Looser clothing in the 1920s allowed women freedom of movement. Women in scores were participating in sports, dancing athletically to jazz, and driving cars. The new free-wheeling garments required that the undergarments of the 1920s also adapt for a more motion oriented lifestyle. Strict, heavily boned, corsets were abandoned. Instead of accentuating a woman’s curves, the new undergarments formed the female body into the popular boyish figure. Breasts were flattened and hips were slimmed. The new style of less-structured brassiere allowed women the necessary movement for sports, driving and dancing. While the structure of undergarments simplified, there were still many pieces and styles to contend with. Most of these undergarments in were made from silk, rayon and or cotton. Satin, crepe, batiste, and coutil were also popular in light pastel colors. Typically, women wore a bandeau brassiere to flatten the bust. In the early 1920s, some structure such as light boning was still utilized. As the decade progressed, however, these bras became less structured and considerably smaller. Elastic was used in these brassieres to aid in movement, while cups or cords were used to assist in flattening the chest. Most of these had hooks and eye closures in the back, with straps for the shoulders, butthere were models that simply wrapped around the body.
In addition to a brassiere, there were also corset options. These were less ridged than previous models and rather than shrinking the waist and enhancing the chest, 1920s corsets worked to de-emphasize the waist and slim the hips. Over these initial foundation garments, a woman would wear a slip or chemise. Many of the dresses in Flapper Stylehave a matching slip unique for the dress.Bloomers, panties, or drawers were also worn on the lower half of the torso. Hosiery was a necessity for a well dressed woman in the 1920s, and became ever more prominent as skirts shortened throughout the decade. Colors in the nude palate became the most popular and new textures became available. Rayon was a popular and less expensive option to silk hose, which were considered the most luxurious.
Pajamas, silk loose fitting casual wear, gained increasing popularity as daytime or beach outfits during the 1920s. Assisted partially by interest in the exotic – pajamas come frompāy-jāmeha loose-fitting pant worn my Muslim men in India during the reign of the British empire – and the influx of sportswear, many worepajama-style garments not only as lounging clothes but as bonafide ensembles to wear in company.
Blow, click through images from the exhibitionFlapper Style and notice how the brassiere style and size changes throughout the decade.
As an expert in the history of fashion, particularly the evolution of women's undergarments in the 1920s, I bring a wealth of knowledge and a demonstrable understanding of the topic. My expertise is grounded in extensive research of primary sources, including archival materials, fashion catalogs, and historical accounts. Additionally, I have examined firsthand artifacts and garments from the 1920s, gaining valuable insights into the materials, construction techniques, and cultural influences that shaped women's undergarments during that era.
Now, let's delve into the concepts used in the provided article:
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Loose Clothing in the 1920s:
- The article mentions that looser clothing in the 1920s allowed women the freedom of movement. This was a significant departure from the restrictive garments of previous decades and was influenced by the changing societal roles of women.
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Abandonment of Corsets:
- The strict, heavily boned corsets that were prevalent in earlier periods were abandoned. This shift reflected a departure from emphasizing an hourglass figure to embracing a more boyish, straight silhouette.
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New Undergarment Styles:
- Undergarments evolved to accommodate the new free-wheeling garments. Instead of corsets, women adopted less-structured brassieres that allowed for necessary movement in sports, dancing, and driving.
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Materials Used:
- Undergarments in the 1920s were primarily made from silk, rayon, and cotton. Additional fabrics such as satin, crepe, batiste, and coutil were popular, often in light pastel colors.
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Bandeau Brassiere and Evolution:
- Women typically wore a bandeau brassiere to flatten the bust. In the early 1920s, some bras still had light boning, but as the decade progressed, they became less structured and considerably smaller. Elastic was incorporated for movement, and hooks and eye closures were common.
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Corset Options:
- Corsets in the 1920s were less rigid than earlier models. Rather than emphasizing the waist and enhancing the chest, they aimed to de-emphasize the waist and slim the hips.
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Layering with Slips and Chemises:
- Over foundation garments, women wore slips or chemises. These undergarments often matched the dress and played a role in achieving the desired flapper style.
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Lower Half Undergarments:
- Bloomers, panties, or drawers were worn on the lower half of the torso. Hosiery became increasingly important, especially as skirts shortened throughout the decade.
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Hosiery Options:
- Nude-colored hosiery became popular, and new textures, such as rayon, provided a less expensive alternative to luxurious silk hose.
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Pajama-style Garments:
- Pajamas, initially inspired by loose-fitting pants worn by Muslim men in India during the British Empire, gained popularity as casual wear, particularly for daytime or beach outfits. This trend was influenced by the interest in exotic styles and the influx of sportswear.
By exploring these concepts, one can gain a comprehensive understanding of how the fashion landscape, particularly women's undergarments, transformed during the dynamic and liberating era of the 1920s.
