that were made by women. Before World War I, women wore full length dresses and usually wore corsets. As the war ended, many women wanted to express themselves freely. This included shortening the dresses and removing the form fitting corsets. The waist line on dresses dropped lower to have more of a manly figure. Also, hats were very popular to accommodate the shorter hair length on women. Hats were typically snug around the head and provided coverage for the fore head. Most hats covered the ears and were also tilted forward. Makeup also made a big statement in the 1920s. Men began to dress more casual and discarded the formal attire(“1920’s Fashions and Accessories including Prices.”). The fashion trend for men began to bear resemblance to the typical uniform for fighter pilots of World War I(“Teenagers in the 1920s.”). One of the most dramatic changes made in the 1920’s was a short hair length for women. This new trend changed a lot about a woman. In the 1920’s, this act meant more than it does today. Women were getting haircuts because they wanted to feel independent and unaffiliated with traditions set before the war. Short hair expressed more of a manly appearance. F. Scotts Fitzgerald’s book, “Bernice Bobs Her Hair”, first introduction the option for women to cut their hair. Styles of short hair varied from “Dutch Boy”, which was square around the face with bangs, to “Eton Crop”, which was all over short hair that exposed the ears. Finger waves were also very popular for women to have(“1920s Hairstyles- Short & Beautiful.”). Many hair styles that are around today can be traced back to a similar style set in the 1920’s. A major difference during this time period included a change of mindset.
Young women rebelled against typical etiquette and expressed themselves more independently since the war ended. They did not want to conform to the rules and guidelines that restricted them from being happy since the war terrors. These women were viewed provocative, insensitive, unladylike, and masculine. Much of the older generation did not approve this new trend, yet the younger generation sensed they could be happy again. These young women were considered flappers(“Famous Flappers.”). They modeled the short dresses and they chose habits that were against the normal. They began to drink and smoke a lot, even when drinking was prohibited(“Fads of the 1920s Thru 1940s.”). Along with that, a lot of flappers danced and brought new dance moves to the generation(“Teenagers in the 1920s.”). They abandoned the idea of courting and wanted to date rich men. Most young men found the flappers attractive based on their independence and rebellious attitude(“Fads of the 1920s Thru 1940s.”). Although the flappers were iconic for the 1920’s, most women were not flappers(“The Roaring Twenties.”). Flappers were highlighted in the news and talked about because of their independence away from conservative lifestyle. When the stock market crashed in 1929, the stereotype of flappers began to settle down and soon become nonexistent(“Fads of the 1920s Thru
1940s.”). Following the flappers, the idea of the teenager blossomed in the 1920’s. Early on, most people were considered either a child or an adult. But in the 1920’s, teenager-aged people began to separate themselves from adults. They wanted to be more independent. More teenagers completed high school and advanced to college. This was made possible by the use of school buses that gave the opportunity for kids to go to school. Many teens enjoyed going to the movies, playing miniature golf, attending dances, and taking advantage of the ability to drive. Now that teens were able to drive cars, this introduced the idea of dating. Courting became less popular as cars were used because this allowed a couple to be alone on a date without her parents permission(“The Invention of the Teenager.”). These teenagers wanted to escape the trials leading after the war. They tried to fulfill this by doing what made them happy. The modern ideas were appealing to young adults because never before could they express themselves differently from their parents rules and guidelines. Through the idea of teenagers, advancement in fashion, and confidence in personalities, the 1920’s left an imprint on history. Many standards were lowered and rules broken, just to express the feeling of independence. Without this pivotal change, Americans may still have been stuck in a conforming and conservative lifestyle, limiting ideas, inventions, and freedom.