Fashion past – 1920’s

Recently The Times 2 supplement carried an article on the values of feminism – BBC news presenter and journalist Rosie Boycott says ‘financial prosperity has made women materialistic’ now the modern women works not to prove her sisterhood, but to buy that extra holiday to recover from the extra work she is doing – cultural shifts are forever dictating the mode of behaviour, and style.

Modern world, modern woman
Rosie Boycott  may have preferred the humble but forward ladies of the 1920’s – a merging of femininity and feminism. The roaring 20’s saw women use fashion to show off their new identity – freedom, independence and a break from the feminine norm – a modern woman with a modern mind. Masculine elements in female costume permeated the wardrobes of many. Around the same time dress levels rose – women baring pants was just as daring as exposing limbs. Women became a rebels – by the mid 1920’s the style was coined ‘ The Flapper’.

The reason for this trend was simple and still prevails today. The end of the First World War spurned a cultural shift that influenced women’s values and the way in which they perceived themselves, and consequently the clothes they wore. Women had become independent of men and in the process found both femininity, and masculinity was there for the taking. Imagine the liberation and comfort of wearing slacks? These days it’s taken for granted.

Join red
Recent natural disasters have also influence trends in fashion. The Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina have urged people think about their responsibility to the world – look how concepts such as (RED) are seen as a fashionable way forward and being eco-friendly seems to be on the tip of many consumers’ tongues.   

Sign of the Times
Similar to the 1920’s today’s fashion reflects our culture – from last season’s ultra-minimal look to a colour-evasive attitude which indicates an act of mourning – a time to reflect on recent sadness. Now is a time to reflect on our recent materialistic greed. Rosie Boycott justified in giving her opinion, women did not gain independence to become Gucci obsessed and oppressed by employment.

New designers lead the way
Social sanity comes in the form of new designers – New York’s Donner Party and London’s Customers own Property emphasise a departure from glitz and a re-birth of the ‘working’ class hero. Fashion, like other design phenomena is an intrinsic pointer to changes in our world, compare the past to the eminent future and this is evident.

Words Michelle Morton-Banks