1920s Dresses Patterns Were Key For Fashionable Ladies Of Modest Means

By Harold Price


America was in transition in the nineteen twenties. The economy was strong, and there was a revolution going on in art and literature. Women were experiencing their own changes. In 1920 the 19th Amendment was ratified giving women voting rights. The workplace was opening up to them. Smoking and wearing trousers in public was a sign of the times. As skirts got higher necklines got lower. Off the rack clothes made fashion affordable for many. Those of more modest means could purchase 1920s dresses patterns and make their own creations.

For women of a certain class sewing was a sign of a good homemaker. Even as more and more women flocked to department stores to buy their clothing, the ones that couldn't afford it could buy a pattern for a dime, or create one of their own, and achieve the same look. They saved their money for accessories like cloche hats, shoes, belts, and silk stockings.

A staple in their wardrobes was the everyday home dress worn to do the housekeeping and cooking. Cotton was the preferred material. A lot of women went to the trouble of adding a few stylish touches like rickrack and lace. Most made the aprons they wore to protect their home dresses from grease and spills in the kitchen.

Working girls need more formal wear for the office. Housewives as well changed into street clothes to go visiting or to run errands. A typical pattern would create a simple tailored dress of silk or wool. Women who lived in cities wore mostly greys, blacks, tans and navies. Country women leaned toward blue, red, white, and light grey.

Afternoon teas, for women of a certain class, were chances to show off more sophisticated wear. The afternoon tea dress tended to be calf length with more decorative elements than the simple home dress. The material women chose for these frocks was lighter and more colorful than what they work cleaning house. Stockings were sheer and often matched the dress in color.

Women of the time were attending college in increasing numbers. Most of them lived in knit because it was so easy to care for. Coeds wore raccoon coats and skirts that were shorter than their mother's were. For the most part dressing for dinner was required. They brought silk frocks from home and changed before entering the dining room.

Evening wear was pretty much restricted to the upper class woman. They preferred dropped waist clothing in velvet, taffeta, silk, or chiffon. Beaded dresses were all the rage, and time consuming for women who tried to make them. Such a frivolous dress was a sign of wealth. Married and older women always wore sleeves. Only young girls showed their arms.

Styles go in and out of fashion. Every couple of decades sees a revival of the styles worn just after World War I. An original pattern today, if you are interested in creating your own version of a 1920s frock, is hard to find and will cost much more than a dime.




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