The Style of the Jazz Age

The fashion of the Roaring Twenties is greatly molded and influenced by the surrounding society and events. The style of the Jazz Age is well known for the flapper dresses, cloche hats, high-heeled shoes, men’s fashion, and famous fashion designers. Because it was such a huge shift from the previous era, 1920s fashion is still famous today. It is a reflection of the rapid movement and change of society. Women were allowed mobility in the new fashion, unlike the heavy customs of the Victorian era. Corsets and crinolines were thrown away; hemlines on dresses rose quickly, one year at mid-calf and the next right below the knee. Waistlines kept dropping until they sat at the hips. Flapper dresses allowed young women to dance while exposing just enough skin to attract the attention of men. Because this was the era of liberated women, the beauty of the dress came from the confidence of the woman wearing it. Daytime dresses were shapeless and hung loosely, often decorated with floral prints and fluorescent colors such as “Nile Green”, “Sunset Orange”, “French Blue”, and “Maze”. Evening dresses reflected elegance and wealth with their beads, accessories and material. The waistline and hem were the same as that of the daytime dress, but its construction was completely different. Fashion designers got their start with 1920s evening gowns, making their names known. The cloche hats consisted of velvet, satin, horsehair, and straw or felt, hiding a woman’s hair by tucking it into the hat. At this time, women were ready for a major change and therefore rebelled against the status quo. They began to do drink, smoke, drive like men, and also adopted their clothes. Women redefined the definition of “sexy” with a masculine influence.

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