Fashion: 20s

Recently, attributes that were popular in the post-war years are increasingly included in the modern world of fashion. Women's fashion of that time was distinguished by boldness, elegance and some surrealism, which ladies often look for in modern wardrobe elements, wanting to stand out and emphasize their individuality. In the 1920s, fashion was forced to move from gentle romantic themes to modernism, which gave the designers of that time more space for creativity.

The post-war 1920s were characterized by high industrial and economic growth. During this period, girls began to master men's professions, which required some sacrifice from them. Many women had to abandon corsets or uncomfortable maxi-length skirts, which made it difficult for fashion designers of that time to come up with clothing silhouettes that would still emphasize the femininity of their owners, but at the same time were as comfortable as possible.

In the United States, during the same period, women received the right to vote, as a result of which many girls began to actively strive to be on an equal footing with men, which influenced not only their manner of dressing, but also their behavior in public.

They easily exchanged quiet social events for noisy parties in bars and pubs, as well as merry dancing until the morning. During the day, women gave themselves up to responsible work, and at night they went in search of adventure.

Smoking became fashionable for ladies, as well as alcohol abuse, which greatly influenced not only their general perception, but also their figure. Due to addictions and an active lifestyle, the "girl-boy" became the new ideal.A thin figure combined with carefully styled short hair, open shoulders and a short skirt, deliberate self-confidence, together with the desire to delight the audience around him, made them even more sexy in the eyes of many men.

However, this task has not been simplified for fashion designers at all. At that time, it was difficult to beautifully emphasize such a female figure. Cut clothes have become simpler, but more functional and comfortable. And for designers, decor has become the main focus of women's wardrobe.

In America, such talented and famous couturiers as Jeanne Paquin, Jacques Patou and Jacques Doucet created a new ideal of a girl at the beginning of the 20th century. Its main and most striking feature was independence, which was emphasized by the fitted silhouettes of dresses with spectacular elements of decoration and incredibly stylish models of suits and coats with a low waistline.

The cut of evening dresses necessarily widened slightly downward, so that a girl who lived in the era of the renaissance of jazz, shimmy and foxtrot was comfortable moving on the dance floor. Dancing at that time really became a real passion for many women. That is why various decorative elements came into vogue, for example, "pendants", which were actively shaken on the girl during the dance and gave her a certain charm.

In the USSR, at the same time, women's fashion was actively formed around the needs of the post-war country and focused on convenience and its maximum practicality. Feminine light dresses were replaced by straight soldier's midi-length skirts and cloth jackets.

Casual dresses were made of canvas and had a simple look. Increasingly, on the streets one could find a woman dressed in a large commissar's leather jacket, a cap and straight trousers tucked into boots. This style of a woman has become a symbol of the working people, whose primary task was to rebuild the country after the long devastation of the war.

American women's fashion became more daring during this period. Innovative fashion designers such as Coco Chanel and Madeleine Vionne have diversified the women's wardrobe enormously, borrowing something from the men's wardrobe and looking at old things from a new angle. Straight trousers in combination with bright tops, whose shoulder straps were tied behind the neck, became the favorite thing of young beauties.

And it is during this period that cosmetics become the "best friend" of every woman. Its active use in combination with spectacular outfits made the ladies very extravagant, but at the same time incredibly flirtatious personalities. Smartly applied long arrows, blush, dark shadows, as well as red lipstick and nail polish of the same shade emphasized and enhanced the natural beauty of young girls.

In the same period, the height of the skirts obscenely jumped up, successfully overcoming the knee line, which gave impetus to the development of the so-called gangster style of gun moll - combat girlfriends.

This is the title received by the femme fatale, whose lovers belonged to the world of banditry and robbery. They developed their own spectacular style, which emphasized the special atmosphere of gangster mistresses - an explosive mixture of danger and sexuality.

The gangster style of clothing for women most often included a dress made of silk or velvet, a light fur cape, high stockings and, of course, jewelry, which, with their brilliance, emphasized the beauty of their wearer.

By this time, the style of women in the USSR was becoming more liberated and feminine. Production at sewing factories was adjusted, the first Soviet fashion magazines were published, which encouraged Komsomol women to dress more gracefully. Haircuts above the shoulders have come into fashion, in particular, the bob. Dresses began to have a baggy look and were sewn with a length just above the knees, and a cut in the European manner had a low waistline. From footwear, preference was given to closed shoes with a stable glass-heel.

Stylish suits have also been actively produced for business women. As an evening option - satin dresses with a deep neckline, which very effectively emphasized the female forms. Such popular hats as a bell hat, tokens and berets have actively burst into the everyday life of women's fashion.

Designers increasingly look to the retro elements of the last century for inspiration. In 2007-2008, many well-known fashion houses attempted to bring back the spectacular dresses of the early 1920s. However, for that time, such models, which so transparently copied the style of the femme fatale, turned out to be too bold.

This year, many fashion designers and designers have once again shown us the echoes of the style of the 20th in their new collections. Basically, it can be seen in simple silhouettes of dresses made of spectacular velvet, as well as in some fitted models that look like an elongated shirt and are often characterized by the term "linen style".

In recent years, more and more modern girls use elements of the 20s of the XX century in their images. Thanks to the simple, but at the same time, graceful cut of the dress and effective methods of decorating it, you can get a stylish look that will be relevant in our time.

• So, going to a party, you should pay attention to a dress made of black velvet, decorated with patterns using guipure and rhinestones, as well as additional embroidery on it. Thin straps will accentuate the fragile shoulders of their owner, and a deep neckline will make her shapes attractive. A light skirt will not hinder movement during active dances. As the main decoration, you can use a headband made with lace elements to match the color of the dress and decorated with an artificial flower and feathers. Bright makeup will make the lady's face more expressive, and a small clutch will be able to complete this stylish look.

• Retro and vintage are becoming popular themes for modern weddings. Fashion of the 20s is often used by brides to add elegance and femininity to their wedding dress. Silk and satin of light shades, which are additionally decorated with lace and pearls, become the most relevant material for them. A maxi length is usually used, and the silhouette is accentuated by a low waist. Such a dress can be complemented by spectacular long gloves that will become the main decoration of the girl's sophisticated hands, as well as multi-layered pearl beads and a headband.

Of course, the fashion of the 20th century was filled with bright elements, many of which are still used by famous designers in order to give their products the most stylish and eye catching look.