The document summarizes factors that led to fashion reforms in the 1920s including World War I, women's rights movements, and technological advancements. Women entered the workforce during WWI and continued working afterwards, leading to looser, more comfortable clothing. The roaring 20s brought economic prosperity and new buying power. Women gained voting rights in 1920 and embraced liberated styles like pantsuits. Prohibition led women to drink publicly in revealing outfits. Mass production through advances in textiles and garment industries made luxurious styles affordable for middle classes. Ready-to-wear fashion dominated with standardized sizing sold in stores and inspired by magazines. Hemlines rose and silhouettes shifted as the decade progressed, epitomized

1. 1920's Fashion Guide Nikki Sriram

2. Factors that lead to the reforms of fashion in the 1920’s World War I Newfound buying power in the Roaring Twenties Feminine Liberation Movement and the 19th amendment Prohibition Advancements in the textile and garment industries Ready-to-wear fashion Fashion Magazines

3. World War I During the War, women entered the workforce to fill jobs left open by soldiers. After the war women continued to work outside of the home. Women’s fashion altered to suit the workforce, constrictive undergarments such as whalebone corsets were abandoned to allow for an ease of movement Also with the lack of men due to the war and its aftermath, women began wearing more alluring clothing to attract a husband.

4. Greater buying power in the Roaring Twenties The Economic prosperity of the Roaring Twenties allowed more women access to luxurious clothing. More woman began buying their clothing as opposed to making them themselves. 10

5. Feminine Liberation Movement and the 19th Amendment The ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 was a large leap forward for Women’s Rights. Women soon began wearing loose pantsuits called “pajama suits”, a direct result of the newly gained right to vote and the strong cries for further female empowerment.

6. Prohibition Due to Prohibition, drinking took place in the home and women became included in drinking. Women soon began drinking in public at Speakeasies. This new social freedom was matched in fashion with new styles that were more scandalous, revealing, and freeing.

7. Advancements in the textile and garment industries With the Garment Industry becoming increasingly Industrialized, rapidly evolving women’s styles were more available to those of lower economic standing, the new luxurious styles were available to the middle class, as opposed to just the economic elite.

8. Ready-to-wear fashion Because clothing was now easily manufactured, stores began selling clothing, carrying outfits in a variety of sizes to fit almost any customer. Because Women were more frequently buying their clothing as opposed to making it, the style was dictated by fashion magazines. 2

9. Fashion Magazines

10. Characteristics of 1920’s Fashion Loose-fitting clothing Dropped, loose waistlines Shorter hems on some styles of dresses Loose fitting pants for women A long, lean, flat-chested silhouette An overall androgynous appearance

11. The Progression of Style through the Decade As the decade proceeded, fashion continued to rapidly change. Hemlines rose from an inch below the knee to knee-length Waistlines dropped to the hips and then disappeared altogether creating a shift dress

12. Flapper Fashion The Symbol of the Roaring Twenties, the Flapper, emerged in 1926 and embodied the decades modern fashion elements such as short sleek hair, a short shapeless dress, and a flat chest, and exposed limbs. Flappers had a reputation that added to their style as well. Flappers smoked from long cigarette holders, applied makeup in public, and danced to jazz with reckless abandonment of propriety.

13. Flappers 89 5 6 4 3