FMAD 1110: Fashion Fundamentals Textbook: 1930s Fashion
1930s Fashion
1930s Fashion
Below are the 1930s events and fashions that evolved during this time. Try to guess which events may have impacted these fashions!
Historic Event
• The Great Depression hit the United States economy, which caused worldwide financial challenges and poverty (food lines shown below).
Image Source: "The Great Depression" by cooper.gary is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
• Cinema: Gone with the Wind movie hit the big screen during this decade.
Image Source: Gone with the Wind Poster
• Hollywood glamour entailed bias cuts, yoked and gathered skirts, nylon stockings a hit, and wavy platinum hair inspired by actress Jean Harlow
Image Source: "Jean Harlow" by twm1340 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Corresponding Fashion Changes
Swimwear evolved. Can you guess why and how it evolved?
Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Queensland_State_Archives_1144_Mooloolaba_January_1931.png
• More women wore men’s trousers. Below is an image of actress Katherine Hepburn wearing men's trousers. Do you think movie stars (like Katherine Hepburn) influenced trends back then like movie stars do today? Can you think of any stars who influence fashion today (who are they and what styles have they influenced) ? Do you think what stars wear today are as influential as they were back then (keep in mind there were not as many movies, actors/actresses, etc. as there are today)?
• Popular Designers during this time were Chanel, Schiaparelli (see designs pictured below), Clare Potter.
Image Source: "Schiaparelli fashions, 1929" by thefoxling is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.