Lapel dresses were daring in the 1920s, revealing the leg from the kneecap down. The flapper design blurred the line between rich and poor, and Coco Chanel’s lapel dresses were comfortable and easy to wear. Women became more independent during World War I, leading to practical clothing.
Lapel dresses came into fashion in 1926. Many people during that time thought the dresses were daring because the dresses generally revealed the leg from the kneecap down. Dresses were typically made formless and similar to a sleeveless dress. They were often teamed with nude stockings to enhance the bare leg look and a cardigan to cover the arms during winter. Flapper evening dresses were usually made of expensive fabrics sewn with sequins or strands of beads.
The dresses worn by the upper class before the flapper style became popular were usually made of expensive materials with an intricate design. Average women generally couldn’t wear the fashions of the wealthy, making it easy for most people to determine social position based on clothing. The simplicity of the flapper design made it possible for women of a lower class to dress similarly to the upper class, who also commonly wore flapper dresses. In the 1920s, the line between rich and poor may have blurred a bit due to the popularity of dresses.
Curvy went out of fashion in the 1920s, resulting in many women striving to be slim. Women with large breasts often went to great lengths to reduce the size of the chest, in some cases using tight bandages around the upper body to flatten it. Some women wore special bras that were tied at the sides and specifically designed to reduce the bust line. The rounded figures and fussy fashions of the early 20th century became a thing of the past, and the Roaring Twenties may have been a difficult time for women who suddenly look dated.
Coco Chanel is the most recognized fashion designer for creating the style of lapel dresses. The clothing she designed during this era was typically comfortable, made of lightweight fabrics, and easy to wear. This style of clothing was considered a stark contrast to the corsets, layers of material, and intricate patterns of years gone by. She is known for designing the little black dress, which is still considered fashionable.
During World War I, many women had to do the work of men fighting abroad. This may have led to women becoming more independent and embracing the idea of comfortable, practical clothing as opposed to corsets under long, heavy dresses. The flapper era is long gone, but many people believe that the changes he made to the world of fashion will always have some impact on the way women dress.
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