Comments on: The History of the Flapper, Part 1: A Call for Freedom

By: Elizabeth Kerri Mahon

Elizabeth Kerri Mahon — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:34:02 +0000

I just wanted to comment that both Cassidy and Shay are correct. Women’s arms, certainly at night, were not covered. Bare arms and shoulders were common in evening wear. Poiret also designed harem pants which Lady Sybil wears in one scene in Downton Abbey. The hobble skirt during the pre-WWI period was above the ankle as well. Irene Castle, I think, started the fashion for short hair before the 1920′s as well.

By: Cassidy

Cassidy — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:37:02 +0000

Just like to remark that myself and the Cassidy above are two different Cassidies!

By: Cassidy

Cassidy — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:10:55 +0000

As Shay says, the transition into the stereotypical 1920s “flapper dress” was much more gradual – the idea that once 1920 hit, women suddenly became sartorially emancipated is a complete misconception. Skirts became shorter and fuller during the war, and the waistline became looser. Around 1920, skirts were above the ankle, but they plunged in 1922-23, started to shorten again, were above the ankle in early 1925, then got to below the knee by the end of the year. Short skirts are really only part of fashion through the second half of the decade, when they lengthened again.

The bob was invented in the late 1910s, too. And many continued to wear corsets and girdles through the 1920s all the way into the 1960s. Women had also been working outside the home from the 1860s on – the issue people had was with married women working, which was seen as more likely to lead to domestic problems and an unhappy home. Secretaries, clerks, receptionists, and shop assistants that would work for fewer wages were always wanted.

Not to be overly critical! But this is an area of fashion and women’s history that is constantly stereotyped and in some ways overhyped in popular culture.

By: Cassidy

Cassidy — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 04:47:07 +0000

This article, although compelling, continues to perpetuate the myth that the 1920s freed women of the restrictive dress of years prior, when in fact, it started as early as 1906 and 1907. Leading couturiers such as Paul Poiret and Lucile introduced uncorseted, empire-waisted styles that revolutionized fashion in the years prior to 1910, with many women abandoning steel-boned corsetry before the outbreak of WWI. Also, as Shay mentioned, skirts began to shorten as early as 1914 and continued to do so throughout the decade. The dropped-waist, boxed shape ensembles many associate with the “Roaring 1920s” came about circa 1924 and 1925 but they were years in the making…

By: Hollis

Hollis — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:00:47 +0000

In “Cheaper by the Dozen”, which is a reminiscence of growing up in the 20′s by adult siblings,
the galoshes-flapping-unbuckled thing is mentioned as something young, wishing to be trendy, girls did.

By: Emily Spivack

Emily Spivack — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:39:26 +0000

Lucie – I agree with you. I remain a little suspect about it. For me, what stood out most was that such a thing was even considered!

By: Lucie

Lucie — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:29:55 +0000

I’m curious about the film of ten-year-old Mildred dancing the Charleston on top of a biplane – at the beginning and end, she is bent over and barely moving her feet; in the middle, she is upright and dancing vigorously, with no apparent harness. It seems like that part was likely shot on the ground and inserted into the film. Nonetheless, a fascinating video – and subject (flappers). Thank you.

By: Shay

Shay — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 04:04:39 +0000

Technically, short skirts first arrived in 1915 with the “war crinoline” look, sporting hemlines that fell between the bottom of the knee and the top of the calf.

By 1918 dresses were getting longer, and had hit the ankle for day and street wear again in 1921.

In 1925 they were back at the kneecap again.