In the 1930s, fashion shifted towards a genteel appearance with the introduction of small plate-shaped hats and a distinction between practical daywear and luxurious evening attire, utilizing new fabrics like metallic lame and rayon. Skirts featured longer backs and below-the-knee pleats, while renowned designer Elsa Schiaparelli incorporated rich fabrics and humorous elements into her designs. This era saw a blend of elegance and playful accessorizing, including her famous little black dress.

1. By Ruth O’Hara

2. The Female Form Returns to 1930s
Fashion:
 In the 1930s there was a return to a more genteel,
ladylike appearance.
 Before cloche hats were worn and now small plate
shaped hats are worn.
 Daywear Versus Evening
Glamour:
 Until the 1930s wealthy women had not really needed to
wear practical day clothes.
 More luxurious gowns were kept for evening. New fabrics
like metallic lame were very popular at night and were
made to shimmer even more richly by adding plastic
sequins and glass beads.

3. 1930s-skirts:
 Skirts were usually longer at the back than the front.
 Below the knee pleats were very common.
 Some of the clothes were so stylish that they could be
worn today .
 New Ways With Fabrics:
 New improved fabrics were used like rayon . Cotton was
also used by Chanel and suddenly it was considered more
than a cheap fabric for work clothes. But nothing looked
like pure silk and it was still the best fabric to capture the
folds and drapes of thirties.

4. Stylish Thirties- Elsa
Schiaparelli
 The Italian Elsa Schiaparelli 1890-1973 had a
love of rich fabrics and feminine fantasy.
 Despite the fact that Schiaparelli had a witty
side she was just the fashion inspiration that
women who preferred classic styles needed.
 Beyond the little black dress which she
frequently designed, she would accessorise
with humour and designed funky hats made
to appear as mutton chops or ice cream
cones.