The trend towards more lightweight fabrics such as the crepes, silks and lighter satins seen during the 1920s continued into the '30s, although clothes once again became slightly more structured in form. Hats were worn over one eye over sleek straight hair, and day dresses rose about 10 inches off the ground. Nina Ricci-style fur collars and narrow belted tweed jackets worn with brooches were popular.
The more casual and emancipated mood, reflecting the feeling of relaxation after the restriction of war, encouraged sportier dressing and trousers for women became more mainstream. As people once again started to travel, the 1930s saw a renaissance in the use of vibrant colour.
As in all eras, fashion was also closely linked to the art movements of the time. For example, Elsa Schaparelli's innovative designs drew heavily on the surrealist movement. She commissioned some of the best artists of the period such as Salvador Dali, Jean Cocteau and Christian Berard to design fabrics and embroideries for her.
French designer Madeleine Vionnet developed and popularized evening dresses cut on the bias to flatter the body's curves. To get this fluid movement, she dispensed with corsets and cut across the grain of the material to enable it to flow and cling into the folds and drapes.