1920s Hairstyles & Fashion

The bob is still a popular style today.

The fashion of the 1920s was led by style stars such as Coco Chanel and Clara Bow. 1920s hair was defined by the shift away from the traditional feminine look with longer hair to a more androgenous and striking style. These new styles represented the changing role of women in society at the time and the stark move against traditional gender styles.

The Bob

In the 1920s, the act if cutting your hair short was referred to as "bobbing." The bob was introduced to suit the fashionable "cloche" hats worn by women at the time. A bob is a generic short cut that comes in a variety of sub-styles. Typically a bob falls just below the ears and is cut square across the back of the neck.

The Shingle

The Shingle was a style that evolved through the decade of the '20s. A shingle cut was identifiable by a very short cut at the back. The hair lay very flat to the woman's head, covering her ears. Younger women sporting the Shingle style often had ringlets or spit curls at their cheeks.

The Eton Crop

The Eton Crop was named after the famous English public school for boys. This style was a boyish look that left the hair much shorter. It was a close cut all over, leaving the ears exposed. It was designed to emphasize the shape of a woman's head and focus attention on her face.

The Dutch Boy

The Dutch Boy style was a striking style made popular by the actress Louise Brooks. The style led to Brooks being referred to as "the girl in the black helmet" because of the the close sharp style of the cut. The Dutch Boy was cut with a squared-off fringe and squared-off bangs that frame the face. It was reminiscent of the sharp lines of the art-deco style popular at the time.

References

• 1920's fashion and music