The First World War had a huge affect on society and people's attitude towards fashion. By then, it was unacceptable to wear too much jewellery or luxurious clothes, and a tendency towards a simpler and more sober silhouette was seen. Because material was scarce, skirt hemlines were raised and the military style was seen all-over. After the War, the fashion of simple styles continued but the 1920's was a more experimental period influenced by Art Deco and the Avant-Garde movement. Slowly but surely the attitude towards women was changing. Although not every woman had the right to vote until 1928, their contribution during the War had been acknowledged which helped free women from heavy, drab clothing in past years.
Although it's the 'flapper' costume that we associate with the 1920's, this fashion did not actually appear until the late 1920's. The fashionable flapper wore her hair shiny and short, wore make-up, smoked and either wore a simple dress or men's suits. Up until then fashion had been something for the affluent, but now it was easier for every woman to copy the simple dress regardless of their financial background.
- Wednesdays 20:25