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Modesty (1920s)
The woman pictured, and her baby was from the 1920s, a period in America known as the Roaring Twenties for all the prosperity. Her dress is stark white and highly modest, covering her entire legs and sleeves, showing only below the elbow. The 1920s were a period when women wanted a minimalist look and comfort. Her hair is also in a low, tight bun with no one hair out of place. Lastly, it is essential to note that her dress has no patterns.
"Japanese American woman holding a baby" -
Minimalistic (1930s)
The woman pictured is from the 1930s when the United States focused on the Great Depression. She is dressed very modestly, with only her calves and arms showing. Her hair is cut short rather than pulled back; a headband keeps the hair out of her face. Her outfit does not have much color or pattern.
"Woman in a Drop Waist Dress Holding a Bouquet of Flowers" -
Patterned (1940s)
The woman pictured was from the 1940s, a period of unrest with WWII. She is wearing a polka-dot dress. The trend for this period included shoulder pads, a below-the-knee hemline, and a tight waist. She is dressed modestly, covering her shoulders and knees, but now the dress is much more form-fitted. It is not meant to hide her body but rather accentuate her womanly figure. There is no focus on hair, but there is a trend in hair accessories.
"Models in Suits and Dress" -
Utility (1950s)
The woman pictured was from the 1950s, including the civil rights movement and the Cold War. There was a significant shift in style, as in the past, the style has been very feminine, where the pants, shirt, and jacket combo became part of the norm for women. The hat continues to be the trend, with less of a focus on hair and more on accessories. There was much influence from brands such as Chanel with boxy jackets and straight shirts.
"Flora Grant, Pend Oreille County" -
Daring (1960s)
The woman pictured was from the 1960s, during the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. This was a turning point for women's fashion, as designers began to create daring and edged clothes that pushed past boundaries of modesty and gender norms. The woman is wearing a patterned full-color dress and is form-fitting to accentuate the woman's waist with a tight belt. Hair became more of a focus, as seen by her hair being done in a half-up, half-down style.
"Eugene Conley and a woman on a stage" -
Boundaries (1970s)
The woman pictured was from the 1970s when inflation was soaring, and the Vietnam War continued. As for fashion, it began a period of sexual freedom for women. This was an age when women began to show their skin by wearing dresses that came down to only above the knee. The popular style of hair became a blowout with minimal hair accessories. Patterns do not appear to be the main focus, and there is color, but because there are fewer patterns, the colors do not appear as stark.
"Mini Dress, Ohio"