Fabulous Fashions of the 1920s

The cloche hat also had its own secret code. Pay attention to the styles with ribbons. If there was a bow, it meant the wearer was single

The cloche hat also had its own secret code. Pay attention to the styles with ribbons. If there was a bow, it meant the wearer was single. A knot meant she was married. An untied ribbon showed that the girl had given her promise of love.

The style in the 1920s was “boyish.” Women’s short hairstyles helped create the look. So did the clothes. Dresses were cut straight, with low waistlines or none at all. The shoulders were broader. The bust was pushed in. Womanly curves disappeared in these new shapeless fashions.

In fact, the average person did not have the money to buy all that he or she wanted. So the concept of credit was introduced. Buying now and paying later was very popular. It was also the beginning of an unstable economy.

The cloche hat also had its own secret code. Pay attention to the styles with ribbons. If there was a bow, it meant the wearer was single. A knot meant she was married. An untied ribbon showed that the girl had given her promise of love.

Ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen’s tomb was discovered in 1922. People became fascinated with all things Egyptian. There were clothes and shoes with hieroglyphics. Women wore Cleopatra earrings, snake bracelets, and scarab-shaped jewelry. There were even “mummy” powder compacts.

The discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb resurrected a style that had been dead for thousands of years. Inspired by King Tut’s gold funerary mask, women enjoyed looking like ancient royalty.

Flappers were known for their fashion. They were also known for some bad behavior. They drank alcohol, smoked cigarettes, and applied makeup on in public instead of going to the ladies’ room.

In the 1920s, it was fashionable to wear a different outfit for day, afternoon, and evening. Women would change clothes several times a day. The hemline indicated which outfit was for which time of day.

Not everybody liked the bob. Some people thought short hair meant the women were risqué, or indecent. As a result, some employers fired workers with bobbed hair. Some husbands divorced their wives. Preachers spoke about it. Parents complained that they could not tell their daughters from their sons.