Fashion in the 1920s

The 1920s was a vibrant, energetic decade that bustled with jazz music, fast cars and glamorous movie stars. Fashion was at the forefront of this first true explosion of popular culture: bright young things donned short skirts and cloche hats, gents dressed in sharp tweed suits and spats, and even children’s clothing was given a thorough overhaul. Jayne Shrimpton here explains the various elements that shaped British fashion in the 1920s, including the strong influences of Paris and Hollywood and looking not only at the clothes worn by the rich and famous but also at those of the common people – and at those who chose to dress conservatively in this age of ‘anything goes’.