Instead, fashion embraced looser, more comfortable garments that revealed more of the arms and legs. This shift had started about a decade earlier, with hemlines rising to the ankle and the move from the S-bend corset to the simpler, columnar silhouettes of the 1910s. Men’s fashion also became less formal in everyday wear. The decade can be divided into two distinct fashion phases. Early on, changes were gradual, and there was some hesitation to adopt the new, more revealing styles. But by 1925, the public enthusiastically embraced the iconic looks of the Roaring Twenties, characterized by flapper dresses, cloche hats, and jazz-influenced styles. These trends continued to dominate fashion until the worsening global depression in 1931. Paris dictated fashion trends for both Europe and North America during the 1920s. Women’s fashion focused on freedom and comfort. Dresses were worn daily and featured a drop waist, with a belt around the low waist or hip, and skirts that fell anywhere from the ankle to the knee, but never higher. Day dresses had sleeves that ranged from long to mid-bicep and skirts that were straight, pleated, had a hank hem, or were tiered. Many women also adopted bobbed hairstyles, giving a boyish appearance. Fashion evolved alongside women’s changing roles in society, reflecting new ideas and attitudes. While older, conservative women continued to wear traditional dresses, younger women embraced sportswear and more progressive styles. The tubular dresses of the 1910s transformed into similar silhouettes but with shorter skirts that featured pleats, gathers, or slits for ease of movement. The most iconic trend of the Roaring Twenties was the flapper look, characterized by dresses that were practical and designed to flatten the bust rather than emphasize it. One of the key accessories of the 1920s was the cloche hat. In 1926, Vogue declared “The Bob Rules,” reflecting the influence of dancer Irene Castle, who had cut her hair just nine years earlier. This trend inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1920 short story, “Bernice Bobs Her Hair,” and numerous Vogue editorials throughout the decade. The bob hairstyle perfectly complemented the loose, straight silhouettes of the era. Vogue credited this new haircut with revitalizing the hat industry. The popularity of bobbed hair led to a surge in demand for new, stylish hats. The cloche hat and the bob hairstyle were essentially made for each other, creating a fashion craze that defined the decade.
(Photo credit: flickr.com/photos/vintage_women). Notify me of new posts by email.
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