1920s fashion trends

Fashion Trends

"1920s fashion trends were influenced by two revolutions of the decade: The birth of the independent woman free to do and dress as she pleased, and America’s growing role as a global economic leader post WWI."

The 1920s known as the joyful decade even they refer to is as “The Roaring ’20s” it was an exciting time of industrial, political and cultural growth. The 1920s fashion trends gave women the liberty to wear  drop waist dresses and showing leg above the knee, cutting their hair short and dressing like a boy! in fact it was the first time women were allowed to do so and wear such dresses. 

DROP WAIST DRESSES

The Trend : 

Designed with a horizontal line cut across the body below the hips, instead of at your natural waist. Because the drop waist falls below the hips, it creates the allusion of a lengthened torso and makes your body appear longer and leaner.

History :

The drop waist dress represents the freedom of the 1920s itself. According to Fashion-era.com, between 1920 and 1928 corset sales declined by two-thirds. As women shunned restrictive undergarments, the styles of their dresses loosened and allowed them to move with an ease that had never existed in fashion until then.

FUR COATS

The Trend :

Fur coats and fur trim on outerwear. Fox and mink furs were the most popular in the ’20s but the cream de la creme of all fur was the “silver fox” style, a luxurious blend of silver, grey and white with an exotic shine.

History :

 Fur became a must-have accessory in the 1920s because it represented the abundance and wealth of the times.Women wore coats of full fur or 1920s wrap coats with fur trim in mink or fox. For dinner and high-profile events, women wore fur stoles for a bit of stylish warmth to cover their bare arms and shoulders, skin that was being newly exposed to the world in the 1920s.

DECORATIVE HEADPIECES

The Trend :

Decorative headpieces embellished with sequins, crystals, gems and anything that glimmers and shines. Worn over the head (left) or as Egyptian style pieces across the forehead (right).

History :

The popularity of headpieces in the 1920s has to do more with the popular hairstyles of the era than anything else. Beginning in 1923, women wore their hair in short bobs called “shingle bobs” that were cut into a V-shape at the nape of the neck with either waves or spit curls at the sides.With shorter hair in place as a trend, the opulent, free-spirited woman saw all the more reason to show off her trendy hairstyle by wearing hairpieces for dancing the Charleston and wooing her lover with some shimmer!

FAUX PEARL NECKLACES

The Trend :

Faux pearl necklaces, worn in multiple strands at once.

History :

Coco Chanel introduced faux pearls in the 1920s as the perfect pieces to use for the “costume jewelry” look of the era. 1920s trends were influenced by one literally dressing “in costume” to fit with the decadent Art Deco fashions of the day.Costume jewelry like faux pearl necklaces were mass produced and readily available to the fashionable ladies of middle and upper classes. They could buy multiple styles of faux pearls to complete their “costume look.”

CLOUCHE HATS

The Trends :

Clouche style “bell shape” hats, made of felt material to fit snug to the shape of the head and designed with a small brim that covered the forehead and eyes.

The History : 

Clouche hats were particularly cutting edge in the 1920s because when wearing one, you were declaring to the world that you had a rockin’ bob since you wouldn’t be able to fit the hat over your head with longer hair.Clouche hats fit so snug because of their flexible felt material and bell shape — “clouche” literally translates to “bell” in French. The style was first invented by Parisian milliner  Caroline Reboux in 1908. The style caught on with the mainstream as more ladies chopped off their hair to embrace the androgynous airs of the era.

ART DECO STYLE DRESSES

The Trend: 

Art Deco style design dresses made with gorgeous materials and adorned with eye-catching embellishment.

The History:

Blossoming into mainstream popularity by 1925, the Art Deco movement was architecture’s and fashion’s attempt to imitate art in the construction of the modern world. The designs emphasized geometric lines with a futuristic feel.NYC’s Chrysler Building (built 1928-1930) is an example of Art Deco design in architecture.

Art Deco Dresses:

Art Deco style dresses are made with all the trimmings of a fabulous piece, but no matter the materials used, authentic Art Deco dresses contain the architecturally-fueled designs of the movement, consisting of rectangle, square or diamond designs.Dresses are so exquisite thanks to their intricate beading, sequins, crystals and faux gems. Art Deco dresses will often have silk or beaded fringe that stops at the knee.