Fashion 1920 - 1930

World War II caused many changes in the fashion industry. After the War, Paris wasn't the global center of fashion like it used to be and mass-manufactured fashion became increasingly popular.

During the 1920s clothing styles officially entered the modern era of fashion design. The divide that had always existed between the high society and worker class was suddenly questioned in the West. A new young generation was born who fought against the existing differences. Women began to liberate themselves from constricting and uncomfortable gowns for the first time. They were open for casual and more comfortable styles like pants and shorter skirts, low waistlines, and revolutionary styles of the flapper era. Cloche hats without rims also became a key popular accessory.

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Peoples behaviour also seemed to characterize the 1920's.. Manners were less formal, clothes were more casual and younger people were free to live away from there parents.

Then, the girls rebelled, They smoked in public places, cut off their hair, wore make up, skirts went shorter and they went to parties un chaperoned.

Flapper in the 1920s was a term applied to a “new breed” of young western women who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, listened to jazz, and flaunted their disdain for what was then considered acceptable behavior. Flappers were seen as brash for wearing excessive makeup, drinking, treating sex in a casual manner, smoking, driving automobiles and otherwise flouting social and sexual norms.

Young men wore casual clothes too, they drank cocktails, the wealthier ones drove the best cars, sports clothing was a fashion statement.

Young women strived to be like the hollywood movie stars. Then came the eye make up trend. The 'vamped' look, making the eyes the focal point of the face. They were dark and intensely dramatic.

Womens dresses were flowing and bias cut. The bias cut was originally introduced by Madeleine Vionnet.

Undergarments began to transform after World War I to conform to the ideals of a flatter chest and more boyish figure. The womens rights movement had a strong effect on women's fashions. Most importantly, the confining corset was discarded, replaced by a chemise or camisole and bloomers, later shortened to panties or knickers. During the mid-twenties all-in-one lingerie became popular.

 A more masculine look became popular, including flattened breasts and hips, short hairstyles such as the bob cut. The fashion was bohemian and forthcoming for its age.

Teenage girls in Minnesota wear breeches and riding boots with men's neckties, 1924.

Knee length pleated skirts and dropped waists were still popular as everyday clothes in 1929.

Menswear

In the early twenties, men's fashion was characterized by extremely high waisted jackets, often worn with belts. Trousers were relatively narrow and straight (never tapered) and they were worn rather short so that a man's socks often showed. Trousers also began to be worn cuffed at the bottom at this time.

By 1925, wider trousers commonly known as "Oxford Bags" came into fashion, while suit jackets returned to a normal waist and lapels became wider and were often worn peaked.

Man in 1927 wearing a Panama Hat and buttoned waistcoat.