Introduction

Women's fashion of the 1920s plays a large role in the identity of the Jazz Age. New technology and the end of a horrific world war coupled with the 1918 Flu Pandemic gave rise to a youthful exuberance personified by the “flapper.” These women, known for their energetic freedom and for embracing a liberated lifestyle, were commonly called “Flappers” in the 1920s. While many viewed them as dangerous and immoral, they were considered the first generation of independent American women who pushed economic, political, and sexual boundaries. No one knows how the word flapper entered American slang, but its usage became common following World War I.

The classic image of a flapper is that of a stylish young party girl that smoked in public, drank alcohol, and danced at jazz clubs. They donned fashionable dresses of shorter, calf-revealing lengths and lower necklines, wore high heeled shoes, dramatic makeup, and enjoyed the art of accessorizing.

The Roaring 1920’s Flapper Fashion highlights this unique and timeless fashion period.