Popular Fashion For Women of the 1920s
Summary of 1920’s fashion for women defined the Jazz Age and the spontaneous, free-spirited era of the Roaring Twenties, when women gained their independence and mobility. The 1920’s fashion trends were the first longer, lower-waist dresses with more elaborate or feminine designs, the floating hairstyles, loose, haphazard fashion, the art Deco geometric motifs of the age and the wild, crazy fashion of flappers. The Art Deco era of fashion was defined by bold colors, bold, geometric shapes, bright, impractical, and crazy prints such as tulle, silk brocade, and brocade lace. Women wore chiffon, velvet, satin or Georgette, sometimes mixed and matched with other fabrics such as chenille, netting, crochet, zebra or even bamboo.
The fashion designs and fashions of the early twenties often focused on bright, cheerful patterns, bright colors, and short, simple styles. The “Lilith” was a popular name for young women at this time. Some of the more glamorous dress styles of this era included dresses like the sweetheart neckline, crisscrossing v-necks, the boat neckline, and the floor length, long gown. There was also the “v-neck,” in which the V-shaped neckline was accentuated with ruffles, bows, and buttons in the same material. Cuffed and shawl collar dresses were also popular, as were plaid patterns and ruffle tops.
Then in the twenties the “night owl” style emerged and gave way to more conservative, elegant clothing choices. There was a greater emphasis on layers, such as those that were worn by older women. Long lines and solid colors became more popular, as did the use of false hair, lace, ribbons and other embellishments. The “do” also began to make a return and consisted of eye-catching feather Boas, headbands, hair gems, and metallic jeweled accessories. The “popping crown” became an acceptable method of adding a bit of extra volume to the face and was worn especially in the winter when hair was usually thick and dark.