Have you ever played one of those games with questions like, “If you could pick one decade to live in, which would you choose?” I always pick the 1920s, also known as the Roaring Twenties.

It always felt like a glamorous time for me, but it was actually so much more than that! It was a time of great economic prosperity after the troubles of World War I. There was a feeling of normalcy and forward-movement, with many people using automobiles, radios, telephones, aviation and electricity. There was a boom in the arts with advances in motion pictures (movies), the rise of Art Deco, and the growing popularity of dancing and jazz music (the 20s are also known as the Jazz Age).

It was also a time that redefined the modern woman. The 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, was passed by Congress in June 1919 and ratified on August 18, 1920. It was a long and hard- fought battle, but it meant freedom for women that they hadn’t experienced before. That freedom manifested itself in many ways.

Women’s hair and skirts got shorter. Some smoked and drank (despite Prohibition). But mostly they were able to work in white collar jobs (like secretarial work), while inventions like vacuums made the lives of housewives a little easier.

When I pick the 1920s as my “decade” it’s really because I want to be a flapper. If you read my post last week, you’ll understand why – flappers were major rebels. They cut their hair into short bobs (outrageous!), wore short skirts (scandalous!), drank, smoke, were promiscuous (I would avoid these last few, obviously), and behaved in generally unladylike ways. They rode bicycles and drove cars and even danced “inappropriate” dances like the Charleston and the Shimmy.

Most importantly, let’s talk about fashion. Flappers were known for their style, which came out of French fashion (especially Coco Chanel). While first associated with a boyish look (garçonne), flappers shortened their hair and their hemlines (just below the knee), and got rid of the dreaded corset. They couldn’t dance with such restrictions! Think of actresses Clara Bow, Louise Brooks and Tallulah Bankhead (look them up!).

Dresses were straight and loose, with or without straps. Waistlines dropped to the hip. The shorter hemlines showed flashes of leg, especially when they danced. (Some flappers even applied rouge to their knees.) Mary Janes and t-strap shoes became popular, especially with a higher heel (2-3 inches). Along with bobbed hair, finger waves were popular, as well as hats like cloches and newsboy caps. Dark-rimmed eyes, blush, red “bee stung” lips, and generally “excessive” makeup (compared to what came before) was common.

Of course, the 20s had to come to an end, and they ended hard – the Stock Market crashed in 1929 and ushered in the Great Depression of the 1930s. Frivolity ended, but women were forever changed.

I went to a Gatsby-themed ball at the end of my senior year at Boston College. It was so much fun! I’d love to see your photos from the spring formal – A Night at Gatsby’s – in April! (Tag me!)

~ Silva

If you have questions or topics you’d like to see addressed in this blog, please email me at [email protected]. You can read more from me at my other blog, onmyshoebox.

To read more Style Session, check out Style Session No. 18 – Rebel with a cause