1920s: Fashion

Elegance After Dark

The twenties' silhouette was a variation of the elongated tubular form introduced in the previous decade. The waistline was lowered to the hip. Hemlines gradually rose and reached the knee by 1924. Within three years they began to descend again. Some fullness was achieved with flairs, flounces and pleats. Sleeveless dresses were deemed appropriate for evening wear only. During the 1920s, haute couture took on the structure it has today. Paris design houses developed two collections a year, one for the spring and one for the autumn social seasons. Each designer presented prototypes on models in his or her salon. Garments selected by clients would then be copied and made to order. This entailed several fittings and work by many seamstresses and apprentices. The simple shapes of this period were easily adapted to standardized sizes. This, along with the introduction of electronically powered sewing machines in factories, led to mass production and distribution of new clothing styles. Consumerism in the United States was revolutionized and the number of fashion magazines escalated, providing immediate information on fashion trends.