fashion

Women's Fashion

In the 1920s, clothing changed in a big way along with women's rights in modern society. Madam Shops were in most towns in South England. Home dressmaking still remained widespread while the 'new fashions' increased everyday. Pantsuits, hats and canes gave women a sleek look without frills, and avoided the frequent changes in fashion. Dress patterns were available not only in high fashion magazines such as // Vogue //, but also in working class magazines including // Mabs //. There was an increased range of retail outlets where women’s fashions could be purchased. By turn of the twentieth century, department stores were established which showcased new fashions for a wide public. Beautiful coordinated and accessorized outfits were a feature of 1920's ladies fashions. Gabrielle 'Coco' CHanel became a huge icon in the twenties, and influenced the entire fashion industry from then on. Hats, shoes, stockings, handbags, dresses and jewelry all came together in harmony to create a unique and elegant style.

[|Picture Source] These two pictures illustrate the popular length of skirts worn by women, as well as common accessories. Such as, extravagent hats and canes. Throughout the 1920s, hats were very popular amongst both men and women, varying in style. Cloche hats became known in the eary 1900s, and became very popular in the 1920s. Cloche hats were tight-fitting, bell-shaped hats. They varied slightly in design and the cloche fashion continued to update as the twenties progressed. From having small, asymmetric brims, to the brims slowly disappearing by 1928.

media type="youtube" key="1pwG-kRi0-Y" height="364" width="445" [|Video Source] In this video, we learn about several fashion trends from the 1920s. It introduces us to the "Flapper" style, the rage of the twenties. "In the 1920s, a new woman was born. She smoked, drank, danced, and voted. She cut her hair, wore make-up, and went to petting parties. She was giddy and took risks. She was a flapper."  [|(JenniferRosenberg, "Flappers in the Roaring Twenties)] . Flappers were envied by all other women in the twenties. Everyone wished to be a flapper. The image that flappers achieved consisted of drastic changes in women's fashion. To some, this was found a bit shocking. However, they made an impact on fashion forever. 

[|Picture Source] Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel was not just a fashion designer. She was an icon in the fashion industry and her name still resonates as one of the top design houses, with Karl Lagerfeld being their top designer. Chanel made such a huge influence on fashion in the 1920s, in several ways. She did-away with corsets and created a more comfortable look for women, also showing them that it was okay to wear pants. This was completely unheard of before Chanel "reinvented" women's fashion. Coco was also very well-known for her accessories, such as pearls, hats, chains, gloves, flowers, and scarves. Throughout her career, Chanel had several boutiques in Paris and America, with a high number of employees working for her. Coco Chanel could never be forgotten in the fashion industry and her name will live on forever. 

[|Picture Source] Elsa Schiaparelli was the leading Italian fashion designer of the 1920s and 30s after Coco Chanel, her greatest rival. Although Elsa became more popular in the thirties, she still made an impact on late 1920s fashions, competing with Chanel. She was most known for her casual knitwear, also trying to produce more casual and comfortable fashions for women, like Chanel. Elsa became well-known as a prominent figure in the fashion industry throughout the late twenties, with some of her first designs being featured in // Vogue //. She launched a new collection of knitwear in 1927, featuring remarkably different sweaters. She worked on creating more sporty clothing lines for the everyday person. 