Your guide to 1920s women’s fashion

Jazz clubs, prohibition, bootleggers and ritzy parties — these are all things associated with the roaring twenties. But there’s more to this era than just what we see in The Great Gatsby. 

The 1920s was a decade of significant change for women in politics, the home, the workplace and education. The most prominent reason for this change was the after-affects of World War 1 when women began taking on what were seen as traditionally “men’s roles”.

But by the time the 1920s came around, women were pushing for more liberation, and like every decade throughout history, social movements have always had a ripple effect on how people dressed — this was the same for women in the 1920s.

And thus began the first era of commercialised fashion which paved the way for famous 1920s icons like Coco Chanel, Joan Crawford and Dolores del Rio to memorialise the decade.

Look and feel a part of the roaring twenties with a costume from Blossom Costumes. With a huge range of budget-friendly 1920s costumes, you’ll find the perfect fit for your next event.

What did women wear in the 1920s?

The Chemise Dress

The most popular 1920s fashion dress was the chemise dress or what’s also known as a ‘shift’ dress. With a dropped waistline at the hips, the dress hung without shape on the body from shoulder to just below the knee. It was also trendy to wear these dresses with a belt at the drop waist. 

Traditionally chemise dresses were worn as lingerie to protect clothing from sweat and body oils, but in the roaring twenties, these dresses were repurposed to become the fashion norm. 

1920s Flapper Dresses

In the Edwardian age, it was all about corsets and creating curves in women’s fashion, but when it came to 1920s fashion, it was the exact opposite for flapper dresses.

Flapper dresses featured elegant beadwork that sat straight up and down on the body, giving a column effect. These dresses were made with movement in mind so that ladies could move more freely on the dance floor. Sometimes 1920 fashion flapper dresses were also backless, which made them even more scandalous for the time. 

Women who wore this type of 1920s dress style were known as flapper girls and were often known to be bubbly and youthful. The flapper look was complete with a string of pearls and a feather or jewelled headband.

Blouses and skirts 

Women in the 1920s wore skirts and blouse separates for everyday occasions. However, these skirts usually weren’t formal enough for the afternoons or evenings, when women likely changed into a chemise dress. 

In contrast to today, most skirts in the 1920s were categorised as “sporty” and were included in sports uniforms, including golf and tennis (which can still be seen in our fashion culture today).

On the other hand, blouses were called an “over-blouse” or “waists” and were worn as casual everyday wear. Most blouses were white and light-weight, but colours and patterns came in and out of fashion over the decade. As seen with 1920s dresses, blouses also featured a low waistline and were worn loose and untucked.

Jackets and coats

For women in the 1920s, coats were a must-have in every closet. Popular 1920s coat styles included; fur-trimmed coats, winter coats, overcoats, collegiate and raincoats. The stereotypical coats you would see in 1920s movies were wool coats with deep pockets and a detachable fur collar. During this era, fur coats were luxurious and became a symbol of the upper class.

Lighter spring coats were also common during this time; however, they were much shorter. Spring capes also became fashionable and were worn over evening dresses and tied at the neck. 

1920s ladies shoes

In the early 1900s, women wore long dresses that typically covered their shoes. So for a period of time, shoes were designed like pretty lingerie and weren’t really meant to be seen. 

But as hemlines began rising in the roaring twenties, ladies shoes were admired. 1920s women often matched their shoes to their garments and the season. Different types of shoes included tennis shoes, oxfords, sandals, pumps, lace-up boots and slippers.

Popular 1920 shoe styles included:

• The Strap Pump
• Mary Jane Shoes
• Lattice Pumps
• Colonial Pumps
• Step-in Pumps
• T-Strap Heels

1920s headbands, hats and hair accessories

Beaded headbands, skullcaps and feather hair clips became decade-defining trends of the roaring twenties. 1920s headbands, known as “bandeaus”, became a trend with evening dresses as the search for King Tutt's tomb began in 1920 and women were influenced by the Egyptian queen look. Royal jewellery, like crowns and tiaras, were also fashionable, as well as headwraps, headdresses and hair clips made with gemstones, pearls and feathers.

1920s style hats

The classic hat of the 1920s was the cloche hat which was bell-shaped and often featured adornments like feathers and flowers. Other popular hat styles included the bucket hat, straw summer hat and wrapped turbans. 

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend

Most 1920s jewellery can be described as “art deco” or “modernism” in design. Fashion-forward jewellery became more accessible during this era, as costume jewellery was created and plastic replicated popular jade and amber pieces. 

Jewellery for this era was all about embedding gemstones into rings and bracelets, and of course, long pearls were a staple. Long clip-on earrings were shown off with the shorter hairstyles of the decade, and stacked wrist cuff bangles were common. 

Diamonds were only shown off for formal events, and that Egyptian influence was still present, with women starting to wear bracelets high on the arm. 

More 1920s women’s accessories 

• Gloves
• Handbags
• Flasks
• Cigarette cases
• Sunglasses
• Parasols
• Lace and feather fans
• Feather boas

How did women do their hair and makeup in the 1920s?

Decade-defining 1920s makeup

In the early 1900s, cosmetics weren’t commonly worn due to their stereotype of being associated with ‘loose’ morals, but of course, the 1920s changed this societal belief. 

Women began to copy the makeup treads used by movie stars which often included a lot of darker makeup to ensure it showed up on camera. This meant a lot of face powder and rouge was used and dramatic lipstick to create an overdone lip line. Women applied kohl to their eyelashes and plucked their eyebrows only to draw one on with an eye pencil. 

Popular 1920s hairstyles

The 1920s was the first decade where women began to cut their hair short as a sign of liberation and empowerment. 

The Shingle Bob

Getting its name from a row of sloping shingles used on a rooftop, the “Shingle” was trendy in the early 1920s. The style featured rows of layered waves that were cut long at the sides, curved behind the ear, and came to a point at the front of the ear.

The Eton Crop

This popular 1920s hairstyle was named after the prestigious English boy’s school, Eton College. Most famously worn by Josephine Baker, the “Eton Crop” was a short, slicked version of the bob style. 

The Dutch Boy Bob

This cut was first made famous by American film actress Colleen Moore. The hair was styled as a straight, slicked and smooth edge bob that came just below the chin and featured bangs. 

The Marcel Wave

The “Marcel Wave” was created using heated curling irons that made controlled waves quickly. The hair was still short but not as short as other bob styles and focused more on the waves of the hair.

Become your own iconic roaring twenties socialite by searching through the thousands of 1920s costume options on Blossom Costumes. With hassle-free returns within 30 days and free shipping on orders over $30, embodying a 1920s look has never been easier!