Formal Dresses of the 1920s

Flappers in the 1920s wore short hair and short skirts.

The 1920s are known as the roaring twenties. Women became more expressive and showcased their new "free" style with flowy dresses and bright colors. They started to wear shorter dresses, even to formal parties. Toward the end of the decade, frills, patterns and silky fabrics became popular so women could dance and be seen at any event.

Free Flowing Formal Dresses

After the First World War, woman started to loosen up their style and their reserved attitudes. Many women gave up wearing the stomach-clenching corsets that restricted their movements. Dresses became looser, with material that allowed for easy movement and dancing.

Women wore dresses made of light material to formal events that included dancing so they could move effortlessly. Jazz was becoming popular during this era--and like the new dress styles--jazz was relaxed and full of rhythm and flow.

Short Formal Dresses

Along with a new liberation, females began to show more of their bodies. Dresses from the decade before were often long, ending at the feet. In the first three years of the 20s, dresses were still primarily ankle length. However, come 1924, evening wear dresses fell at the middle of the calf.

By 1926 or 1927, women were wearing dresses that fell around the knee. The shortened hemlines allowed women to twist and dance with ease. Some dresses began to include panels or pointed sections to create uneven scarf-like hemlines. These add-ons actually gave short dresses a longer look.

Formal Dress Cuts

Women wore dresses to formal events that were mainly sleeveless. Even longer gowns had exposed arms, which was a part of the influence of liberating females during this era. Dresses often had deep necklines shaped like a V or U. The draped look became popular, as sometimes dresses showcased a draped back that swooped past the shoulder blades.

Sometimes the dresses were completely covered with feathers or beads. According to the website 1920s Fashion and Music, notable designer Coco Chanel played a huge role in "scandalizing" the formal dress of women during the 1920s by raising the dress length and including sex appeal.

Dress Patterns and Accessories

Unlike the early1900s long and simple solid-colored dresses, 1920s dresses were filled with vibrant colors and patterns. Accessories added to formal wear made the look elegant and unforgettable. Due to rising hemlines, women wore bright tights with designs made of materials like silk.

Women's shoes and high heels began to become colorful, since dresses were short enough to allow the shoes to be seen. Headwear became all the rage, because women were cutting their hair shorter into the style known as the bob. They wore headbands and hats, flowers and feathers in their hair, as well as long necklaces and layered bracelets while carrying a colorful purse.

References

• 1920s Fashion and Music: 1920s Dresses
• Vintage Dance: What to Wear to 1920s and 1930s Events
• 1920-30: 1920s Women's Fashions