Children's Formal Clothes in the 1920s
The 1920s were an era of decadence, combined with poverty. The flapper style rose to popularity during the decade, as dresses and skirt lengths rose and women became more empowered. The stock market crash at the end of the era symbolized a change across all areas of American life. Children's formal clothes in the 1920s mimicked the same style and patterns as formal clothing worn by adults.
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Dresses
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Formal dresses for little girls in the 1920s were typically made to look like multiple pieces, though the dress was only one piece. Skirts fell to the knee or slightly above, with a collar that laid flat across the neck. Boat neck style dresses, with necklines that sat flat across the collar bone, were also popular. The dresses typically had an attached piece of material around the middle that resembled a belt. During the early part of the 1920s, some girls wore formal dresses with a high level of decoration, including ribbons and bows wrapped and tied around the middle.
Suits
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During the 1920s, formal wear for young boys relied primarily on suits. The bolero suit is one example of a suit from the decade and one worn by boys. The suit featured shorts that fell above the knee and a jacket made in a matching fabric. The jackets had a bolero style, with sleeves that stopped just above the wrists, letting the shirt sleeves poke out. Suits of this type were typically worn with a rounded collar shirt, with the collar overhanging the top of the jacket. According to Past Patterns, common materials of the suit included flannel, twill and cotton.
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Accessories
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When attending a formal event, young children finished off their outfits with a few accessories. The 1920s saw the end to formal hats and the beginning of hair ribbons or hair decorations for young girls. At times, the hair ribbons were as large as six-inches across and velvet was often used in the creation of the ribbons. Young boys could accessorize with a tie and matching handkerchief, tucked into the front pocket of their suit.
Shoes
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The 1920s also saw a change in shoe styles for children. Young boys wore black leather shoes that slipped on or, black patent leather slip-on shoes. As the decade progressed, laced shoes became popular for formal events. Shoes for young girls included T-strap shoes, with a strap that resembled the letter T or, the ankle strap shoe. Ankle strap shoes had a small button attached to one side, near the ankle. The strap crossed the top of the foot and the button held it in place.
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References
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