The 1900s
The 1900s, also known as the Edwardian Era, was still very elegant and one of the most important aspects of life as it was in the eras before. Fashion showed off wealth and class.
Continuing to be popular among women, the corset changed the shape of the women in that decade bringing back the hour glass shape that was popular in the early 1800s. With this new change, the silhouette of the average American woman became slimmer and straighter. As the era proceeded, the corset gave women an S-shaped body tightening the waist even more and which pushed the hips back.
Sleeves became larger creating broader shoulders making the waist seem smaller. The early years of the decade, necklines went higher making the neck appear longer. Necklines on women’s clothing were elaborately decorated to make the neck appear longer. Hats were a must. The hats were usually very large and decorated with either feathers and sometimes hummingbirds, or with ribbons and fake flowers. The Gibson Girl created by Charles Dana Gibson became the image of fashion for that time.
Sportswear began to become acceptable among women which brought forth the shirtwaist which was like a man’s shirt only longer and with a higher neck. Even while participating in a sport, women kept a good fashion reputation by wearing hats that were appropriate to the sport they played.
Men’s fashion hadn’t seen a dramatic change yet. The 3 piece suit was popular among them during formal occasions which consisted of a lounge coat, a vest, and slacks. Bow ties were often used during the day and a must for evening wear. Striped shirts were common for casual wear.
Continuing to be popular among women, the corset changed the shape of the women in that decade bringing back the hour glass shape that was popular in the early 1800s. With this new change, the silhouette of the average American woman became slimmer and straighter. As the era proceeded, the corset gave women an S-shaped body tightening the waist even more and which pushed the hips back.
Sleeves became larger creating broader shoulders making the waist seem smaller. The early years of the decade, necklines went higher making the neck appear longer. Necklines on women’s clothing were elaborately decorated to make the neck appear longer. Hats were a must. The hats were usually very large and decorated with either feathers and sometimes hummingbirds, or with ribbons and fake flowers. The Gibson Girl created by Charles Dana Gibson became the image of fashion for that time.
Sportswear began to become acceptable among women which brought forth the shirtwaist which was like a man’s shirt only longer and with a higher neck. Even while participating in a sport, women kept a good fashion reputation by wearing hats that were appropriate to the sport they played.
Men’s fashion hadn’t seen a dramatic change yet. The 3 piece suit was popular among them during formal occasions which consisted of a lounge coat, a vest, and slacks. Bow ties were often used during the day and a must for evening wear. Striped shirts were common for casual wear.
The 1910s
Women’s clothing began to take the shape of a real woman. Corsets were no longer a necessity thanks to popular designers like the French designer, Paul Poiret, who designed clothes to naturally fit a woman and the clothing began to rise above the ankle. By mid-decade, most of these male designers were called to go to war during World War I. This lead to new clothing that was less expensive and that suited women who joined the workforce because of the war.
Inspired by necessity of less expensive and work appropriate clothing, a female designer emerged and began to grow in popularity. She was Gabrielle Chanel from France. Because of the war and the limited supply of materials, her works were uniquely creative. She began by making hats and loose-fitting dresses that were belted at the hip. She later began making pleated skirts using Rodier wool (used for men’s underwear) topping them with sweaters. It was a new and more casual approach that attracted the wealthy. As the decade continued, brighter colors started slipping into the fashions leading the world into a new kind of era.
The fashion among men continued to consist of a 3 piece suit for formal occasions. Something that became common that wasn’t before was the wide, curled mustaches.
Inspired by necessity of less expensive and work appropriate clothing, a female designer emerged and began to grow in popularity. She was Gabrielle Chanel from France. Because of the war and the limited supply of materials, her works were uniquely creative. She began by making hats and loose-fitting dresses that were belted at the hip. She later began making pleated skirts using Rodier wool (used for men’s underwear) topping them with sweaters. It was a new and more casual approach that attracted the wealthy. As the decade continued, brighter colors started slipping into the fashions leading the world into a new kind of era.
The fashion among men continued to consist of a 3 piece suit for formal occasions. Something that became common that wasn’t before was the wide, curled mustaches.