Crazy Fashion Trends of the 1920s Flapper

1920s street-way couple, Courtesy of FIT

When most people think of the 1920s artful, they recollect of flappers, prohibition and Swell Gatsby. These might be authentic, but at that place is so much more to the decade than those hallmark pop-cultural references. Western society was just getting over World War I, and needed to found themselves in a fresh way. Styles needed to be more than simplistic and functional for the new type of woman.

The new era of the 1920s brought fun and jazz, Courtesy of Getty Images

People were fast-moving and wanted to start anew after the stupor of wartime. It was the Jazz Age and life was all about embracing modernity. This woman has gained the right to vote, she wants to go out dancing and she wants to be seen equally equal to her male person counterpart. Similarly to athleisure today, Women as well started wearing sportswear every bit their daywear. This was already common amongst menswear, withal, womens-vesture somewhen caught up to the comfort craze. Designer Jean Patou popularised the lawn tennis style look that was fashionable on and off the courts. This sportswear trend translated into an obsession with health (or the image of information technology). Bath scales became available for domestic purchase for the starting time time, exercise became popular, and suntanned skin was the image of health and wellness.

1920s tennis players, Courtesy of Wikimedia

This decade tin can hands be defined by art deco. It was all about geometry. Strict lines, industry and modernity were in vogue. Compages, style and all forms of art all took this aesthetic element into account. This is articulate from stream-lined silhouettes to bold, geometric prints. This silhouette was known as the "le garçonnes" style – this is the straight, columnar silhouette that is common to encounter in well-nigh images from the time.

1920s street-mode, Courtesy of Vintage Everyday

In the early 1910s, manner designer Paul Poiret wanted mode to become creative movement. This was not a common thought process at the time as fashion was commerce and luxury oriented. Poiret was once a dancer and was theatrical past nature. He introduced harem pants in his collections, staged large scale shows and required guests to make it to his lavish parties in costume. Movement and exoticism were paramount. This contributed to the 1920s aesthetic immensely every bit fashion needed to exist comfortable to trip the light fantastic (and just generally motion) and was inspired by far away lands and high art concepts.

Designs by Paul Poiret, Courtesy of Way Your Man

Egyptomania was all the rage at this point. The tomb of King Tutankhamun was discovered, and the aesthetics of the ancient people became stylish. This related to use of metallics, bold jewel tone colours (blackness, yellow, cerise, deep blues), embroidery and heavy beading embellishments.

Cinema also brought along the spread of Eastern aesthetics to the Western civilization (and vice versa). Guild women in the West began to conform the traditional qipao equally a glamorous garment. The chinoiserie trend in general became a popular way to dress within the West as women in major Chinese cities similar Shanghai began adapting western prints, hairstyles and garments into everyday wear.

The first designer most remember of for this time period is Coco Chanel. She popularised styles that women could article of clothing comfortably running around the city or going to work. As they started inbound the workforce more, women needed pieces to conform the demanding lifestyle. She wanted article of clothing to exist practical for working or traveling. Her revolutionised thought process promoted minimalism and style without bells and whistles. Yous tin also give thanks her for the little black dress (said to be inspired past Chanel's french maid'south uniform).

Coco Chanel – the iconic modern woman who designed clothes meant to be worn in everyday life, Courtesy of Wikimedia

The way icon of the decade was Josephine Baker. She was an entertainer who eventually became the face of everything. She was sensual, heavily embellished and only iconic. She was a black woman who moved to France from the still segregated The states to become a french icon within the night-club and celebrity scenes. She was the poster-child to almost any product within France and inspired all women of the nation to be fashionable and daring. Her banana skirt phase costume remains a defining piece of the era.

Josephine Baker, Courtesy of CMG Worldwide

Myths

At that place are many myths when it comes to the 1920s style. This is due to costume designers oftentimes embellishing what the aesthetics of the decade truly were. Many movies used modern ideologies of style ingrained into costumes. Then don't trust the movies!

Dresses were non the mini dresses we may movie. They were about mid-dogie length in the kickoff half of the decade, which was definitely considered shocking. Past 1927, they barely covered the knees which was even more insane (knees were non shown in mainstream day-wear until the 1950s). Also, fringe was not actually used very often!

Long gloves often did not happen in evening situations. Shoes were very low heels – they were non higher than shoes in earlier decades. Heels were short, curved in a specific shape and thick heeled with a single strap across the top of the human foot.

So, let'due south talk corsets. Undergarments remained important in the 1920s. Corsets were still worn, but without boning. They had elastic shaping panels instead – flattening the silhouette instead of accentuating the waist equally slim, flat bodies were preferred. Not anybody wore this new course of corset: if a woman had the desired silhouette, she would already exist seen as fashionable, and didn't need to wear one. The demand for shape-wear seems somewhat giddy as article of clothing was e'er loose-fitting and had a drop waist. The shape-habiliment was generally for flattening the chest.

There were really very few real flappers – there was a deco-revival in the 1970s that accentuated the idea and popularity of the flapper. The few flappers there really were, were daring women who shocked and were even seen as obnoxious in certain crowds.

Flappers of the 1920s, Courtesy of Getty Images

Here are pieces that are inspired past the trends of the daring 1920s era:

Daywear

1. Chanel 2. Button iii. Zues + Dione 4. Chanel 5. Chanel 6. Marni 7. Sensi Studio 8. Chanel

When we think daywear in the 1920s, we think Chanel. Classic sportswear pieces come up together for an effortless look that is great for any weather or occasion.

Evening

1. Haute Hippie 2. Miu Miu three. Maddalena Marconi iv. Marni 5. Bottega Veneta 6. Bottega Veneta 7. Cartier viii. Manolo Blahnik

Cocktail hour never looked so shiny. This Haute Hippie beaded wearing apparel is the ideal 1920s silhouette and length, all the same emits modernity. Playing upward the sparkle gene with varying accessories creates a layered and sophisticated expect.

1. Valentino 2. Chanel 3. Chanel 4. Tory Burch 5. Biba half dozen. Georg Jenson 7. Lanvin 8. Hermès

Inspired past Daisy's wait from Great Gatsby, this look is an elevated evening dream. The Valentino gown emits pure glamour and is elevated by Chanel, Hermès and Lanvin jewellery. Elements of playfulness are every bit important in this look so the Biba play a joke on-fur stole adds the fun cistron.

Chinoiserie

ane. Shanghai Tang two. Stuart Weitzman 3. Hermès 4. Etro 5. Van Cleef & Arpels half-dozen. Shanghai Tang 7. Prada 8. Marni

This iconic aesthetic screams for Shanghai Tang. The silk dress looks straight from vintage Shanghai and the more than modern components of the luxe jewellery and accessories make the look feel rich while all the same emulating the 1920s.

Sources:

Historic Shanghai, The Ultimate Fashion History, Marie Claire, FIT