Women’s fashion at the beginning of the 20th century
In the early 1900s, women’s clothing was made to be more conservative with lots of layers and coverage. The high kneck dresses with lace and ruffle details were designed to make women’s outfits more playful and streamline.
In the 20s the women’s fashion started to take a turnover. Over the years the waist dropped and dresses got cut off right below the knee. Women started to embrace their independence in fashion. The style icon Coco Chanel introduced a more captivating way of dressing using a jersey, light, stretchable fabrics in her women’s clothing lines. However, with the growing American Great Depression, only the rich could afford luxurious outfits.
War’s influence on women’s fashion
War had a huge impact on women’s fashion because women were needed in the workforce. Dresses and skirts were replaced with slacks and pants that gave women mobility at the workplace. When the war was over and men started to return, women were forced out of trousers back into more feminine styles.
Fashion trends in the new era
In the second half of the 20th century as civil movements for women’s rights and equality started making progress women’s fashion changed along with it. Women begun to wear free-styled clothing and a lot of items became unisex. Mini skirts and knee-high boots gained huge popularity. 70s style clothing included sequins, lamé fabric, and breezy dresses. The times were also historic as in the 70s the blue jean was invented.