The Timeless Charm of 1920s Fashion: A Style Guide

Key Takeaways

• The 1920s marked a significant departure from traditional fashion, with both men and women embracing new, bold styles.
• Flapper fashion played a pivotal role in the women’s fashion revolution, characterized by short hemlines, drop-waist dresses, and bold accessories.
• Men’s fashion became more relaxed but retained a sense of elegance with tailored suits and classic accessories like fedoras and suspenders.
• 1920s fashion costumes are still popular for themed events today, with plenty of options available for both men and women.
• Authentic 1920s clothing can still be found for sale, and modern retailers continue to draw inspiration from the styles of the era.

1920s Fashion for Men

At the end of World War I in 1918, the fashion for men in the 1920s was changed compared with the previous decades. The traditional slim tailored suit was slowly replacing its three-piece form with jackets that had less structure and trousers that were cut more broadly. New fashion ideas for the casual comfortable wear for the body, new materials and casual pullover sweaters, pants inspired from the athletes, the knickers became appropriate for leisure wear. Although men were still dressing formally in many situations, they adopted that trend from new influences such as jazz and mass media. Other fashionable pieces included wristwatches, leather shoes, fedoras, suspenders as common accessories.

Classic Suits and Formal Wear

However, some old fashion rules were forgotten, but men could not do without traditional suits for business and official ceremonies. New styles came up gradually in the three-piece suit as sack jackets with lesser padding were worn more often. Black and darker colors retained their status of being timeless, youthful, and smart, while lighter gray suits became popular as seasonal accessories for the summer and hot weather. Some styles of vests were replaced with others, such as going from double breasted vests to single breasted ones. Darker shades of colors also became popular   especially when it came to suits   especially with celebrities and artists.

The simple bow tie also became popular as an option to the long tie that was traditionally associated with formal occasions and meals. Collar bars also continued to be necessary for correctly aligning detachable shirt collars. And last, but not least, functional and fashionable headwear such as homburgs, derbies, straw boaters and eventually fedoras topped the elegant look of the 1920s man.

Casual Attire

Although great importance is placed on business-like clothing of the 1920s, the latter was marked by significant strides towards comfort and functionality for social occasions other than work and church. Plain woven shirts and other forms of pullover knit sweaters, particularly cardigans, began to become acceptable as casual business wear to replace suit jackets and vests. Sweaters with argyle pattern and typical golfing wear came into the scene accompanied with Oxford shirts, knickers and even socks.

With more men engaging in sporting activities during their free time, athletic inspired pants like the “Oxford bags” were trendy. Based on students and rowers of Oxford University in England, the trousers were very relaxed and tightly fastened at the knee before blowing into widths of up to 24 inches. Today they are considered to be typical models of the 1920s suited for the practical and comfortable look of the newly active man.

Iconic Accessories

Some accessories transform into legendary items   the embodiment of an era. Among all accessories that were popular for men in the 1920s, the wristwatch had become the most famous one. Technological development in watch making meant that wrist watches were much more accurate and reliable than pocket watches. Leather strap wristwatches that were practical and handsome became an indispensable accessory. Firms such as Cartier and Rolex gained fame by addressing the need for elegant timepieces for men and women to wear during daytime and formal events.

As memorable as the suspender accessories that men wore to support their trousers. Belts were less reliable since they swung and flopped around, particularly under the decade’s wider legged Oxford bags while suspenders were more dependable. Suspenders had buttons or clamps to connect to trousers and leather straps with metal buckles to adjust for comfort and size. It was common in the past to find them worn alongside formal attire such as vests and dress shirts in place of plain black suits.

Last of all, the fedora hat became popular in the 1920s as a stylish accessory for casual and business clothing among men. Wide-brimmed with a pinched crown, fedoras of light felt or wicker were stylish and provided sun shelter. Plain but sophisticated it became the functional hat for the sharp dressed, yet functional man of the streets as it was christened the fedora.

Impact of Jazz Culture

Whenever Jazz music was on the rise, male musicians were known to have a big say in mainstream male fashion. Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Cab Calloway also wore double breasted suits, suspenders, French cuff dress shirts, and wide neckties with loud colors and prominent patterns. Further, head-gear s of everyday use with more conspicuous styles and capes, with the additional bright colors or textured styles of rich fabrics.

Their trademark suits worn with Oxford trousers were as fitting for conducting a small swing band or for dancing the night away. In addition to musicians, jazz also impacted other clothing trends of the era such as knit sweaters, which could be worn all day while listening to happy, informal jazz during leisure time.

1920s Fashion for Women

It was in the 1920s that the conventional fashion and style with regard to women underwent a complete revolution, social taboos concerning what was right and proper dressing as opposed to what was considered indecent exposure were thrown to the winds. New generations became receptive towards embracing new trends and developments and the provision of ready-made clothes facilitated trial. The flapper as a cultural icon appeared; she bobbed her hair and danced the night away, enjoying the freedom of the new America.

The New Women: The Emergence of the Flapper

The flappers of the 1920s set the dress and style for a generation and made the older generations blush at the peak of the skin as seen in the exposure of the ankles and other sensitive areas of the body. But who exactly were the young ladies, the so called flappers that dared to defy the time tested conventions? By definition, these were fashionable young women who secretly took cocktails and danced to scandalous jazz till the wee hours of the night with gentlemen, not necessarily their husbands.

The flapper look had short provocative dresses with straight lines, no breast cleavage, bobbed hair cuts, red lips stained with lipstick, powder and rouge. Coco Chanel, lauded for popularizing the flapper uniform, described them best: Coco Chanel once said, “A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.”

Flapper Dresses

Flapper dresses were less form fitting than previous fashions and were more inclined to straight lines than to the restricting corsets worn in earlier days and were much more conducive to the active lifestyles of women in the roaring twenties. Plain sheer garments usually had dropped waists and asymmetrical lines with handkerchief-style points extending below the knees. Swinging the Charleston or Black Bottom dances meant that legs needed to swing or move about in a certain way. Consequently, dresses had layers of fringe, which would move and flutter when the woman who wore it was in motion. As comfortable for summers as light fabrics such as chiffon and trendy Art Deco prints gave flapper dresses their unique postmodern looks.

Day fashions were not as glamorous as evening gowns, yet they were just as distinctive of flapperoise style. Smart knit dresses had the same lines in solid color or simple decoration designs on it. Stretched sufficiently to afford comfort but held the shape well enough to make women neat and presentable for casual daytime events. Though the spectacular evening outfits provided them with fame and recognition, the simple flapper dresses were no less symbolic of the new woman of the 1920s.

Dance Influence

Music and dancing were among the most influential factors affecting women’s dressing during the 1920s. New energetic styles of the Charleston, Black Bottom and The Shimmy dancing created fashionable changes. Specifically, women performed these styles in social contexts, without fail. New forms of dance allowed uninhibited knee action and hip gyration, therefore longer, loose fitting dropped waist dresses provided the space for high kicks. Bright, thin, and faster moving fringe trim danced independently as the dresses occupied space, complementing the dancers’ movements.

Men and women also altered their footwear and hosiery to accommodate the activity of walking. More practical was t-strap shoes with low, thick heels and buckles that tightened around the ankle for secure standing for athletic movements and kicks. When skirts became shorter, silk stockings appeared; the practice of concealing women’s legs ceased. In due course, silk stockings turned into the most glamorous accessories of fashion where they put on elegant hues and style and fancy garter buckles visible from the raised hemlines of flapper frocks.

Popular Dresses

In addition to the flirtatious, low-cut party dresses, daytime dresses adopted the characteristic dropped waistlines that perfectly coincided with casual women’s knit sweaters, thus offering the new, more relaxed versatility of the modern timetable. Empire waist dresses which were fashionable with a gentle curvaceous figure maintained the corset-less silhouette that freed movement for activities as diverse as sporting events and the eroticism of dancing. Whether going to outdoor activities, shopping in crowded streets or eating in local cafes, popular dresses in bright colors and a wide range of fabrics and textures covered all the roles a woman came across.

LBD: The Little Black Dress gained the status of the universal woman’s dress for everyday wear in the 1920s. Chanel herself referred to it as “a Ford” , the code of the automobile industry suggesting practicality. The wardrobe of any fashion-conscious lady undoubtedly had the LBD in basic design that could be accessorized for formal occasions or for running errands around town.

Also typical, tea length dresses in romantic themes had layers of sheer materials that provide the dreamy vibe without obstructing the dance. Swirling through salons and theater foyers, tea length dresses offered a blend of seduction and functionality. Nevertheless, leftovers of formal garden parties, art gallery openings and theater soirées ensured women would continue to wear floor-length gowns for formal occasions in the society. Beaded and fringed overlays and sometimes sequined ones emerged as effective ways to mesmerize circles of elites. The iconic Hollywood, specifically the Golden Age, introduced a burgeoning pop celebrity culture and famous actresses shaped designer dresses like never before.

However, living a modern life required variety in the clothes that one wore; 1920s women were ready for it.

Hair and Makeup Trends

The bob haircut became synonymous with the 1920s. This short, sleek style represented a break from the long, flowing hair of the past and embodied a more modern and daring look. Women often styled their bobs with finger waves or tight curls. Makeup in the 1920s was bold and expressive. Dark, kohl-lined eyes, thin, arched eyebrows, and deep red or plum lipstick were the defining features of the “flapper face.”

The Role of Accessories

Taking the mundane and turning them into fashion art and science, accessories were significant supporting characters in women’s fashion mathematics. Previously, tiny ornaments sewn on a collar are now rather clips on the lapels and necklines that allowed for layers of lace frills on hems and cuffs. Sparkling pearl necklaces were to emit sparkling luster whether discreetly dangling behind the delicate fabric of high necklines on dangerously low-cut gowns or discreetly twirling around more conservative and demure clothing. Satin gloves up to the arms rose to give an ambiance of mystique at the same time conceal any flaw.

In fact, evening gloves that extended up to the arms but could easily gather at the wrist when dancing or dining. Subtle and sophisticated they appealed to reason as well as taste with a touch of the scandalous.

However, the biggest shake up that had gone as far as becoming a global phenomenon was when men shaved their long hair. Bobbed haircuts not only finished the appearance of a flapper but also provided almost political status in regard to the liberation of women. Barbers around the world created exponential businesses out of hairstyles and made head turns into a fashion statement. Scarves and girlish headbands become creative implements or tools for hiding when necessary, too. Adding to the liberated female mystique, powder, rouge and red lipstick elevated allure to sultry peaks. Combined, makeup and radical hair transformations unequivocally announced that progressive women would take the decades that followed with both hands.

1920s Fashion for Flappers

While labeling entire generations and invoking both excitement and disdain, flappers unquestionably shaped women’s fashion and spirit as they embarked on the modern age. Boldly subverting   and revolutionarily transforming the concepts of the feminine and gender roles globally, the image of the flapper is both legendary and contentious today. Emerging in the 1920s youthquake that hit the world then in movies, hundreds of books, and dramatic photographers, the flapper was a symbol of a new spirit and style in life perspectives that echoed throughout societies across history.

Who Were the Flappers?

After women got the right to vote, enrolled and got to universities and got professional employment opportunities beside the ordinary marriage and child bearing, cultural revolution erupted. The mid 1920s saw hundreds of young women dancing along the streets of busy towns and cities, in dark speakeasies, and inside smoky jazz joints. Known as flappers, these women freely drank, danced, and socialized with men in ways that were previously unheard of and dressed in short skirts with bare shoulders and knees.clavicles! Fringed bobbed hair, dark rimmed eyes, bright red lips and the spirited dispositions added finishing touches to the statement that flappers were 1920’s phenomena epitomizing the spirit of a generation in transition.

First, the media depicted flappers as silly girls without purpose, goals or intellect for defying traditional manners and looks from Victorian periods. Similarly, flapper fashions, which we see as having evolved from criticism to iconic admiration as the clothing of truly modern women, also emerged from youthful menswear of the 1920s. Contrary to what some might assume, history shows that flappers were brave trailblazers in spectacular jazz age adventures that shifted the women’s roles in Western societies not only subversively, but also for the better. 

Flapper Dresses

Like their flamboyant mode of life, flapper dresses were provocative and the mere hint of a showing ankle was scandalous as it was considered unimaginable to wear such dresses in public. However, flapper silhouettes were distinguished by the fact that they revealed the audacity of the young women while adhering to the traditional standards of elegance. String, drop-waist frock was worn straight and clearly revealing calves, knees, or even thighs but did not lose the line from the free shoulder to the high hem. Sophisticated and spirited, new movements in billowing chiffon or peso de China made the flapper’s lively rotations in ballrooms possible.

Sequins or multi strands of beads perfectly depicted this concept where rows of sequins or multi strands of beads provided exciting lighted shows when light reflecting tiny mirrors or glass crystals were employed.

As famously set by the legend of Coco Chanel, even the simplest of the black flapper dresses provided classy attires for many women through many decades hence. Accompanied by bouncy beaded choker necklaces of onyx, jade, or ivory, short black dresses crossed the eras as glamorous gowns for the night still adored today. As popular as the dress, flamboyantly designed flapper frocks came in vibrant colors ranging from chartreuse to cobalt, not to mention the distinct Art Deco style. Swinging asymmetrical hems hanging below low-waisted garments afforded optical illusions when worn against the backdrop of geometric Deco opulence.

Dance Influence

Intuitively liberating and expressive dance demanded so much freedom of movement that it shaped severe changes in the women’s outfits, emerging as hand-in-hand with the growing women’s emancipation on the threshold of the 1920s. The rising popularity of jazz music led to the invention of new expressive dance that demands stretchy lightweight frocks with enough space for kicking knees and swinging legs. Long, straight and loose dresses with uneven handkerchief hems flying easily above the twirling knees and multilayered fringes swinging as if dancing also. Tight fitting busts ensured flimsy frocks did not expose some private areas mid Charleston while allowing free arm movements.

Shoes and stockings were no less integral to jazz dance yet they gradually turned into icons of fashion accessories on their own. Durable Mary Janes, t-straps and low heeled pumps swiftly transformed into highly sought after iconic shoes. Bright High Gloss patent leather, luxurious velvety suede, and glistening rhinestone buckles raised the status of accessories closer to aesthetic sophistication to artfully embody flapper personality. Silk stockings also developed from functional inventions enhancing opaque shielding for even shorter skirts into sensual extras deliberately focusing on recently uncovered legs and kneecaps. Glossy tights in rich colors added allure to flappers, teasing viewers with glimpses of skin that would have been covered up by dreary prim Victorian attire before.

1920s Fashion Costumes

Entertainment, optimism, glamor and the ‘new woman’: in the following generations, the Roaring Twenties’ way of life and clothes turned into an impressive legend, and the desire to wear, make and watch 1920s costumes has never faded in modern society. To the extent that the use of online resources is now mainstream and e-commerce is prevalent, wearing, buying or even creating 1920s costumes has never been easier.

Wearing Clothes Like The 1920s In The Present Time

Flapper costuming symbolized the freedom of the Jazz Age and opened a completely new avenue of costumes. And nothing is as fun or as fascinating as dressing up in some flapper dress and hat for Halloween, theater, cinema and sidewalk Mardi Gras parades as can be seen in the Roaring 1920s. Iconic costumes include Pinstripe gangster suits, Al Capone styled fedoras, Flapper dresses with metallic fringe. Period-appropriate clothing, wigs, accessories, and makeup products are virtually endless, especially for women and men who want to recreate the fashion of the decade.

Although many hobbyists create costume garments individually, Steinberg’s, Chicago Costumes and Uptown Costumes are retail outlets where one can purchase a complete head to toe costume of the celebrated 1920s style icons. Feather boas, long cigarette holders and a few pieces of costume jewelry such as bowties, gloves, pocket watches   that such companies offer are easy, effortless ways to achieve perfect opening night ensembles. On the other hand, there are numerous individual costume garment options in leading e-commerce platforms to blend and create personal Jazz Age ensembles reflecting individuality and creativity.

In the costume rental houses, the people who want to own the real thing, get access to the actual fabrics and accessories that were made during the time period under the supervision of a conservator. Businesses such as The Ancient Mariner, The Costumer, and AC Silver whisk clients back in time with museum-quality clothing reproductions of the classic outfits that once rocked the generations. Whether it is for cocktail parties, media purposes or themed weddings, such services provide the customers with an opportunity to wear the authentic 1920s styles that dominated society during that remarkable period.

Flapper and Gangster Costumes

When the epochs are over, it is possible to single out the corresponding mythological figures symbolically. As with Wild West you can picture cowboys or saloon girl or wartime 1940’s you can picture soldiers and pin curl housewives similarly the sparkling 1920s which conjures up images of exuberant flappers and slick gangsters.

Conventional female flapper costumes concern dropped waist silhouette dresses that do not surpass the knee to allow for Charleston dancing. Swinging fringe was necessary with layers as were plenty of shimmery sequins or luminous seed bead accents under the stage light. Feather headdresses were enlarged to give a theatrical look and strings of pearls were borrowed from the Chanel brand. Fishnet stockings, opera gloves, colorful boas and red lipstick made sexy demeanors once short wigs were cut and curled into classic bob hairdos.

Even when it came to costumes for men   whether they were creating Capone, Lucky Luciano or John Dillinger style. Double-breasted pinstripe suits, check or striped dress shirts with white collars, wide “gangster stripes” neckties, vintage style fedora hats, wingtip leather shoes, pocket watches on chains as well as fake tommy guns or expensive cigars relied on crime boss themes. Suspenders and bow ties give trendy styles among stories of Prohibition era. .

For Halloween, cosplay, theater productions or themed balls, flapper dresses, boas, gloves and fringed shawls are glamorous women’s costumes that are sure to capture the attention of the audience. Similarly, men’s pinstripe suits, custom fedoras, and toy Tommy guns can create an instant mafioso icon. Altogether, the flapper dress of the 1920s and the gangster outfit create electrifying costume intrigue that will captivate everyone.

1920s Fashion for Sale

Where to Buy Vintage 1920s Clothing

For fashion enthusiasts or collectors, purchasing authentic 1920s clothing is an exciting endeavor. Vintage stores, online marketplaces like Etsy and eBay, and estate sales are great places to find genuine 1920s pieces. These items are often expensive, but they provide an authentic glimpse into the fashion of the era.

Reproductions and Modern Takes on 1920s Fashion

If you’re not ready to invest in authentic vintage clothing, many modern retailers offer 1920s-inspired collections. These pieces take elements of 1920s fashion, like fringe dresses, cloche hats, and high-waisted trousers, and bring them into the modern day with updated fabrics and silhouettes.

Tips for Authentic 1920s Pieces

When shopping for real vintage clothing, look for key characteristics such as drop waists in dresses, high-quality fabrics like silk or velvet, and intricate beading or embellishments. Be sure to check the condition of the item, as older clothing may have wear and tear. Investing in professional restoration can sometimes bring a vintage piece back to life.

Popular Brands Recreating 1920s Looks

Several designers and brands have embraced the charm of the 1920s in their collections. Brands like Gucci and Prada have drawn inspiration from the 1920s for their runway looks, incorporating elements like Art Deco patterns, fringe, and drop-waist dresses into their designs.

9. Conclusion

The 1920s were a time of immense cultural and social change, and this shift was most evident in the fashion of the time. The era’s clothing continues to captivate and inspire fashion lovers today, whether it’s for everyday wear, vintage collections, or themed events. The elegance, innovation, and boldness of 1920s fashion for men and women are timeless, proving that great style knows no bounds.