mardi 31 juillet 2018

1920s Dresses Patterns Made Fashion Accessible To Women With Modest Means

By Harold Price


The nineteen twenties in America was a time of transition. The economy was booming, and the arts were enjoying a revolution. Times were changing for women as well. They had just gotten the right to vote. Many of them were working, wearing trousers in public, partying in nightclubs, and smoking. Skirts were getting higher and necklines lower. Not all women could afford off the rack clothes, so they picked out 1920s dresses patterns and made their own.

Learning to sew is something many women were introduced to at an early age. These women didn't need department stores when there were dime patterns. Creating an original pattern out of remnants was a admirable skill. Women making their own clothes could spend the money they saved on fashionable items like silk stockings, shoes, cloche hats, and belts.

A staple in their wardrobes was the everyday home dress worn to do the housekeeping and cooking. Cotton was the preferred material. A lot of women went to the trouble of adding a few stylish touches like rickrack and lace. Most made the aprons they wore to protect their home dresses from grease and spills in the kitchen.

For working women, a more formal wardrobe was required. Housewives also needed nicer frocks to go visiting or run errands. A pattern they would have used was a tailored dress in silk or wool. Women in cities were inclined to dress in neutral tones like grey, black, navy, or tan. Country women more often chose light grey, red, blue, or white.

Afternoon tea was not just a British tradition. In America it was a chance for women of some means to meet with friends and show off their sophisticated styles. A tea dress was typically calf length with delicate, decorative elements embroidered on. The materials were lighter and had more color than a home dress. They wore sheer stockings that complemented the color of their dresses.

Women wealthy enough to go to college had to be outfitted for any occasion. Knit was the material of choice because it was so easy to wash. Coeds wore their skirts shorter and paired everything with a raccoon coat. This was a time when men and women changed for the evening meal. Most college women came to school with several dresses made of silk and other delicate materials which were appropriate for dining.

Evening wear was pretty much restricted to the upper class woman. They preferred dropped waist clothing in velvet, taffeta, silk, or chiffon. Beaded dresses were all the rage, and time consuming for women who tried to make them. Such a frivolous dress was a sign of wealth. Married and older women always wore sleeves. Only young girls showed their arms.

Styles go in and out of fashion. Every couple of decades sees a revival of the styles worn just after World War I. An original pattern today, if you are interested in creating your own version of a 1920s frock, is hard to find and will cost much more than a dime.




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