
1920's Fashion - Norma Shearer, Movie Star
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1920's Fashion History Facts: Fast Fact Sheet
Fast, fun facts and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
about 1920's
Fashion history of women.
What were the names of 1920's Fashion
Designers?
The
names of the most
Famous
1920's Fashion
designers included Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel,
Jeanne Lanvin, Elsa Schiaparelli, Sonia
Delauney, Jean Patou, Madeleine Vionnet,
Florrie Westwood, Norman Hartnell, Hilda
Steward and Victor Stiebel.
Who were the
1920's Fashion Icons?
The 1920's Fashion icons included
Hollywood movie stars such as Norma Shearer,
Joan Crawford, Clara Bow, Louise Brooks,
Marie Provost, Marlene Dietrich, Gloria
Swanson and Colleen Moore. Other Fashion
icons included Zelda Fitzgerald, Josephine
Baker, other celebrities and members of
royalty.
What were main
1920's Fashion trends that characterized the
era?
The main 1920's Fashion trends for women
were:
●
Short Flapper style clothes that
provided freedom of movement
●
Striking Art Deco designs
●
Cloche hats and bobbed hairstyles
● The
boyish 'garconne'
look and adoption of male clothing
●
Casual
styles for day wear as worn by Norma
Shearer in the photo
●
Fun, fringed flapper dresses or
glamorous silk gowns for evening attire
1920's Fashion for Women: The
Roaring Twenties and the Jazz Age
1920's Fashion attracted unprecedented publicity
from the movie studios that publicized pictures and photographs of
their famous movies stars who were idolized by millions of women who
wanted to emulate the clothes worn by their idols. These women
became the most influential of all the fashion icons of the era and
their eager fans followed the latest trends and fashion styles. The
exuberant and unconventional celebrities challenged the traditional
styles worn by women by
wearing short skirts, unrestricted clothes and make-up. Colleen
Moore, a famous movie star of the era described the 1920's Fashion
worn by the flappers as smart and sophisticated, with an air of
independence and who were so casual about their looks and
clothes and manners to be almost slapdash. 1920's Fashion
represented modernism and women who were determined to free
themselves of the shackles of the Victorian era.
Pictures
of Famous 1920's Fashion
The photographs and pictures of the 1920's Fashion illustrate the hairstyles,
make-up, fashion and clothes worn by the Hollywood movie stars
of the 1920's - Clara Bow, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Colleen Moore, Bessie Smith, Gilda Gray and Bebe Daniels.
1920's
Fashion
History Facts for Women: The Short Bob
Hairstyle
The short bob hair cut and style symbolized the
independent and modern woman of the 1920's. There were several
different bob hairstyles including the 'Dutch boy' bob, the Eton
Crop, the 'Marcel wave', the Castle Bob and the 'Shingle' bob cut
that contributed to
1920's Fashion.
Short Bob Hairstyles The
'Dutch boy' bob: The
'Dutch boy' hairstyle was straight, slick and smoothly
edged to just below the chin line and featured bangs.
The
Eton Crop: The Eton
crop a very short, slicked-down version of the bob
style, famously worn by Josephine Baker.
The
'Marcel wave': 'Marcelled'
hair was a popular style for women's hair in the 1920s
achieved by means of heated curling irons that could
produce controlled waves quickly. The 'Marcel wave' was
a waved version of the bob hairstyle.
The
Castle Bob: The
Castle Bob, named after Irene Castle, was another
version of the short cut bob, that featured with little
curls on the fringe and at the bottom.
The
'Shingle' bob cut: The
'Shingle' bob cut featured a look of rows of waves and
layers over a closely shorn neck (resembling the row of
sloping shingles used on a roof).
Short Bob Hairstyles
1920's
Fashion
History Facts for Women
The modern, seasonal fashion cycle
was established in the 1920s and continues to dominate
the fashion industry today. The following fact
sheet contains interesting facts and information on 1920's Fashion
Facts about
the 1920's Fashion for Women
1920's
Fashion History Fact 1:
Trends: The trends and styles
were highly influenced by art movements in the 1920's -
Surrealism, Impressionism and Art Deco with strong
colors and geometric shapes that conveyed the "modern"
look. The Hollywood movies, the glamorous movie stars,
the changing role of women, the rise in Consumerism and
mass advertising during the prosperous period of the
Roaring Twenties saw a fashion boom in America.
1920's
Fashion History Fact
2: Mannequins: The use of
mannequins became widespread during the Roaring Twenties
in order to show women how to combine and accessorize
the new fashions.
1920's
Fashion History Fact 3:
Fabrics: Expensive fabrics such as velvet,
silk and furs were favored by the wealthy. Cotton and wool were in
abundance, and cheaper. Synthetic fabrics such as viscose rayon,
"artificial silk", and jersey were also used. Fabrics became more
elaborate during the 1920s and were often printed with designs
reflecting Egyptian art.
1920's
Fashion History Fact 4:
Fasteners: The old fashioned method of
buttoning and lacing garments was replaced with easier, new
fasteners. Hooks and eyes, buttons, zippers or snaps were all
utilized to fasten clothing.
1920's
Fashion History Fact 5:
Rolled stockings: Flappers rolled
stockings below the knee, and used garters to keep them up.
1920's
Fashion History Fact 6:
Cloche Hat: The bell-shaped
cloche hat was a defining fashion statement in the
1920's. The name is derived from cloche, the French word
for "bell". Cloche hats were typically made of felt and
were designed to be worn low on the forehead. For
evening wear, Cloche hats were made from beads or lace.
By the end of the 1920s, it became fashionable to turn
the brims on cloche hats upwards.
1920's
Fashion History Fact 7:
Chemise / Camisole: The
chemise was a loose-fitting undergarment, that came to
be known as a camisole, which replaced the tight
fitting, constrictive corsets of the Victorian era.
1920's
Fashion History Fact 8:
Scarves: Scarves were another
'must have' fashion accessory in bold, striking Art Deco
designs. The scarf was rolled and tied around the head
just above the browline and knotted at
the side or the back of the head.
1920's
Fashion History Fact
9: Egyptian Styles: The discovery
of the fabulous tomb of Tutankhamen and the movies such
as Cleopatra starring Hollywood actress Theda Bara led
to the Egyptian style that influenced fashion and
make-up.
1920's
Fashion History Fact 10:
The 'Garconne'
look and Coco Chanel: The
boyish 'garconne'
look ("boy" with a feminine suffix) and adoption of male clothing
was introduced by fashion designer Coco Chanel and favored by movie
stars like Marlene Dietrich. The liberating androgynous styles were
daring and innovative. Coco Chanel is
credited with liberating women from the constraints of the "corseted
silhouette" and introducing sporty, casual chic to the modern women
of the era. Coco Chanel used male themes like sailors outfits and
mechanic's dungarees as inspirations for her fashions.
Men's sweaters were worn with a
belt around the waist, women wore tailored suits complete with shirt
and tie. Short knickerbockers and baggy
trousers also became in vogue enabling women to enjoy comfortable
sports clothing for golf and and bicycling.
Coco Chanel is also famous for
popularizing the 'little black dress'.
 Continued...
Facts about
the 1920's Fashion for Women
Facts about
the 1920's Fashion for Women
The following fact sheet continues with facts about 1920's Fashion
Facts about
the 1920's Fashion for Women
1920's
Fashion History Fact
11: Art Deco
fashions: Art Deco fashions came into vogue using
strong primary colors and sharp, geometric shapes to
convey the "modern" look. Art Deco clothes also inspired sleek,
streamlined forms to convey elegance and sophistication
in women's fashions.
1920's
Fashion History Fact
12: Knickerbockers: Amy Johnson borrowed the
knickerbockers or jodhpurs trouser fashion from men as a comfortable
and practical form of dress for female aviators of the era. The
avant-garde style of knickerbockers, loose-fitting breeches gathered
at the knee, were adopted as a fashion statement by women, often
accompanied by a shirt and tie.
1920's
Fashion History Fact 13:
Bathing
Costumes: Bathing costumes or suits became skimpier
in the 1920's. Necklines receded and arms were exposed
as were legs up to mid-thigh as shown in the picture of
1920's Hollywood movie star, Marie Provost. The
swimsuits consisted of a long top that covered shorts,
matching stockings were worn to complete the outfit. The
most common fabric was a jersey material. Necklines
receded from around the neck down to around the top of
the bosom. The development of new fabrics allowed for
new varieties of more comfortable and practical swimwear
in the 1920's.

1920's
Fashion History Fact 14:
Coats: Wrap coats with fur
accessories were very popular. The picture on the right
is of the famous movie star and fashion icon Louise
Brooks wearing a typical wrap coat with a fur collar and
cuffs. Coats typically closed with just a single center
button wrapped over to the right.
The shoulders of 1920's
coats were cut broad with voluminous arm holes, which
intensified the look of ‘shapelessness'. Capes and fur
coats (for the wealthy) were also in fashion. Real fur
coats included mink. fox and seal fur. A fashion trend
for both men and women were full length raccoon coats.

1920's
Fashion History Fact 15:
Shoes: The shoes of the 1920s
featured closed toes and heels and focused on straps and
ornamentation. There were three basic types of shoes:
ankle straps (Mary Janes), pumps (no straps) and
T-straps.
1920's
Fashion History Fact
16: Galoshes: Rubber overshoes
called galoshes were one of the odd fashion trends, or
fads, of
the 1920's. The galoshes had metal buckles, but they
were rarely used. The galoshes were spread as wide as
the tongue permitted, allowing the flaps to swish as the
wearer walked. The term "Flapper" is believed to have
derived from the rubber galoshes that "flapped" when
walking.
1920's
Fashion History Fact
17: Make-up /
Cosmetics: Before the 1920's, make-up and
cosmetics were not accepted in American society as it
was associated with loose living. This changed in the
Roaring Twenties as women copied the make-up and
cosmetics used by movie stars.
Women plucked
their eyebrow, used eye pencil and applied kohl to their
eyelashes, used lipstick to create an exaggerated lip
line, nail polish and applied face powder and rouge
(they also applied rouge to the knees!).

1920's
Fashion History Fact 18:
Jeanne Lanvin, Fashion Designer:
Jeanne Lanvin (1867 - 1946) was known for her
youthful, modern clothingand fashion styles that gave women freedom
of movement. The Lanvin trademark was light, clear,
floral colors and the use of complex trimmings and
beadings. She was famous for her “robe de style,” the
chemise and the Breton suit.
1920's
Fashion History Fact 19:
Robe de Style: The form and
shape of the Lanvin 'robe de style' dress had a rounded
neckline and a slightly fitted bodice with a full skirt.
The Lanvin robe de style dress had a wide waist
band, that sat lower than the natural waist.
1920's
Fashion History Fact
20: Chemise dresses: The chemise
dress was synonymous with the 1920's flappers. The
chemise-style were unfitted, and resembled a
straight tube shape which fell in a straight line almost
to the ankle with thin spaghetti straps. The dresses
were simple as they had no darts, pleats or fitted
seams. Whilst the style of the chemise dress was simple
it was often adorned with sequins and beading. Panels
were added to the dress creating the handkerchief style
of hem.
1920's
Fashion History Fact
21: Haute couture: The term 'Haute
couture' refers to the fashion designers that create
exclusive and trend setting fashions. 'Haute couture'
also refers to the fashions created by the famous
designers. Clothes produced by Haute couture fashion
houses produce high quality, fashionable designs made
with expensive, often unusual fabric by the most
excellent dressmakers.
1920's
Fashion History Fact
22: Jean Patou,
Fashion Designer: Jean Patou (1880 - 1936) was a
French male fashion designer whose styles were
characterized by simplicity using clean lines and
particularly suited to outdoor fashion and women's
sportswear. He used geometric shapes and moved fashion
towards the natural and comfortable. Jean Patou was the
first fashion designer to popularize the cardigan. He
was famous for his daring sleeveless and knee-length
tennis dress that he designed for Suzanne Lenglen, the
legendary tennis champion.

1920's
Fashion History Fact
23: Elsa Schiaparelli, Fashion
Designer: Elsa Schiaparelli (1880 - 1936) was an
Italian fashion designer who became famous for her
series of sweaters featuring Surrealist "trompe l'oeil"
images. Trompe l'oeil means 'trick the eye' in French
and Elsa Schiaparelli used optical illusions in her
stunning fashion designs.
1920's
Fashion History Fact
24: Sonia Delaunay, Fashion Designer:
Sonia Delaunay (1885 - 1979) was an influential fashion
designer in the 1920's who used Art Deco and Surrealist
Poets as her inspiration. Sonia Delaunay created
stunning fabric designs using geometrical shapes of
squares, stripes, triangles and diamonds with bold
colors on what she called her 'poem-dresses'.
1920's
Fashion History Fact
25: Norman Hartnell, Fashion Designer:
Norman Hartnell (1901 - 1979) was an English fashion
designer who became the favorite of the social elite
including the British Royal family. His designs were
characterized by expensive and lavish embroidery that
created a highly luxurious effect. He opened his London
based couture house in 1923 and began his association
with the royal family during the 1930s.
1920's
Fashion History Fact
26: Madeleine
Vionnet, Fashion Designer: Madeleine Vionnet (1876 -
1975) was a French fashion designer who created sleek,
soft clothes and introduced the bias cut to 1920's
fashion.
The bias cut was a
technique for cutting cloth diagonal to the grain of the
fabric which enabled it to cling to the body whilst
moving with the wearer.
Madeleine Vionnet
styles were characterized by the handkerchief dress, the
cowl neck, and the halter top.

Facts about
the 1920's Fashion for Women
Facts
about
1920's Fashion: The
Roaring Twenties
For visitors interested in the history of
the Roaring Twenties, the Jazz Age and 1920's Fashion refer to the following articles:
1920's Fashion
The article on the
1920's Fashion provides
detailed facts and a summary of
clothing in the
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1920's Fashion
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