1920s Women’s Fashion & Clothing Trends

The Duncan Sisters wearing mid 1920s fashion

The roaring twenties was a golden era of fashion.  WW1 left women desiring a simple, comfortable lifestyle and a fashion style that reflected the new modern age where young women outnumbered the older Edwardian generation. 1920s fashion was made for by the young and free spirited youth who discarded their corsets and showed off their jazz dancing legs. Many historians say the ’20s flat chested look was inspired by young boys, la garcone, yet if you look at 1910s girl’s clothing you will see drop-waist dresses in the same styles that were made for women after 1922. 1920s women for all ages and sizes embraced these youthful girly looks and genderless identities that enabled them to live in a care-free manner, pursuing new hobbies and opening new doors for women’s rights.

1920s Fashion Trends 

• Below knee length drop waist dresses with a loose, straight fit
• Beaded evening dresses inspired by “flappers”
• Mary Jane or T-strap heels
• Casual sport golf knickers, argyle socks, blouse and tie
• Cocoon fur coats and fringe shawls
• Cloche hats and short bobbed hairstyles
• Bead or feather headbands for evening wear
• Long pearl necklaces, tassel necklaces, drop earrings, Art Deco color faux gemstones
• Small beaded purses held pretty makeup compacts and cigarette cases

Strictly looking at fashion the 1920s, the decade featured the above fashion trends. Some, of the trends but not all, include what we have come to associate 1920s clothing with today. Absent are fishnet stockings, short fringe covered flapper dresses and gangster outfits that emerged in the 1960s does 1920s throwback. These make fun costumes for parties but have little place in 1920s fashion history.

Late 20s dresses and shoes

Instead, this article will highlight 1920s women’s fashion that was worn by the typical middle to upper-classes in the USA, UK and beyond. For additional detailed history follow the links within to more 1920s fashion history articles to sign up for the 1920s Style Guide series to receive them in your email box over the next 3 months. There are also links and tips on where to buy 1920s inspired clothing so you can create your own authentic (or not) 2os outfit.

For 1920s men’s fashion look here. 

1920s Women’s Dresses

The first two years of the 1920s reflected the same fashion as the late Edwardian period with a natural waistline, full sleeves, and ankle length dresses. Fashions were easy to wear, pretty, and feminine. After 1922 the waistline began to drop and the fullness slimmed down into tube-shaped sacks. Hemlines began to rise to mid-calf only to be dropped again in 1924, although most women ignored the longer length trend. Women wanted shorter and shorter dresses, gradually rising to just below the knee by 1925 and staying there until the 1930s. Teenagers followed women’s trends sometimes setting new trends with casual and sporty clothing.

1924 tunic day dresses- notice the long lengths and shapeless fit

The tops of 192s dresses remained modest with wide open boatnecks or V necklines to allow dresses to be slipped on overhead. Sleeves were usually long, at least elbow length with sleeveless party dresses only acceptable in the evenings.  The dropping waistline moved from the naval to the hip with wide sashes or thin belts to accent the placement. Vertical details such as dangling neckties, a row of buttons, vertical pleats and thin collars emphasized a long and lean figure. Not everyone was the idealized boyish shape and these details helped elongate stout women.

At home, house dresses were made up in cheerful small cotton prints, gingham checks, plaid, and vertical stripes trimmed in white piping, rick rack, and ruffles. Oversized white round, shawl or pointed collars earmarked these dresses as suitable for homeware or domestic service uniforms. The addition of large patch pockets made them practical for household chores as well as wearing a full apron in the elongated style. 

1923 cotton house dresses in plaids and checks

Leaving the house required women to change clothes into something more appropriate for their destination. Running errands, working in an office or department store, or visiting friends in the afternoons put women into a solid color dress with a matching light jacket or a wool two-piece traveling suit. For church, women dressed in the best outfit she owned complete with coordinated gloves, hat and bag.

Necklines were a modest boat, scoop or V neck with many sporting round peter pan, shawl or V neck collars. Long sleeves such as the bishop or bell sleeves added variety at the wrist. Patterned dresses were also chosen in floral, abstract or Art Deco themes, especially in spring and summers colors.

If a woman were going to a tea at a restaurant or a garden party her dress may have been made of richer fabrics such as silk, satin, organdy, or chiffon. All white or floral dresses were common for summer tea parties as well as short cap or sleeveless tops. Afternoon dresses also featured tired skirts, wraps to one side, or hanky hems by the end of the decade. Large flower corsages decorated one shoulder in 1926 while embroidered appliques accented many waistlines. See the many ways to decorate a plain 20s dress. 

1921 afternoon dresses

In the spring women favored pastel colors and jewel tones for the fall/winter.  Gas blue a medium blue was the newest color in style in the early 20s while the earthy 70s palette of orange, green and tan were seen in the later years. Fabrics were usually light and airy with enough weight to drape in straight lines. Gold and silver were reserved for evenings and even black was sometimes worn when heavily decorated in beads and sequins. Sheer dresses were worn over a matching long slip. Learn more about fabrics and colors. 

Common Clothing Colors of the 1920s

Evening events had women dressed in fine fabrics with or without sleeves and more dramatic decoration. The all fringe covered flapper dress didn’t exist although fringe was used as an accent on hemlines and evening shawls. Metal sequins were very expensive and used sparingly. Beading and embroidery with metallic thread were the preferred decorations on most women’s evening wear although it was quite normal to have none of it.

Beaded glitzy dresses became associated with misbehaving “flappers” who were young women always on the lookout for a good time. This meant frequenting night clubs, jazz halls, and illegal speakeasies. In reality, many fashion designers made beaded, sequin and fringe trimmed dresses for their elite clients who could afford the extravagant cost. 

Beaded dress

Instead, formal dresses had architectural details in the form of Grecian inspired draping or fancy hemlines or were made of richer fabrics- silks and sheers in summer and velvet in winter. Lace made a brief revival in the mid 1920s but was usually considered to “old” for youth-driven fashion. Both long and short evening gowns graced the dance floor.  Learn more about 1920s evening gowns here and here.

Fashion for mature women differed slightly than for young women. Many traditional ladies dressed in the same styles as the 1910s or they choose the most modest designs with longer hemlines and full sleeves.  Poor women too did not follow the latest styles. Their clothing was either purchased second hand and a few years out of style or handmade without much trim and only in cheap fabrics. The simplicity of the clothing designs made them very affordable to sew from home, without a pattern, or using patterns illustrated in ladies home magazines. Shop 1290s sewing patterns.

Separates- Skirts, Tops, Jackets, Coats

While dresses were the predominate clothing item for women, mixing and matching separates was growing in popularity. Pleated skirts paired with collared blouses and a light matching jacket for spring and summer.  The early 20s saw heavily embroidered sheer blouses with folk art designs. These were worn with long, straight skirts that touched at the ankles. The tunic top with thin belt tie was another common design as was the sporty sailor inspired Middy blouse.  Collared and button-down shirt-blouses dominated the late 1920s. They were always worn hanging over the skirts, never tucked under. Learn more about blouses and skirts. 

Outer coats were heavier wool coats the same length as dresses with an overall shape of a caterpillar’s cocoon. Fun plaids, checks, and pastel color spring coats mimicked the color palette of clothing underneath or coordinated with a hat.  Lighter jackets mentioned above were sold with dresses or skirts. They were collarless, trimmed in embroidery and hip length. The armless cape coat was also popular in the later 20s.

1927 spring cocoon coats

Many winter coats were trimmed in removable fur shawl collars that buttoned at the side waist. Fur stoles, wraps, and shawls added richness and warmth when a full overcoat wasn’t needed. All-fur coats were an option for the rich with cheaper furs dyed to look like luxury furs were options for the middle classes.

A fringe-trimmed scarf coat was an elegant coverup for evenings as well rich velvet opera coats. Learn about coats,jackets and wraps (fur, fringe and shawls.)

Sportswear / Casual Clothing

What about pants? Did women wear pants or shorts in the 1920s? The 1920s was the first decade to fully embrace women in men’s inspired sports clothes. Sport is what they called casual back then. These were clothes worn by young “new women” who had interests in playing sports, enjoying outdoor activities, and in some cases working in them (Hollywood movie sets.) Long pants were uncommon until the Asian inspired lounge pajama or beach pajama made wearing them at home or on vacation acceptable in 1929. Read about pants and knickers. 

The sport outfit consisted of knee-length wool knicker pants, tall socks and a collared blouse or middy top with a necktie. Knit pullover sweaters, cardigan sweaters, and vests were also worn over blouses. They came in jewel tone solids, wide stripes or detailed prints such as fair isle, geometric checks, and windowpane. They were long, down to lower the hip, with matching belt ties in the early years and contrasting cuffs and collars in the later years.

1928 teen in knit tops and skirt sets

Casual knit jackets, striped blazers or plaid jackets (lumberjack blouses) looked similar but with buttons all along the front. These same sweaters and jackets were worn with knit skirts and dresses for a slightly more formal look than with knickers.  Read about sweaters here. Also, have a look at these 1920s casual outfit ideas.

1925 sport jackets & sweaters

At the beach, women wore the new style of swimsuit which was now well above the knee with a fitted long tank top over attached shorts. Black, red, blue, green and orange wool swimsuits with colored horizontal stripes or white trim on the edges became saggy in the water. To keep swimwear modest women wore long, knee high black stockings and canvas beach shoes or rubber slippers.  Learn about 1920s swimwear.

Swimsuit, parasol, stockings and beach shoes

 Hats and Hair Accessories

After the primary clothing was chosen, women would select a hat or hair accessory to complement her outfit. This was not an era that needed accessories to match although a hat looked dressier when coordinated with one color in the dress or another accessory.

The most famous hat of the 1920s was the helmet shaped cloche hat. Its tight fit around the skull and low brim required women to lift their chin up to see where they were walking. Cloche hats were minimally decorated with simple ribbon shapes and abstract flowers placed flat to one side or embellished with a pretty brooch pin. Embroidery and applique were other decorating technique women could apply at home, repurposed trim from older hats, to save a few dollars.  Folds and creases also created architectural delights while the occasional tall single feather added height for petite women.

Non-cloche hats were also common, especially in the early years when the straw picture hat had a rolled brim, wide side brims or flat sailor hat shape.  The 2-3 point musketeer hat featured a flat forehead brim with pretty embroidery decoration and an ostrich plume feather draping off one side.  Casual hats were the knit beret, tam ‘o shanter, or swathed turban.

The velvet or gold lame turban was the only hat that could be worn with evening gowns. The look was inspired by ancient Egyptian queens who became a major fashion trend after King Tut’s Tomb was discovered in 1922. Egyptomania influenced hats, evening gowns, and jewelry during the entire decade. Learn more about 1920s hats styles.

Lucy Doraine, Hungarian actress, wears a turban hat

Hair accessories were alternatives to hats for both day and evening looks. The headscarf was an especially popular hair accessory that could be casual or formal.  Silk scarves were also worn loosely around the neck creating a classy and sophisticated outfit.

1920s head wraps with scarves.

Other hair accessories reserved for the evenings included headbands encrusted with beads, crystals or a feather. The all-over bead Juliet cap (skull cap) was inspired by Egyptian headdresses. Draping long beads or pearls around the bobbed hairstyle was another simple form of hair decoration as well as adding a crystal hair comb to one side or a tortoiseshell hair comb in the back of a chignon bun.

Various styles of 1920s headbands and hair clips

Ladies Shoes

Previously women wore lace-up boots at all hours of the day.  In the 1920s that all changed as the casual oxford shoe and strappy heels exposed feet like never before.  Lace up oxfords were practical and sturdy with a low heel. Dressy heels featured several straps or a single strap (Mary Jane) across the vamp. The colonial pump lacked straps but featured a decorated buckle or wide buckle over the tongue.

In the late 1920s, the T-strap became the new fashionable heel. Most oxfords and heels were brown or black which coordinated with every outfit. In summer, white heels were worn with white tea dresses.

Evening shoes were often dyed to match dresses or had painted heels and straps in gold or silver and bedazzled with rhinestones and gold buckles. Heel heights rose to at most, 3 inches, although illustrations made them appear taller. Learn more about 1920s shoe styles. 

1929 heels

Casual shoes in summer were made of white canvas and sometimes trimmed in black or brown leather for a two-tone style. Heels were very low but never flat. Tall boots were worn for hiking and workwear while rubber boots and galoshes protected dress shoes from rain and snow. Learn more about boots. 

Accessories

Gloves. Most women wore gloves when leaving the house, only to remove them for eating, smoking or using the restroom. There was a strong fear of germs which leather, suede or silk gloves provided protection from. 1920s gloves were usually mid-arm length for daytime and over the elbow for evenings. Daytime gloves may have been cuffed in fur or decorative trim. They came in black, grey, brown or ivory with pearl buttons at the wrist. Learn more about gloves.

1928 ladies gloves

Jewelry. Gone were the days of showing off wealth through layers of expensive jewelry. Minimalism was preferred in the 1920s with a long bead, pearl or tasseled necklaces worn in the late afternoon or evenings. Since short haircuts exposed ears, long clip-on drop earrings gave women a place to show off some bling. Wrist cuff bangles and bracelets were a place to wear jewelry during the daytime. A brooch pin on the shoulder, belt or sash was another fashionable placement for the latest in Art Deco jewelry.

Wearing a tasseled long bead necklace and drop earrings

Black, red, blue, coral and jade green gems set in gold made bold color statements. Fake jewelry looked just like real stones making every woman equal in her accessories. To wear jewelry or not was a personal choice. Plenty of women saved jewelry for only special occasions or only wore one piece with each daytime outfit. Learn more about 1920s jewelry styles. 

Vintage 1920s jewelry

Wristwatches were practical but highly decorated pieces of jewelry. Watch faces came in square or rectangle Art Deco designs covered in filigree. They were thin and dainty, much like a tennis bracelet in platinum, white gold or sterling silver.

Handbags. During the day, women had little need to carry a handbag but when they did it was often a leather tooled small bag with a clasp frame and a short strap for a handle. Pouchette bags were flat rectangular bags that were carried in hand or tucked under the arm. Reticule bags were made of a circle of cloth gathered with a drawstring strap. These were popular to sew, embroider or needlepoint at home.

For evenings and fancy afternoons, a beaded or metal mesh bag was the ultimate in luxury. Beaded bags came in either the round reticule or rectangular frame bag. They could be covered in modern art deco bead patterns or dripping in bead tassels.  Both colored glass beads or silver cut steel beads were used. Metal mesh bags or metal ring bags made of silver or plated bronze or gold were made by Whiting And Davis who still makes them today. Learn more about purses and bags.

1920s style evening bags

Makeup compacts, flask and cigarette cases. Handbags were small, only large enough to carry a few coins, a handkerchief, house keys and makeup. Makeup compacts of face powder, mirror and lipstick were essential for most women. Some compacts were built into handbags while others were small but heavily decorated single cases. For women who smoked a flat cigarette case held a few cigarettes. A long stem cigarette holder made of amber, ivory or bakelite made smoking look elegant as well as kept hands clean.

Some naughty women secured a small metal flask to their stocking band, tucked it into boots, or hid them in a purse. Prohibition was in full effect in 1920 and drinking could get a person arrested. Shop accessories. 

Glasses / Sunglasses. Only those that needed eyeglasses wore them. Simple round frames made of tortoiseshell or metal were the only option for women and men. Sunglasses were just coming into fashion as more people took to the beaches for a suntan. Brown tinted lenses in round shell frames or gold metal frames were worn by Hollywood movie stars. Learn more about 1920s eyeglasses and sunglasses. 

1920s round sunglasses in Downton Abbey

Parasol, Fan, Boa. Accessories that were purely ornamental included the paper parasol popular at beaches and resorts and walks in the park. The lace, wood or paper fan was another practical accessory who became impractical when made of long Ostrich feathers that matched the feathers of an evening feather boa. Shop accessories. 

Read more about these 1920s accessories here.

1920s accessories- Shop here.

Lingerie – Stockings and Underwear

Underneath a ladies’ fine clothes were very pretty yet simple stockings and underwear.  Stockings came in black, tan, white, rgey or pastel colors that attached to garters or were rolled down with an elastic band. They had small seams up the back and reinforced Cuban heels. Some fancier version also featured embroidery above the ankles. Stockings were thick for daywear and a bit more sheer for evenings. Tall socks could be worn instead of stockings with casual outfits. The fishnet tight was a later invention and not worn in the 1920s. Learn more about stockings.

1927 colored stockings and socks

To create the flat-chested tube shape women turned to bandeau bras, corsets, and slips. The minimal bandeau bra was a flat piece of fabric with staps that kept small chested women supported but minimized. Heavier chested women or stout women needed the support or a rectangular corset or corselette with built-in bra top that minimized the chest and smoothed out bumps and rolls around the torso. The corset extended down the hip to create a vertical tube shape.

1920s lingerie- bloomers, step-in, slip

Panties were not invented yet. Instead, women’s underwear were knee-length bloomers. These often attached to a cami top or bralette to create a Step-In model that resembles a romper. Lingerie was made in rose pink, peach, powder blue, sage green, and violet colors. White and back were less common unless in winter weight cotton long johns.

A light slip with a square neckline was worn over corsets and underwear to help dresses and separates hang off the body. Clingy dresses with visible corset or girdle lines was a sign a ladies’ clothes were too small.

Learn more about lingerie, nightgowns and pajamas. 

Beauty: Hairstyles & Makeup

Women’s long hair was what had been for centuries her pride and joy was now meeting cutting shears for the first time. The new look was the bob cut. Short, ear length curly hair in the early years gave way to smooth finger waved styles by 1930. Women who kept their long hair styled it in a way that mimicked short hairstyles. Buns on either side created an earphone look. A single bun at the back, a chignon, first pulled hair out around the ears to frame the face.  The shingle was a very short hairstyle for thin straight hair that had a V point at the neck and spit curls around the face. The Eton crop was the shortest style that looked like a men’s haircut with slicked back or parted hair on top.

Most 20s hairstyles were styled to be short and close to the head so a cloche hat could fit snugly over it. Women without natural curl turned to marcel waving, water waving, and wave clips to achieve the desired 1920s hairstyle. Most women became frequent visitors to men’s barbers and the new women’s saloons that exploded during this decade.  Learn more about 1920s hairstyles for long and short hair. 

In the media, makeup was still being talked about as a bad thing yet the majority of young and middle-aged women were wearing at least face powder on a daily basis. Face lotions, potions and skin treatments were being marketed to correct skin imperfections while makeup was seen as a tool to accent natural beauty- not cover up problems.  Face powder to match or darken skin slightly was applied all over. Next came a pink blush to create full rosie cheeks. A matte red lipstick was about the only choice for every woman’s lips. Bright red for daytime and deep red for nighttime.

Cake mascara was used to line the upper eyelid and darken light lashes. It could be blended up onto the eyelid however this was a trick used on the silver screen to make black and white images more defined. In real life, heavy eye color was too much makeup. A light dusting of green, blue or brown shadow became more common when movies and photos were released in color. Learn about the history of make up and how to apply 1920s makeup. 

1920s makeup guide

1920s Outfit ideas

Flapper Dress – How to create an authentic flapper costume

Non- Flapper outfit ideas – 1920s outfits with skirts, pants, and casual clothes

DIY 10 easy 1920s outfits – From day to night, casual to formal outfits

10 more 1920s outfits inspired by Downton Abbey

How to make a 1920s day / house dress and girls toddler dress

Upcycle a thrift store dress into a 1920s dress

1920s sewing patterns – Sew your own outfit. The One Hour Dress pattern is a simple one to start with.

Petite dresses– What brands are best for petite women

1920s costumes– Halloween and fancy dress costumes under $100

International shoppers in the UK shop here and AU/NZ shop here.

Ten 20s outfit ideas. DIY casual to fancy ladies clothing