1920s Flapper Dresses

The roaring twenties was an interesting period in terms of fashion. Women donned a new look in terms of dressing as well as attitude. There were rapid changes in terms of the dressing style. The time was changing and so were the ways of thinking. Women, at that time, wanted freedom of expression and saw it as a means to express their spirited attitude. The 1920s saw a new group of women; those who dared to defy the norms.

Flapper is a term used to denote this new group of women that emerged in the 1920s. The flapper culture signified women who wore short skirts and their tresses in bob haircuts. It also denoted women who did not bat an eyelid, while smoking or drinking, which was considered inappropriate for ladies. Such women thus, had a rather bold and impetuous attitude that was characteristic in many ways in terms of their behavior and sense of dressing. These flappers were therefore, completely liberated in their outlook towards life and were rather defiant in nature. This was a typical feature of the 1920s fashion statements.

Flapper Dresses: An expression of freedom

Flapper dresses became very popular as a 1920s clothing item. These were like a trademark feature of the flapper culture. Flapper dresses were based on a straight silhouette and were loose overall. These were often sleeveless and went down towards the hips. Worn with silk stockings and 2-inch high heels, these dresses soon found their way into the closets of many young flappers. These flapper dresses were extremely fashionable and could be worn for special occasions. The waistline of such dresses was at the hips and the hemline ranged from the calf to the knee. Flapper dresses were not exactly feminine in their overall look. The silhouettes were simple and since women wore their hair short, the look was often a little manly. Sporting so much skin was also a new fashion trend for women during the 1920s. Women by now had bid adieu to corsets and other such forms of fashionable clothing that restricted their movement.

The little black dress popularized in the 1920s by creative fashion designer Coco Chanel only made things simpler for young ladies! Chanel's main objective was to create dresses that were neutral in color and comfortable to wear. She believed black was elegant and made it a style statement. Her image of a woman was always simple and elegant, without any loud colors.

Today, the flapper dresses are slated to be back in fashion. In fact, these have already made an appearance on the red carpet! The current designs are all about looking and feeling sensual with added shimmer. Fringes are an integral part of flapper dresses. The recent designs are all based on mini dresses with fringes that give an added ‘swing’ when a woman walks. Besides, there are many patterns that are more intricate in their detailing with the use of embellishments. These dresses are even studded with sequins and stones as per individual tastes. Elegance personified, these flapper dresses are definitely making a comeback to suit women no matter the shape of the body!

The flapper culture thus marked the beginning of a new and liberated woman. Although this fashion was way back in the 20s, the influence can be seen even till date.