1920s Fashion (Brownrigg)

1920s Fashion &
Culture
The Flapper
- A term applied to a new breed of young
women who wore short skirts, bobbed their
hair and listened to jazz
- They flaunted their disdain for what was
acceptable behaviour, and they wore lots of
makeup (which was previously associated with
prostitutes)
- They drank liquor, smoked, drove
automobiles, and treated sex in a casual
manner
- The first appearance of the word
and image came from the popular
1920 film 'The Flapper' staring Olive
Thomas.
- Flappers as a social group were
distinct from other 1920s fads in
many ways
http://youtu.be/
lFRG_B--1v8
http://youtu.be/
lFRG_B--1v8
- Flappers behaviour was considered
outlandish at the time and
redefined women's roles
- Women danced provocatively,
smoked cigarettes, went to jazz
clubs and drank alcohol, and
dated freely
- They attended "petting parties",
where "making out" was the main
attraction
- Flappers were associated
with a number of slang
words such as 'necker'
and 'junk'
- The flapper was a
significant challenge to
the traditional Victorian
gender roles
- They embraced
consumerism and
personal choice
Women's Fashion
- Women's fashion was breaking from tradition,
and there was a heavy French
influence,especially Chanel
- Flapper dresses were straight and loose,
leaving the arms bare and a dropped waistline
- Dresses fell just above the knee
- The trend was to have a more boyish figure,
there was movement way from the restrictive
corsets and hourglass figure of the earlier era
Hair
- Some new hairstyles came into fashion during
the 20s
- The Bob cut
- Eton cut
- Shingle bob
- Finger waving was a common way which
women styled their hair
Hats
- The main style of hat that became
very popular was the cloche hat
- The cloche is a fitted, bell-shaped
hat that worked well with the
bobbed haircuts of the time
- "Cloche" in French means "bell"
Undergarments
- Flappers did away with corsets and
pantaloons
- At the time, large chests were
regarded as a trait of
unsophistication
- Women would wear side-lacing bras
in an attempt to flatten their chests
- Undergarments in general became
lighter and less restrictive
Shoes
- The shoes of this era are
sturdy in appearance
- A distinguishing feature is
the "Louis" heel, also called
the tango, curved or Spanish
heel
- There were no stilettos, and
toes were always rounded.
Never pointed or squared
- The "Mary-Jane" and T-strap
styles were very popular
throughout the 20s
Jewelry
- Flappers were known for wearing long strings
of beads or pearls
- The 1920s fashion was also influenced by Asia
and Egypt
- Geometric (Art Deco) shapes were used in
many designs
Overall Appearance
- With the invention of metal lipstick
containers and compact mirrors, the "bee
stung" lips came into fashion, as well as
kohl-rimmed eyes and blush
- Originally, pale skin was considered most
attractive. Tanned skin became increasingly
popular after Coco Chanel showed off a tan
after holidays
- Women wanted to look fit, sporty and healthy
Men's Fashion
- After the war, men started to wear the short
jackets, which replaced the long "full dress"
tails of the past
- Men started wearing long, straight-legged
trousers that were cuffed
- Young men began to wear even wider legged
trousers, known as "Oxford bags" because
they were first worn by oxford students
Dance
- The flapper dance style was
considered shocking. Some
dances that became popular
were;
- The Charleston
- The Shimmy
- The Bunny Hug
- The Black Bottom
Music
- Jazz and band
music was very
popular with the
flappers for
dancing
http://youtu.be/07f0TPfNLnk
http://youtu.be/07f0TPfNLnk