went through a hard time. People wanted to forget this catastrophic event so when they returned they tried to forget the past and live the moment. Many wanted to to enjoy themselves, they began to value convenience and leisure over hard work and denial. World War I brought changes. People started to drink, party, and enjoying life. However, the 1920s was not only butterflies and rainbows. It was a really hard time for farmers, women, African Americans, and immigrants.

A flapper was a young woman with short hair, short shirts, who drank and said unlady like things. Two important periods in the 1920s are the Jazz age, and Prohibition. As I stated, New dances were formed such as the Charleston, the cake walk, the black bottom, and the flea hop. After

There is a controversial debate about the 1920s, whether it was “roaring” or whether is was destitute. In the perspective of some historians, the 1920s brought a rapid increase in urbanization and boom in the economy, however, these historians fail to see the evident terrors that the 1920s brought. The positive uproar on the 1920s did not stand a chance against the rising negative roar of residential schools, the Stock Market Crash, and credit debt. Due to these tragic events, 1920s was brought a dark and negative atmosphere rather than one of contentment.

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)