CASUAL WEAR
- Simple styles, ready to wear clothing, and affordable prices were common things that women looked for when purchasing casual wear.
- As the fashion market and retail industries grew so did the demand for fashion and clothing.
- Mass produced fashions provided more availabilities for members of the middle class and even the lower class because they allowed clothing to be sold cheaper. Assembly line technology was developed which allowed for more styles and even lower prices. This helped those who could not afford the most high end fashions, such as the ones from Paris that more wealthy Americans would purchase. This caused the upper class to lose their status as the “fashion leader”. Fashion leaders were being replaced by movie stars and athletes because many people would look up to them and see them as role models, this inspired the youth to take initiative in the fashion industry.
- "Youth" was a symbol for college life which was popular in the overall 1920s culture. Youthful styles, such as short dresses and boyish figures, showed significance because these new styles were a change from the exaggerated female curvy look from the previous generations. This helped to distinguish the different looks between younger women and older women.
- Some popular trends they wore were straight-line chemises and close-fitting cloche hats. They cut their hair to fit under these hats. At first this was considered radical but later on the culture adapted to the trend and it became normal for all women.
- Women wore dresses that they could move around in easily, such as low-waisted dresses that were full at the hemline, this was especially good for dancing since it was a popular pastime in the 1920s. In the 1930s women wore dresses that clung to the body that were made out of lightweight fabrics because often these fabrics would be easier to afford. Dresses that hung from the shoulder were popular and then later on slender and streamlined looks became common. Another popular trend was shorter skirts and less layers of clothing; this was most commonly worn by flappers but not long after the trend originated it spread to the younger generations of American society.
- Due to the increasing wealth and interest in sports the upper class became interested in fashionable casual daytime wear as well. They often wore more bias cuts, which was a technique many designers would use to utilize the stretch of the fabric and allow the dress to stretch and have a much more fitting look when worn.
- Some women wore clothing that mimicked art and design at the time, called Art Deco.
Below is a video of everyday American women in 1930s. This video portrays what they wore on a daily basis.