The Victorian Era’s style of clothing soon gave way to the less restrictive look in the 1920s. Hair, makeup, clothes, and shoes drastically changed. Gone were the days of enhancing figures, and in came straight-cut dresses and short bobs.
As for men, they got custom-fit suits paired with new accessories.
The Jazz Age had a set of trends all its own.
So come take a look and get some vintage fashion inspo:
1. Thank the 1920s for your cardigans and sweaters
The 1920s was the decade that gave rise to sweaters.
Men and women went for both pullovers and button-down styles to stay warm during the winter, with the most popular colors being maroon and navy.
2. Custom-fit suits for every occasion
It didn’t matter if it was for work, a party, or a sporting event. Men had custom suits for just about every occasion.
The 1920s had men spending on custom clothes made from wool or wool tweed. Pants were wool-based flannel.
They would choose from a single or double-breasted jacket with three or four buttons.
Slim fitting and neutral colors were the looks of the decade.
3. Women had corsets and reducers to make themselves look slimmer
The 1920s saw the rise of flapper dresses which hung loose and straight, but corsets were still popular in the 1920s. A corset would enhance a woman’s figure, making hips and bellies look smaller.
But the decade also saw men turn to reducers to slim their figures. One ad even proclaimed: “Reduce your flesh exactly where desired by wearing Dr. Walter’s famous medicated reducing rubber garments for men and women. Cover the entire body or any part. Endorsed by leading physicians.”
4. Women’s cloche needed a certain style of hair
The cloche got its name from its shape; “cloche” is French for “bell.”
Women in the 1920s had to have a bobbed hairstyle to be able to wear these tight-fitting hats worn low on the forehead.
Women would accessorize as they saw fit, wearing the hat in any season with the only difference being the material from which it was made.
5. Swimwear got more daring
The 1920s saw women revealing more skin when they’d go to the beach or the local pool. Arms and half of their thighs were now bared, though some still wore stockings. It was a far cry from the heavy bathing costumes worn in the decades prior.
6. Men had an assortment of hats
Men had a lot of choices when it came to hats. They were a must-have in the 1920s so different styles were available for every season.
The summer saw men going for straw boaters, Panamas, longhorns, and flat-style caps made of linen.
And as soon as it got colder, bowlers, derbies, and fedoras were the choice for the gentlemen of the decade. They even matched colors for each season. Lighter colors for warm weather, and darker ones for the cold.
7. Women went for shorter hair
The Victorian era was all about long hair and that went on until the 1920s.
Then the new look of shorter hair became a symbol of independence.
Not all beauty parlors were on board with this scandalous trend though. So women turned to barbers.
Their newly cropped bobs and shingle cuts would be decorated with jewelry and fancy headpieces.
8. Knickerbockers for both men and women
A shirt and tie were all they needed for a relaxed, comfortable ensemble that looked good for casual occasions.
9. Art Deco was the new inspiration
The Art Deco style of the early 20th century was a direct reaction to the opulence of the Victorian age. Tasteful simplicity with sleek and streamlined shapes found their way into architecture, home decor, and fine art.
Fashion too centered on simplicity, with rich, colorfully-dyed fabrics and geometric shapes inspired by the Art Deco movement.
10. Men had their choice of luxe accessories
A fitted vest, a bow tie, or a pocket watch could be added as well. Men would even have colorful gloves and pocket squares just to stand out from the group.
11. Women went beyond “gendered” styles
Brassieres were worn to flatten their chests. Straight dresses that minimized curves were all the rage and women cut their hair short for a more androgynous look.
12. Fur coats, lots of fur coats
The Jazz Age saw wealthy individuals walking around in coats of mink, fox, sable, and ermine. Those who weren’t as rich went for raccoon, beaver, and buffalo furs. The cheapest fur was rabbit, squirrel, and even skunk.
Two-thirds of women in England owned a fur coat with raccoon coats being the more common choice at sporting events. It was the Great Depression in the United States that saw an end to the fad.
13. Clara Bow and the Cupid’s Bow
Makeup was commonly associated with sex workers and lower-class women before the 1920s. Thanks to the advent of motion pictures, people began desiring the look of actresses so much that stores began selling makeup for consumer use.
Actress Clara Bow, famous for her perfectly shaped pout, had women wanting dramatic-looking lips, specifically. The “Cupid’s bow” lip became a trend for women of the era.
14. King Tut inspired women to “walk like an Egyptian”
Dances such as the Charleston rose in popularity requiring women to buy and wear sturdy shoes. Closed-toed pumps with low heels with t-straps were popular for women in the 1920s.
But the opening of King Tut’s tomb in 1922 started a new look. “Egyptian” fashion was all the rage with women wearing “harem slides” complete with beads and embroidered leather, silk, satin, and velvet.
15. Flapper dresses allowed the middle class to look wealthier
The flapper and her dress came around in 1926. The dress was somewhat loose, eliminating curves while having shorter hemlines. Women’s knees were visible when they’d dance, and it was a decade that saw a lot of dancing!
It used to be difficult for a woman of average means to achieve the look of high fashion, but since flapper dresses were easier to make at home, women from the middle class finally got to wear dresses that made them look like their wealthier counterparts.
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