A CENTURY AGO

A century ago, during the Twenties decade, fashion was revolutionary and extravagant and wonderful.The hemline crept up the leg as the decade unfolded the back line dropped a little lower, but the neckline remained chaste and demure. The androgynous, youthful look came to represent the decade., though not every woman could carry it off. Thankfully there were several styles to choose from, as long as they had a low waist. Hemlines rose and dropped at least twice, skirts being at their shortest around 1927. The gown's straight silhouettes were often broken up or emphasized by geometric decoration, and different colorurs could be used for the top and bottom halves. Fuller skirts remained in fashion, becoming more prominent when hemlines were lower. But the 1920s are characterized by two distinct periods of fashion: in the early part of the decade, change was slower, and there was more reluctance to wear the new, revealing styles made popular. From 1925, the public more passionately embraced the styles now typically associated with the Roaring Twenties. Despite the brevity of their reign, knee-leigh evening gowns sprinkled with beads and sequins are probably the main garments associated with the Roaring Twenties.  

Dress by Paul Poiret 1922

Thalia Barbarova

Norma Shearer

Pyjamas by Edward Molyneux

Coco Chanel

Gilda Grey

 Louise Brooks