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1900's -- Age of the Corset and Bustle
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Period: to
The 1900's
1900’s
Morning and afternoon dresses were common in this era as well as evening gowns. Clothing was simple and elegant to emphasize the shape of a woman’s tightly corseted torso. (3) -
1910's -- Soft Pleats and Bloomers
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Period: to
1910's
1910’s
Soft lines, rather than corsets, were fashionable during this era. Dresses usually had a long slim shape with bright fabrics. Tea gowns, pleated skirts, and bright fabrics were very fashionable during this time. (3) -
1920's -- Short Skirts/The Roaring 20's
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Period: to
1920's
1920’s
Women ditched the tight, uncomfortable clothes, to more comfortable clothes such as short skirts or trousers. Men also abandoned the suits and starting wearing athletic clothing for the first time. The suits men wear today are still based on the suits in the 1920's. Hats, shoes, stockings, handbags, dresses and jewelry all came together in harmony. This was a time of prosperity for many people. (4) -
1930's -- Long Skirts and Fur
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Period: to
1930's
1930’s
Over the course of the 1930s, there was a general change in the style of women’s fashion from the 20’s. The uni-sex look worn by women in the 1920s, with short, cropped hair and a flattened boyish silhouette, gradually gave way to a more feminine look. -
Period: to
1930's continued
The re-introduction of the natural waist line and longer skirt lengths gave the female form a more elegant and slender look. The women wore dresses and kept their hair close to their head. Fur was in and so were floral patterns. Makeup was chic and shoulder pads were very important until the late 1930s. (7) For many, however, the Great Depression meant re-fitting and re-using dresses that were once abandoned. (4) -
1940's -- Buttons and Hats
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Period: to
1940's
1940’s
The fashion trends during this time were simple due to the war because shops had been closing down. Women wore button-up dresses, past the knee and curled hair under a small hat. Hats were a key item in this time and you could not leave the house without one. Skirts were longer and wider to give women a simpler look. (5) After the war, men wore suits with high waisted pants. (6) -
1950's -- Petticoats and Wide Skirts
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Period: to
1950's
An hourglass shape became popular in this era to show off a woman's figure. Women's dresses were made with excess fabric, showing off intricate gatherings, a multitude of pleats, poofy petticoats, and fabulous collars. Short skirts (but still below the knee), wide shoulders, and strapless dresses were popular fashion trends during this time. Men still wore button down jackets but clothes became a little more fitted.
