The twenties was an era for change and experimenting, fashion became more relaxed and both men and women enjoyed a new sense of freedom!
The 1920s, known commonly as the “Roaring Twenties” saw a shift in fashion as men chose sportswear style outfits over previous years formal suit styles. Suits however did not disappear, they remained a focal point during twenties fashion in a different pattern than previous years.
1920s Men’s Fashion Reviewed
Suit jackets during the twenties went shorter and tailcoat style suits were left for special occasions.
In the earlier part of the twenties military style suits were in fashion; jackets were high waisted, lapels were thin and tended to be buttoned up high. Pants were narrow and straight; they began to be worn cuffed at the bottom.
By the mid twenties pants became wider, these were called the “Oxford Bags” and suit jackets had wider lapels with waists becoming more relaxed.
Sportswear style outfits changed the twenties considerably as fashion became more relaxed. Sweaters and short pants were often seen on men.
Hats became a symbol of class as various groups in society were defined. Top hats and homburg hats were worn by the upper class. The middle class wore fedoras and trilby hats and the working class set wore newsboy caps. A hat that crossed both the upper and middle classes was the straw boater during the summer months.
1920s Men’s Hair Styles
Hair during the twenties for men was styled smooth and parted to one side, almost plastered down. The style was longer at the front and shorter at the back.
Younger men styled their hair after the military look, extremely short!
During the beginning of the twenties many older men wore mustaches however by the end of the twenties the fashion began to decrease.
1920s Women’s Fashion
Following the end of the First World War women’s fashion changed dramatically as many wanted to celebrate and enjoy freedom.
Bustles and corsets were out and casual styles were in!
Dresses went shorter and brighter, the higher hemline meant stockings increased in popularity.
Women also began wearing pants and wearing their hair short, similar to men’s styles at the time.
Underwear for women changed as a result of the casual looks favored by women during the twenties. Bras were introduced and corsets were dropped in favor of separates.
Hairstyles for women also became shorter and the “Bob” was a popular style worn by many women during the early twenties. Towards the mid twenties shorter hair remained in fashion but the styles were slightly altered, curls and waves were worked in at the bottom.
The twenties saw a dramatic shift in the fashion scene; both men and women tried new styles and many of these styles remained well into the thirties.
