Roaring 20s and Art Deco Fashion

With the return of “The Great Gatsby” the roaring 20s are again under the spotlight.

Apart of the expensive Tiffany diamonds recalling this very prosperous period, let’s remember that 20s symbolize the freedom of women, women stealing power from men through the short hair cut, a driving license and comfortable clothing which permitted movement and consequently dance. During Jay Gatsby’s parties women were dancing, drinking and smoking. They needed comfortable yet feminine clothes to be part of the new social life and Art Deco fashion provided all the bling bling necessary.

The book “Art Deco Fashion” by Suzanne Lussier, which I found in the bookstore of Victoria and Albert museum is a great source to discover Art Deco style. The book tells the story of the “Ballet russes” that influenced the Parisian fashion with their exotic, stylish yet comfortable costumes and gave inspiration to Paul Poiret, famous with his silk harem pants, and consequently many others in the creation of straight and light dresses with sequins, prints or embroidery enriched with fur collars, minaudieres and costume jewelry. 

From the book: “Art Deco identifies an aesthetic in vogue between 1909 and 1939 which was adopted in architecture, the decorative arts, textiles and fashion as well as fine arts and photography. Art Deco displayed stylized motifs and shapes borrowed from national traditions, folk art and ancient cultures”

In 20s art and fashion became so close for the first time and fashion started to reflect a lifestyle. In 10 years of time fashion saw so many great designers and a lot of change, was it because there was too much in the air to take inspiration from?