Fantasy Guide to 1920s Fashion
A post Pandemic, post war world ruled by billionaires living it up with an economic depression looming - no, not the 2020s, the 1920s. The 1920s was an era known for its bold fashion, where men and women left pre-war fashion behind in order to party it up.
Underwear
Women
Now, you may have heard that women didn't wear corsets in the 1920s. And you're partially right, this was the era Bras became popular. But women still wore corsets even if they weren't as popular as before. Corsets adapted, now instead of giving a lady a waist, it flattened her bosom because flat chests were in fashion. However, some flappers refused to wear corsets at all. Some clubs even had a corset check room, where girls could abandon their corset for their night out. Bras were more like sports bras today as in they were rectangular in shape and held everything down. Both corsets and bras were usually a flesh colour or pale fabric, and popularily made out of silk or rayon. Garter belts were worn around the waist, past the hips and hung with clips to fasten one's stockings so they wouldn't fall down. Under all of this the lady still wore her chemise which was now called a slip, along with a vest and cami knickers. Women would wear stockings, usually sheer or black while young girls would wear socks.
Men
Like women, this was an era of new underwear - the boxer shorts. These were tied by a drawstring but about 1929, elastic waists were becoming more popular. Men would wear vests as well. If your fella doesn't like boxers or a vest, he can wear a union suit which combines the two in one. Socks were also very interesting in this period because mens socks became louder and more patterned. Suspenders held up trousers, either clipped on or buttoned in place.
Day Wear
We all know the basics of what they would have worn on a night out at the club but what did the people of the 1920s actually wear on a day to day basis?
Men
Suits: Men wore 3 piece suits, so trousers, jacket and waist coat. The lapels were wide, the trousers were high rise and cuffed for the Gods. Most of the suits were wool or plaid or tweed and stripes were very popular. For days out at the seaside or in the heat, linen suits were worn sometimes with jaunty pinstripes. The jackets and trousers were looser than their predessor.
Shirts: Shirts were also often striped, the collars either white or matching the shirt. Some would have pockets. with white or matching collars. Dress shirts would have detachable collars but casual shirts usually had them attached.
Sweaters: Sweaters were mainly for sporting pursuits, like fishing or golf. Sweater Vests: Knitted vests worn over shirts.
Women
Dresses: Women were more out and about in the 1920s than they had before so they needed dresses that reflected that. Day dresses were generally looser and had a drop waist. The skirt would fall usually to just below the knees. Day to day dresses could have long sleeves but a lot of 1920s dresses were short sleeved or 3/4 length.
Blouses and Skirts: Blouses and skirts would also be worn, usually of matching fabric and loose fitting much like dresses, also. Skirts were fastened with hooks. This was also the
Coats: Ladies would wear long coats over their ensemble.
Night Out
Women
For the night out in the club or speakeasy, they wore loose dresses, either without any sleeves or cap sleeves (usually sheer). The "flapper" dress was straight up, straight down, knee length and low cut. More formal parties might see a lady drift more to the robe de style, which composed off a wide skirt but without a definitive waist. Bold patterns, beading, statement fabrics were all the rage. Headpieces and headbands were worn instead of hats.
Men
For the guys, the tuxedo was the go to club wear for the upper echelon but the lower classes would still be dapper in their best suits. Men often exchanged their day shirts for penny collar shirts which were far lighter.
Children
Girls wore dresses, usually rather loose like pinafores. The length of the hemlines showed the girls' age, the further the hem line was dropped. Patterned dresses were popular. Peter pan collars and smocking were also popular. For days at the seaside, they might wear sailor dresses often paired with straw hats.
Boys wore shirts and shorts, their shorts would develop into trousers as they grew up. Short sleeved shirts would be worn in summer. Sweater vests were popular too. Blazers were popular too and boys would wear caps when heading out.
Accessories
Spats: Spats are white covers worn over a man's dress shoes.
Hair Accessories: Hair accessories were very au corant in the '20s. Tiaras we're still worn but now across the brow. Headbands were popular, pins, feathers and even Egyptian inspiration headpieces that dripped jewels down the curve of their hair.
Hats: Every man would wear a hat outside. Every man of every rank or class. Flat caps were worn by upper and lower classes, so were fedoras, Derbies, Homburgs, Panamas, and boaters. Straw hats were worn by the seaside. Women also wore hats outside. Clouche hats were popular, made of felt and worn low across the brow. Turbans were worn during the day as night. These were decorated with pins or feathers or fabric flowers.
Shoes: For men, Oxford's were popular with the middle and upper class, sports sneakers were worn while playing sports and lace up boots were worn during winter or at labour intensive jobs. For ladies, heeled pumps were all the rage.
Tie clips: Tie clips were pins worn to keep the tie in place.
Arm rings: Arm rings where worn to hold up the rolled up sleeves of men's shirts.
Make-Up and Hair
Make up was worn in the 1920s. The go to look was a heavy smokey eye, dark lip, bold brows and blush.
Hair is probably what you think of when you think of the 1920s. This was a post war world so women wanted to throw off the shackles of what bound them before starting with their hair. The bob became fashionable. For men, hair was grown out only long enough to be parted and slicked back.
