1920 Fashion Year Clothing for Women and Men

The 2020 New Year has spurred an interest in all things 1920s again- #backtothe20s ! While most people celebrated in flapper dresses and gangster suits, I spent some time revisiting actual clothing from the year 1920. For 1921 fashion look here.

I adore the early years of the 1920s because they are not often talked about but are more often flattering on all body shapes, whereas the later years’ straight drop-waist dresses need careful fit and selection to look becoming on curvy figures. For men, the early ’20s more closely resembles today’s modern skinny fit fashions, and therefore are easier to repurpose into slightly more accurate ensembles than the mid-’20s wide leg/boxy silhouette.

Winter weight dresses were made of velveteen and wool serge in dark hues. Short sleeves were elbow length, necklines were round or high square. Skirts featured oversized pockets.  Fancy embroidery decorated dresses.

The year 1920 in terms of fashion was a carryover from post WWI simplicity, but before the La Garcone flapper revolution. Dress hemlines hovered around the ankle, the fit was very loose, collars and pockets were oversized, and trim was pretty but made on the cheap with embroidery and ribbon. Colors were muted for the fall and winter, yet perked up a bit in the spring. For men, suit colors were also very drab, yet the new Jazz Age slim look for young men was pushing them into brighter blues and greens with distinct patterns such as plaids and stripes. The new decade was promising a much more cheerful and comfortable way of dressing, one that was being determined by the working classes who moved from the country to the city in search of an easier (and more fashionable) life.

First, let me take a look at women’s 1920 fashion, and then we’ll move onto men’s 1920 clothing (click here to jump).

1920s Dresses and Suits

Dresses- History of 1920s house dress and day dresses and evening gowns. Also women’s suits.

1920 Blouses and Sweaters

1920s blouses and sweater history.

1920 Skirts

1920 skirts history

1920 Coats

1920s ladies’ coats.

1920 Shoes & Stockings

1920s women’s shoes/boots and stockings.

1920 Hats

1920s women’s hat styles.

1920 Accessories

Women’s gloves history

1920s handbags

1920s Ladies Jewelry styles

1920 Lingerie

1920s lingerie and night clothes history

1920 Men’s Clothing : Suits

Men’s 1920s suit styles

1920 Men’s Coats

1920s men’s coats and jackets history

1920 Men’s Shirts and Sweaters

1920s men’s dress shirts and casual shirts

1920s men’s sweaters / jumpers

1920 Men’s Workwear

1920s men’s workwear

1920 Men’s Boots and Shoes

1920s men’s boots and shoes styles

1920 Men’s Hats

1920s men’s hat styles. Also hat etiquette (fascinating!)

Caps- Colors and patterns were bold, big, and youthful. (His socks are fun too)

1920 Men’s Accessories

And that, folks, is fashion in the year of 1920. Next year, we will dive into fashion in 1921, which for the most part was unchanged.

1921 fashion dresses and blouses