The Roaring 20s

The 1920s is my favorite era for so many reasons. One being the fashion, I adore the way the women dressed in the twenties; all of the pearls, beaded dresses, and headbands. The whole concept of prohibition and secret speakeasies is completely riveting to me. The twenties was a time where people really let loose, had fun, and lived life one moment at a time. I would easily give up all of the technology we have today to go back in time and live in the twenties.

"Au Revoir" By Georges Barbier

The Fashion

The women in the twenties were tired of stuffing their bodies into corsets so they wore

comfortable, loose fitting dresses that were practical and hastle-free. No corset needed, these dresses still created an illusion of thinness and elegance. Fun fact: Coco Chanel was the first designer to out the corset and change the way women dressed. These flattering dresses were usually not fitted at the waist but sometimes at the hips. They came in materials such as: lace, velvet, and chiffon. The usually had intricate detailing with beads, sequins, fringe, and other embellishments. With these beautiful dresses women wore accessories. Headbands with flowers, beads, sequins, feathers and more, were commonly worn to match the dress. I neck of pearls was the norm at the time, it created the illusion of length and it accentuated the collar bones. Wealthier women would often ware extravagant shoulder wraps, usually make of fox or mink fur. As far as shoes go, low heels with a strap were easy to dance in, yet fashionable at the same time. Along with the abrupt change in trends, women chopped off their long hair and started to wear it in a bob.

An example of flapper fashion from Decade Fashion

The Way of Life

The twenties were all about letting loose and doing the unspeakable. In this era women started to do things that were unexpected or considered unladylike. These ladies had had enough, they wanted to be independent and confident. Fun fact: applying makeup -- specifically lipstick, was considered sexy. The term "Flapper Girl" didn't just mean a dancer in a speakeasy, it stood for a women who wanted to live their life in freedom. Webster describes "Flapper Girl" as: 

"a "new breed" of young women in the 1920s who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, listened to jazz, and flaunted their disdain for what was then considered acceptable behavior. Flappers were seen as brash for wearing excessive makeup, drinking, treating sex in a casual manner, smoking, driving automobiles, and otherwise flouting social and sexual norms."

The way these ladies lived was taboo at the time, but soon enough it caught on and the way people looked at life was completely changed. If you're wanting more intel about the marvelous fashion in the 1920s check out All About Fashion blog.

Image courtesy of All About Fashion

I have to say this has been my favorite post to write and research about. Let me know if you want more decade fashion in the comment section below. It's been fun! Until next time...

xoxo,

Stella