1920s Fashion Research Paper

“The 1920s represented a time of social change.”(#2 History.com/Rosenberg). This era took a bold step forward with fashion. “For women, short bobs became fashionable” because “dancer Irene Castle was one of the first to decide to bob in 1915.” “Many famous persons followed.”(#3 vintagedancer.com/Sessions) Shorter skirts also became popular because “shorter hemlines made it easier to drive cars and move quickly.”(#4 bellatory.com/Monet) These types of clothing would have never allowed in previous decades.(#5 www.thefinertimes.com/Nash)

Flappers are compared to young girls between ages 13-30, there was a big influence and change of a woman in 1920. Girls where whatever pleases them and others. The amount of makeup worn is increasing every season. Flappers showed women and young girls that there is no problem acting and doing what men do. Young woman today are examples off from the flappers, which is changed how our American society is looking at towards today’s young

Flappers were a social event that shaped the 1920’s. Flappers symbolized independence for women who didn't want to be like their mothers. Flappers introduced fashion trends in the 1920s when they cut their hair short and shortened the length of their

Not only did the flappers affect how they act but how the women dressed as well. Flappers developed women to start to wear short dresses from their shoulder to their knees (Cellania). They began to wear a close-fitted bead cap that was very authentic, if they did not want to wear a cap, they would tie around a satin belt or scarf and make it into a headband (Trasko). Back then the shorter the hair the better. Women cut their hair into what we know is called the “bob”.

Flappers finding a new style trend making other women furious! Flappers being very rebellious in dressing differently and standing out from the rest of the women.

The way everyone presents themselves in the 1920s by dressing as chosen and fashion styles, people show this by each gender having their own style of clothes. One of the roles for a female is flappers who are independent females. At night they dressed up to go out to nightclubs in dresses and high heels and crazy fashion styles. Flappers also changed there hair style to be different and act out such as Jordan Baker said “You’ve dyed your hair since then”(Fitzgerald 43). Jordan had no idea who the girl was because she changed her hair so much that she couldn’t be recognized by the guests at Gatsby's party.. This shows how a flapper style is over the top with not staying the same and changing styles a lot. During the age of the flapper, females

In the 1920s, women’s fashion and how they were seen were changing. The hemlines rose above the knee, where as before it would reach below their ankles. Having a “boyish” look with “bobbed” and “shingle” haircuts, were really popular in the 1920s. With this new look it showed that women became freer and were equal to men. Many women became flappers who lived non- conformist lives. These women did not follow the traditional views of women. People thought they were immoral and wild. They wore heavy makeup and perfume, used inappropriate language, wore revealing clothing, smoked cigarettes and drank alcohol. Many disapproved of this lifestyle, but it allowed women to start expressing themselves. This movement affected me. The fashion made me feel like I was about to express myself. I felt free in some way and I thought changes were about to happen to the views of women. Flappers were significant since they were showing

Flappers were a new revolutionary type of woman that came about in the early 1920s. Daughters of women that fought for suffrage and equal rights, they had no interest in politics, and even less in the issue of ´social norms´. Girls from well of families drank alcohol, smoked cigarettes, and took part in ´petting parties´. They cut their hair in bobs and wore short skirts that went up above the knee, Which at the time was socially unacceptable. Many people were appalled by the ways of the flapper, some even taking the case of immodesty to court. But the flapper movement would not be stopped, and would pave the way for the modern woman.

The fashionable flapper remained throughout the 20s, until the craze faded away with the oncoming 30s. The fads and rages of the flappers left an impression on Americans for years to come. These radical women, who were considered immoral and distasteful, remain symbolic of the famous Roaring 20s.

Flappers were women of the new decade who were known to assert themselves in society and began to create their own identities. They started to drink and smoke in public, and talked about sex openly, all of which were highly frowned upon during this time. While smoking, a woman might wear a Turkish-inspired “smoking suit” along with a turban. They began cutting their hair shorter into bobs, which was often considered boyish. Fashion designer Coco Chanel and actress Louise Brooks helped to popularize this look. The style became the staple hairstyle of the flapper. Aspects of menswear were also inserted into women’s fashion, with looks such as tailored vests and pants, but were prohibited in some areas. This boyish look was often referred to as the “garconne” look.

She was given the name ‘Flapper’. Flappers were the new and improved version of the independent, futuristic woman. But, rather subversively, many from the 20s would disagree; saying they were more accurately known as the downfall of mankind. Either way, flappers had unique look, characterized by their short dresses, bobbed hair, long necklaces, silk stocking, and excessiveness in every other aspect of fashion ("The 1920s." gale). Often times, they were even seen smoking cigarettes, which were renamed "torches of freedom" to symbolize the new beginning women were creating for themselves (Digital History). As they passed the time of their debut, flappers became commonly known for reputing all orthodox norms originally associated with their gender. Prior to the flapper movement women wore ankle length skirts and dresses, gloves on Sundays, and hats covering their long hair. Now, even the old swimsuits were being replaced by the new one piece swimsuit. An excerpt from a 1922 newspaper article titled Flappers Upheld By This Minister states, “The short dresses of the young girls commonly called flappers have almost become the usual thing now, and have lost much of the suggestiveness they were said to have at first. The practice has lost much of the element of newness which offends our naturally conservative selves. That is where most of our horror at

While the women in the 1920s wore, lose and provocative clothing for the time. The fashion change in the 1920s was said to be caused by a specific genre of music, jazz. Jazz gave way to new styles

A flapper was a fashionable young women who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, and listened to jazz. During the 1920s the social norms for women fashion was to wear long modest dresses and long hair. Women also got the right to vote when the 19th amendment was ratified. This was a time of newfound independence for women. many women had taken on new jobs during World War I and weren't ready to give up their independence.

Thanks to Coco Chanel, the iconic flapper image most closely associated with the roaring twenties came about. The flapper and flapper image didn’t actually come to be until around 1926 and even then was only in style for about three years. Typical flappers were women who appeared to have a bold attitude and were independent women who didn’t adhere to the previously innocent housewife image. A flapper usually had a bob haircut, a shorter than average dress, a flat chest, wore tons of make-up, drank illegal alcohol, smoked with a long cigarette holder, exposed her limbs and danced the Charleston. This was a drastic change from the typical American housewife to the reckless rebel. The flapper dresses stressed above the knee hemlines and construed straight, sleek shapes. This was the first time in centuries women’s legs were being seen in a garment. (1920s Fashion 1) Flappers loved to jazz up their costume and even their image. Many flappers’ dresses were adorned with jewels and intricate beading. The main object of the flapper image was to appear almost boyish rather than looking feminine. (1920s clothing 1)

The 1920s was a period of change and reform in many things ranging from entertainment, consumerism, and fashion. Fashion, one of the greatest changes in the 1920s was influenced by designers such as Coco Chanel, Jean Patou, Clara Bow, also known as the “It Girl” all influenced fashion for both women and men in the 20s. Previously, women had to behave polite and modestly and had to wear long dresses down to the ankles. But some women started to go past those social boundaries that were set by society. These women would go to speakeasies and smokes in public. The women who did these things are referred to as flappers. Men and some women saw flappers as a disgrace and were disgusted by their way of living. Slowly, as the years began to pass, women such as Coco Chanel, Jean Patou, and Clara Bow came into the fashion and entertainment industry changing the fashion and women’s ideas.