Wednesday 26 October 2011

A little artlicle about 20s influence on fashion


The 1920s is very much considered the age of jazz, gin, sex, and fashion. The winds of change swept through society at the end of the First World War and Britain saw her twenty somethings embracing a new, louche way of life. These “Bright Young Things” (depicted with beautiful accuracy in Stephen Fry’s 2003 film of the same name) saw both men and women living life to the full and experimenting with everything from drink, drugs, and sex to fashion. 

With the later in mind, it can be said that women were released from the bonds of Edwardian propriety by the new fashions of the 1920s. The Flapper, as she is better known, was no longer bound by corsets and bustles. New colours and fabrics, and a closer relationship of fashion to art, saw designers becoming increasingly daring. The colours were brighter, the fabrics more luxurious, and the hemlines shorter! Women’s fashion in the 1920s was a time of finger-curled hair, short dresses and skirts, and roughed knees, lips and cheeks. Although the finger curls haven’t lasted the test of time (my hairdresser would argue that point though, considering how often I have my hair finger-curled), that flapper girl fashion can still be very much seen today. 

From the rails of Topshop to Primark, or if you have an expendable budget, high end boutiques, the 20s is still very much alive! Costume jewellery tends to be copies of fine examples from the 20s. Many statement necklaces are inspired by those of Coco Chanel who both modern and flapper fashion owe a lot to. And of course, who hasn’t noticed the resurgence of the popularity of pearls!? A must have for the 20s, and modern, flapper. On top of this, if I had a pound for every girl I saw with rouged lips, I’d be a wealthy girl!

Beaded, fringed, and tea dresses, cardigan jackets and sweater dresses all first worn in the 1920s, have become wardrobe staples in the modern flapper’s wardrobe- not to mention a new popularity of hats as River Island, for example, currently has 5 different styles of Cloche! Even the bob, with the classic full fringe, has become a classic hairstyle once again, seen recently on celebrities such as Katie Holmes and Victoria Beckham and myself (not a celebrity yet, but watch this space!) 





2020 is on the horizon...ok it’s still 9 years off, but as a lover of the 20s I’m eagerly awaiting the  arrival of it once again, and intend to fully immerse myself in the 20s spirit when it arrives! So with the 20s nearly (a term I should use loosely) on our doorsteps once more, I can safely say that I, and I would guess comfortably retailers, will be embracing it whole heartedly. Such a heavily romanticised and documented era- lends itself to the recreation of many iconic 20s fashion pieces, as we see the 20s come around again. 
You will find me drinking gin in some jazz bar, dancing the Charleston, and I don’t think I will be alone.