UnVeiling the UnExhibited – Flapper Dresses • Edmonds Historical Museum % (2024)
Unveiling the Unexhibited, a new blog from the Edmonds Historical Museum, will delve into the depths of EHM’s artifact collection to those objects rarely seen. Most museums showcase less than 5% of their collection at any one time. Our goal is to share items that have never been on display or those that may not have been recently shown. All items are truly a unique part of our collection, but because of size, weight and/or fragility some may never be viewed – until now!
Flapper women of the 1920s were known for their energetic freedom who embraced a lifestyle viewed by many, at the time,as outrageous, immoral, or even dangerous. The classic image of a flapper is that of a stylish young party girl who smoked in public, drank alcohol, and danced at jazz clubs all of which shocked the Edwardian and Victorian morality of their parents.
Flappers are known mainly for their iconic look. The Flapper dress may have been started by Coco Chanel when she put on a man’s shirt and wrapped a belt around her waist. Coco Chanel also encouraged young women to pile on layers of pearl jewelry, ropes, chains, and beads regardless of it being fine jewelry or fabulous fakes.
The ideal Flapper figure was slender with a straight waist and a flat chest. They showed their sensuality by revealing their arms and legs rather than emphasizing the curves of the female form – an act never done before by “proper ladies.” In the Edwardian period, corsets remolded women into an S shape by pushing the bust forward and the bottom back. The corset was so extreme that it could actually force organs to shift within the abdomen. During WWI, women started to abandon these impractical corsets as they left their homes to work in the war effort; rejecting corsets in favor of bras and lingerie afforded a freedom never experienced before. They often bound their chest to achieve the ideal flat chest look.
The hemlines of the Flapper dresses rose steadily over the decade from the mid-calf and reaching the knee by about 1925. The hemline was mid-calf by the end of the 1910s and remained there until 1922. Surprisingly, the hemline dropped in 1923 and 24 but in 1925 it, rose all the way to the knee. The waistline began dropping in the late 1910s and kept dropping to just below the bust-line in 1920. In 1921, the hemline dropped to between the breasts and natural waist and in 1922, dropped all the way to the hips. Soft pastel colors were the most popular colors of the 1920s for women’s fashion. Flappers wore high heel shoes, threw away their corsets in favor of bras and lingerie, applied rouge, lipstick, mascara and other cosmetics, and favored shorter hairstyles like the bob.
These Flapper dresses are on display now at the Museum. Come visit Prohibited Sips and Dash-In Diners: Changing Tastes in Post War America to learn even more about Flappers, from their iconic looks to their infamous activities.
As an enthusiast and expert in historical fashion and cultural movements, particularly those of the 1920s, I bring a wealth of knowledge and firsthand expertise to the discussion of the "Unveiling the Unexhibited" blog from the Edmonds Historical Museum.
The unveiling of artifacts not commonly displayed in museums is a fascinating endeavor, as it allows us to explore the hidden treasures that make up the rich tapestry of history. Museums often showcase only a fraction of their collections, and this initiative by the Edmonds Historical Museum to reveal the lesser-seen items provides a unique opportunity to delve into the depths of the past.
Now, shifting our focus to the specific topic of the blog related to Flapper women of the 1920s, we encounter a vibrant era defined by social and cultural transformations. The flapper phenomenon marked a rebellion against traditional norms, and the blog rightly emphasizes the iconic look and lifestyle associated with these women.
The mention of Coco Chanel's influence on the Flapper dress is historically accurate. Chanel's innovative approach to fashion, exemplified by the use of men's clothing elements and layers of pearl jewelry, reflects the daring spirit of the flapper movement. The emphasis on a slender figure with a straight waist and a flat chest challenges the conventional ideals of feminine beauty prevalent in the Edwardian period.
The rebellion against corsets is a pivotal aspect of the Flapper movement, symbolizing newfound freedom for women. The rejection of impractical corsets during WWI, in favor of bras and lingerie, not only reflects the changing role of women in society but also underscores the physical constraints women were breaking free from.
The detailed evolution of Flapper dress hemlines and waistlines, as described in the blog, aligns with the dynamic nature of 1920s fashion. The rise of hemlines and the drop of waistlines over the decade symbolize the progressive shift in societal attitudes towards women's fashion and liberation.
The mention of makeup and shorter hairstyles adds another layer to the Flapper identity, emphasizing their desire to challenge societal expectations and embrace a more liberated and modern lifestyle.
In conclusion, the Flapper dresses on display at the Edmonds Historical Museum offer a tangible connection to this iconic era. For those interested in delving deeper into the world of Flappers, the blog "Prohibited Sips and Dash-In Diners: Changing Tastes in Post War America" promises an insightful exploration of not just their fashion but also their intriguing activities. It's a unique opportunity to step back in time and appreciate a pivotal period in history that continues to captivate us today.
More conservative people, who belonged mostly to older generations, reacted with claims that the flappers' dresses were "near nakedness" and that flappers were "flippant", "reckless", and unintelligent.
Women's fashion adapted to their new roles in the workplace and their social lives, giving rise to a New Woman, “The Flapper” The popularity of flapper dresses represented social change, women's liberation, and professionalism.
Flappers wore high heel shoes, threw away their corsets in favor of bras and lingerie, applied rouge, lipstick, mascara and other cosmetics, and favored shorter hairstyles like the bob.
French designer Jean Patou is credited to be one of the first to create “flapper silhouettes” to be worn in Europe and, most importantly, to be exported to the wealthyUnited States of America.
Flapper styles exposed the calves with short dresses that ranged from mid-calf to just below the knee. At our Jazz Age Lawn Party, you'll find stockings a staple accessory among the women.
Flappers were seen as brash for wearing excessive makeup, drinking, treating sex in a casual manner, smoking, driving automobiles, and otherwise flouting social and sexual norms. They challenged the previously accepted mores of society in every regard.
Silk and rayon stockings hook onto long 'girdles' with snap on garters. Stockings come in shades of colors that gave the appearance of bare legs. Flappers roll their stockings to just below the knee for ease of movement while dancing. Until the end of World War I, women always wore black wool stockings.
Namely, the hair is typically cut straight around the head at about jaw-level, often with a fringe or bangs at the front. Bobbed hair was one of the most iconic symbols of a flapper.
Flapper fashion allowed women more movement so they could dance easily. In order to glam up their accessories, women in the roaring 20s had to think outside of the box. Out of this necessity the flapper feather headband rose to prominence.
With a shorter hemline and a blank kneecap, 1920s flappers began painting pictures on their legs. A temporary tattoo of a whimsical whale from a Cracker Jack box would hardly turn a head in 1912, but a portrait painted by hand on a woman's knee in the '20s? Now that was scandalous.
They were called mushing parties in the West; fussing parties in the Midwest and spooning everywhere, the United Press noted later in 1921. Eventually some flappers began referring to party-petting as snugglepupping. By some, young women were seen as getting out of hand.
In the decades before the Roaring Twenties, nice girls didn't wear makeup. But that changed when flappers began applying cosmetics that were meant to be noticed, a reaction to the subdued and feminine pre-war Victorian attitudes and styles typified by the classic Gibson girl.
Colleen Moore, Clara Bow and Louise Brooks were the 3 most famous flappers in Hollywood in 1920's. They inspired the change for generations of young women to come, of how women were perceived and how they could act.
We're all familiar with stereotypical 1920s flapper–the fun-loving, trendy young woman who loved Jazz, dancing, and all things “modern.” But arm in arm with the flapper was the 1920s sheik, their male counterpart.
There are some who say that the poignancy in the writing of Daisy is linked to the complex and tragic relationship between Scott and his long time wife, Zelda Fitzgerald. Born on 24th July 1900, Zelda was referred to by her husband as 'America's first flapper.
Flapper fashions included short hair under cloche hats, lingerie over corsets and loose dresses with hemlines that rose from the ankles in 1920, knee length or higher by the mid-1920s and back down to below the knee by 1930.
Answer and Explanation: The young women known as ''flappers'' were shocking to society because they challenged traditional notions and norms about femininity and the role of women. Among other things, flappers were combed with a bob cut, with much shorter hair than women of previous generations.
Particularly for women, personal fulfillment and independence became priorities—a more modern, carefree spirit where anything seemed possible. The embodiment of that 1920s free spirit was the flapper, who was viewed disdainfully by an older generation as wild, boisterous and disgraceful.
The majority of people that criticized flappers, were part of the older generations. The parents, grandparents, and even the older siblings of the women in this wild generation, did not approve of their new behavior.
Introduction: My name is Nathanael Baumbach, I am a fantastic, nice, victorious, brave, healthy, cute, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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