10 legendary fashion pieces and accessories of the 1920s

Dear readers,

I wish you a happy and of course healthy New Year! I very much hope that you have survived the festive season well and are now (like me) looking forward to more exciting stories from the world of the 1920s! As the year has started with rather glum weather, I wanted to give you something enjoyable. And what could be more enjoyable than a trip into the world of fashion? If you want to know exactly what the typical 1920s look was like, or if you'd like to dress more in this style yourself and need a few tips, I've put together a list of the 10 most iconic items of clothing and accessories of the decade:

1. The Cloche Hat

2. The Flapper Dress

3. The Pearl Necklace

4. The Mary Jane Shoes

5. The V-Neck Coat

6. The Round Sunglasses

7. The Fur

8. The Knickerbocker Trousers

9. The Swimming Costume

10. The Evening Handbag

The Cloche Hat (from French: la cloche = the bell)

This hat shape probably epitomises the typical look of the time like no other. Clinging close to the head, the brim varying from straight down (often pulled deep into the face) to turned up at the side, the cloche was a particularly stark contrast to the hat fashion of the 1910s, which was characterised above all by size and opulence.

The Flapper Dress

Of course, dress fashion in the 1920s was just as radically different as hat fashion. Whereas in the previous decade, dresses still reached all the way to the floor, the hemline was now shortened, barely noticeably at the beginning of the 1920s, but increasingly to just below the knee by the middle to end of the decade. The loose shape was also unusual, with the waistline dropped to the hips, the so-called drop waist. The same silhouette could also be achieved with a two-piece ensemble, for example with a longer blouse or jumper and a skirt (often with a slight drape).

The Pearl Necklace

The jewellery that adorned the ladies of the 1920s often consisted of long pearl necklaces that were worn in single, multi-strand or knotted form. Those who could not afford a real pearl necklace resorted to jewellery made of tortoiseshell, wood and plastic such as bakelite. Like narrow scarves, necklaces could also consist of a long ribbon tied around the neck or worn with a knot in the centre; tassels at both ends were also a popular decoration.

The Mary Jane Shoes

The typical footwear of the time was the so-called Mary Jane shoes, also known as clasp shoes. The name of the shoe is derived from the comic strip Buster Brown, which had been around since the early 20th century. The sister of Buster Brown (the main character of this comic strip) is called Mary Jane, one of whose attributes included clasp shoes. Initially worn more by children, Mary Janes finally found their way into women's fashion over time. In a flat shape or with a higher heel, with a round or slightly more pointed toe, in simple colours such as black or brown or richly decorated for elegant evening wear: there was a suitable model for every occasion.

The V-Neck Coat

There were several coat styles in the 1920s, most of which were long (from knee-length to ankle-length). The loose fit and the V-shaped neckline are particularly iconic- the lapel could be worn in the centre or at the side. Particularly elegant models had fur or other decorations on the collar, pockets or cuffs.

The Round Sunglasses

Although sunglasses did not become a mass product until the mid-1930s, they had already been around for some time. In the 1920s, the lenses were round, often with a narrow rim made of metal or tortoiseshell.

The Fur

Fur was undoubtedly one of the status symbols in the 1920s that ladies of the world liked to show off if they could afford it. Worn as a stole over a sparkling evening dress, as a collar trim or as a coat, fur was an expression of luxury and elegance.

The Knickerbocker Trousers

Trousers for women were not yet part of the regular wardrobe at the beginning of the 20th century and were often viewed with suspicion by many. The growing sports and leisure movement, which had begun at the turn of the century, became even more popular in the 1920s. As early as 1900, there were special cycling trousers for women, although they were still sewn to look like skirts and were only worn for cycling. As many women had to take on men's jobs during the war years, wearing trousers was a practical option for many physical activities. Even after the end of the war, some women did not want to give up wearing trousers for various activities, and trousers such as the practical knee breeches or knickerbockers* were particularly popular for sport and leisure. Other types of trousers with a high waistband and long, wide legs also appeared and remained extremely popular until the 1930s and 1940s. Bold, sophisticated women in particular, who liked to play with gender roles, dared to wear tuxedo trousers from men's fashion. Famous wearers were: Anita Berber and Marlene Dietrich.

The Swimming Costume

Also associated with the sports and leisure movement is the swimming costume, which already existed before the 1920s but only became more revealing than ever in this decade. The typical swimming costume of the time was dark blue or black, with narrow straps, a short leg and usually featured a white waist belt. While the material has changed over time (the suits used to be made out of wool), the shape has remained almost the same, which makes the swimming costume of the 1920s look extremely modern by today's standards.

The Evening Handbag

For a long time, the handbag was not the indispensable item for transporting personal belongings or the status symbol that it is today. In earlier times, ladies usually carried the most important little things in hidden small bags under their skirts, or those who could afford it had servants to do so. It was only with a more independent life, a growing culture of going out that was also accessible to women and a less opulent fashion that the bag was no longer worn under the dress, but over it and quickly became a fashion accessory. Particularly popular in the 1920s were evening bags made of metal mesh, which were often closed with a silver-plated frame.

I hope you enjoyed this little fashion show!

Until next time!

Yours,

Marleen Tigersee

* The name Knickerbocker comes from the satirical story A History of New York by Washington Irving from 1809, which parodied the first mostly Dutch settlers of New York (the city was still called New Amsterdam at the time). The main character of the story is a man named Jansen Knickerbocker who, like all other Dutchmen of the time, wore baggy trousers (or pluderhosen). Knickerbockers later became a nickname for all inhabitants of New York. At the end of the 19th century, knee breeches (or so-called hold-up trousers) found their way into sports and leisure fashion and were named after the historical model.