They were asserting their rights to make personal choices” (Zeits, 69). Women who lived in the United States, especially flappers, often faced misogyny and condescension, however, they managed to successfully construct a vigorous, independent women, who was soon to become the future of America. For centuries, women in America had been expected to wear long dresses that covered their knees, and tight corsets that extenuates one's waist, which provided an “inviting” hourglass figure. The constraining clothing that women wore depicted the way they were treated before the flappers.
The new fashions were called the flapper style and were worn above the knee and were adorned by beads and jewelry (document 4). The 1920s changed women's fashion for the better by allowing for more freedom in what they could wear. As for the flapper style, there was the idea that the modern woman was wearing this
Culture Trends in the 1920s The 1920s opened an economic recession followed by an influx of immigrants and cultural and racial tensions in the USA, which created an atmosphere of intolerance. The fear that people had toward the Germans and Communists spread even to the immigrants, which triggered a general increment in racism and nativism. A lot of Americans saw immigrants as a threat to stability, and they faced a lot of prejudice to protect the old stock Americans. Also, to restrict immigration the Ku Klux Klan reemerged.
Before the twenties, the traditional woman's lifestyle included wearing corsets and dropped layers of clothing. “In breaking away from conservative victorian values, flappers created what many considered the ‘new’ or ‘modern’ woman. As the common values of women were changing, their clothes were too. The rise of this new lifestyle started post world war I. “They found themselves expected to settle down
counterparts known as satchel purses, replaced clutches. The popularity of satchels increased during World War II, “when women needed to carry more things as they walked or rode public transportation to conserve gas for the war effort” . Beauty department during the 1930’s underwent a makeover. However, women still wore their hair cut nearly above their shoulders, now some dared to wear longer styles, inspired by glamorous Hollywood movie stars like Veronica Lake. Wavy hair was on of the most characteristic hairstyles of the decade – “women could freely wave their hair in many different ways: naturally, with the help of a variety of curlers, or with a professionally styled permanent” .
By going against the normal everyday appearance, flappers made a statement and forced the world to see women as individuals who were capable of anything. Over this
People saw actors and actresses in movies and immediately wanted to be like them. New trends were started by movie stars. They created new ways of fashion that inspired other people to be like them ("Mass Culture: Radio, Music, and the Movies."). Many different fashion fads were made throughout the 1900’s because of these Hollywood stars. Flappers were women who began showing more skin than they have before.
The fashion of the 1920 s is a reflection of peoples extravagant lifestyles and elevated thinking. It was an exciting time to be a woman because more freedoms and opportunities were available, not to mention woman gaining the right to vote . There were new patterns of clothing, bras,and smaller corsets not to mention that most of the clothing was made by the woman themselves. Through the years woman have stayed at home and not had much involvement in the society.
These women are known as flappers who would cut their hair short to fit the boyish figure that was so popular at that time. During the Second World War, the standard changed again. While the men were off fighting the war, society valued strong
In the 1920s fashion was a movement of freedom with flappers, bobbed hairstyles and using art as a fashion statement. “Fashion should be stylish and fun,” (Twiggy). In any decade fashion was a way of saying something. One of the women’s careers was being in the fashion industry.
Since women were less likely to find a husband because of the war, they became more independent. Women began to be stereotyped as people who lived recklessly. Women began to date without actually being committed. People cared more about when they could dance than when they could start a family. (Pop Culture Universe.
With their newfound freedom, these women expressed their liberation by abandoning the past traditions of their parents and grandparents Victorian era values. These women started cutting their hair short into a bob-like style. They tossed out the polonaise dress style for thinner, shorter, sleeveless, and low cut dresses. Women started wearing bold cosmetics on their faces. The style was seen as feminine, fun, and professional.
According to Debbie Sessions, women’s fashion in the 1930’s developed from boyish to feminine. According to the author, "The...square, drop-waist, high knee-length hem, and slightly...by 1933 and was replaced with a much more modest and form fitted style with an accentuated natural “high waist”, fitted hips, longer mid-calf or floor length hemline, high neckline, and wide shoulders." (Sessions) The ideal fashion for women during the 1930’s was long and feminine dresses with an exaggerated style. When women were at home, they wore simple house dresses.
In this aspect, the 1920s were one of the most influential decades in U.S. history because of the introduction of the "New Women". "New Women," or flappers, were young women who embraced the new ideas, freedoms, and modernism of the Roaring Twenties. Flappers wore new and popular clothing from the era. Their signature look was short "bob" hair, which represented their independence to men. A majority of flappers were women's suffrage activist.
The new-found freedom changed women’s attitudes to themselves, to men, marriage and to the family. The result of the change was liberating fashion in clothing and hairstyles. Before this, dress and hair were longer and modest. Now, bobbed hair was the rage ‘Hair was first bobbed, then shingled, and then Eton cropped in 1926-7.
