by The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Clothing Through American History 1900 to the Present (pdf)
the confining corsets that had been an integral part of women’s fashion
for centuries.
The first half of the twentieth century was characterized by a shortage
of materials and suppressed consumerism because of WWI, the Great
Depression, and WWII. WWI resulted in a scarcity of materials for mak-
ing clothing. Manufacturers found themselves with very little wool,
169
170
WOMEN’S FASHIONS
cotton, linen, or silk, which were the primary fibers for nearly all fabrics.
Even when they secured raw fibers, the labor shortages slowed the pro-
duction of finished fabrics. As a result, less fabric was used for women’s
garments as the skirts became shorter, the volume in skirts was reduced to
a shorter overskirt, jackets became shorter, lapels became smaller, and
ornamentation was eliminated.
After the war and winning the right to vote, women became more
active in sports and outdoor activities. Women’s sportswear became a
growing industry. Manufacturers developed both general activewear and
sportswear for specific sports such as golf, tennis, and horseback riding. In
the 1920s, outdoor activities became more popular, and tanned skin
acquired through outdoor leisure pursuits was fashionable. By the 1940s,
sportswear became as common as everyday wear and had reached unprece-
dented levels of popularity.
The Great Depression of the 1930s required women to be resourceful
in procuring garments. They reworked existing garments into new fash-
ions and sewed much of their families’ clothes. The emergence of new
trends slowed as women were less able to purchase new fashionable
wardrobes.
The production of supplies for WWII caused a scarcity of materials
for most American consumers. Wool, cotton, linen, and silk fabrics were
diverted to wartime production, and newly developed artificial fibers such
as rayon became the fabric used for many mass-produced garments. The
War Production Board issued L-85 Regulations that governed the pro-
duction of garments. These regulations had a distinct influence on the
fashions created during the war because they restricted French cuffs, full
sleeve styles like balloon, dolman, and leg-of-mutton, coats with capes or
hoods, dresses with belts larger than two inches, and hems longer than
two inches.
In the short period between 1900 and 1949, the influence of social
class on fashion changed. In 1900, the wealthiest classes set the styles of
popular fashions. Their styles of dresses were publicized in magazines and
newspapers. By the end of this time period, the Hollywood and youth
culture had supplanted the wealthy as trendsetters.
Distinctions between types of dress began to erode during this period.
At the beginning of the century, women wore several, distinct styles of
dress each day. Morning dresses, tea gowns, walking suits, dinner gowns,
and ball gowns each had their place within a woman’s wardrobe. Addi-
tional garments such as cycling suits and riding ensembles were worn for
specific sports. By 1949, casual wear became the norm for daytime. Suits
were worn for business or dressier daytime activities, and evening dresses
1900–1908, The Edwardian or La Belle Epoque Era
171
were worn at formal events. Sportswear had become multipurpose; the
same outfit could be worn for golf, tennis, and cycling.
At the beginning of the century, Paris was the undisputed fashion cap-
ital of the Western world. Haute couture fashions originated from there
and were copied by American manufacturers. When the United States
was cut off from Parisian fashions during WWII, the center of American
fashion moved to New York City. Unlike Parisian couturiers who created
designs for private clients and retail stores, which then licensed the design
and reproduced it, American designers worked for ready-to-wear manu-
facturers. They created designs that were immediately mass produced and
disseminated to retail stores. By the end of the 1940s, Paris reemerged as
the world’s fashion capitol, but American designers continued to have a
significant influence on the U.S. casualwear market.
1900–1908,
T H E E D WA R D I A N O R L A B E L L E E P O Q U E
E R A
During the Edwardian period, women wore formal clothes for dinner and
balls. Dinner gowns or ‘ dinner toilettes’ were less elaborate and more som-
ber than ball gowns. This period was named after Edward VII, who
ascended to the British throne in 1901.
FORMALWEAR
Silhouette
The S-curve silhouette marked every style of women’s fashion during the
Edwardian period. The silhouette was modeled after the figure of a mature
woman and featured a full, heavy monobosom that whittled into tiny, cor-
seted waist, which blossomed into a rounded hip and bottom. The corset
pushed the bosom forward and threw the hips backward, resulting in a cur-
vaceous S shape when a woman was viewed from the side. This silhouette
was worn by old and young alike.
Skirts
During the Edwardian period, dresses were usually two pieces: the skirt
and bodice. Formal skirts fit tightly across the hips and reached the
ground. They were gored to achieve a trumpet or bell shape. The most
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WOMEN’S FASHIONS
elaborate of these skirts included as
many as fifteen gores. Sweeping skirts
with
trains
were
fashionable
for
women when they attended receptions
or the opera. Typically, these skirts
were only worn by the wealthy, those
who had enough money for carriages
and valets to keep their skirts from
getting dirty.
On ball gowns, the detailing on the
skirts generally emphasized the waist or
the hem. Often the waist was high-
lighted with a sash-like waistband. The
hem might be trimmed with lace or
ruffles. Many popular designs featured
underskirts that were revealed from
under the hem of the skirt or through
a slit in the front or side of it.
Dinner gowns featured more mod-
est trains and generally did not
include underskirts. Like the ball
gowns, they highlighted the waist
with an exaggerated waistband and
An evening gown with open neckline and tiara, c. 1905.
often emphasized the hem with trim.
[Library of Congress]
Most often the trim on the hem was a
contrasting fabric or dark-colored
lace.
Bodice
In formalwear, the bodices were tightly fitted and usually included boning
of their own, almost like a second corset. Some ball gowns featured an
empire waist, which was a waistline that began just below the breast. Even
in empire-waist dresses, the torso and waist were corseted and fitted.
Necklines
During the Edwardian period, a long, graceful neck was fashionable, and
ball gowns were designed to accentuate it. Their necklines were low and
appeared in sweetheart, round, or square shapes. Although these formal
necklines were more revealing than daytime ones, they were shaped into a
monobosom and did not reveal any cleavage. Lace, ruffles, and draped
fabric usually encircled the neckline, enhancing it.
1900–1908, The Edwardian or La Belle Epoque Era
173
Unlike ball gowns, dinner gowns had high necklines or collars that were
similar to daytime necklines. Many dinner gowns had high lace collars inset
into deep V necklines. High, square necklines were popular as well.
Sleeves
Ball gowns highlighted the graceful femininity of a woman’s shoulders.
Most women opted for puffed short sleeves made of lace or sheer mate-
rial, although a few women wore sleeveless or off-the-shoulder gowns.
Dinner gowns featured puffed sleeves that extended to the elbow or just
below it.
Decorative Details
Queen Alexandra of Great Britain, who succeeded Queen Victoria in
1901, ushered in the popularity of the pastel colors that dominated the
sumptuous ball dresses of the first decade of the twentieth century. The
popular colors included silver, gold, white, and soft colors that were often
described as ‘ sweet pea’ colors. These pale colors were a departure from
the vivid colors produced by the aniline dyes that were popular in the pre-
vious decade.
Ball gowns were typically made from lightweight silk that was tucked
and folded to create elaborate detailing. Lace, embroidery, ribbons, jet
beads, net, and flowers were frequently used to trim dresses. Cloth was
often draped in swags along necklines and hems. Frequently, bows and
flowers accented the tops of the swags.
Whereas dinner toilettes were usually adorned with lace, the decora-
tion was far less elaborate than it was on ball gowns. Dinner gowns were
made in dark colors that offset the white of the lace.
BUSINESS WEAR
Silhouette
Business wear followed the S-curve silhouette, with its emphasis on the
monobosom, tiny waist, and thrust-back buttocks.
Suits
During the Edwardian period, many women had firmly established them-
selves in the workplace, and tailor-made suits were an all-purpose outfit
that women found functional and comfortable. These suits were often
called ‘‘tailor-mades’’ and consisted of a narrow skirt, a simple jacket, and
a basic blouse, which was called a shirtwaist. Tailor-mades were worn as
an everyday outfit, for traveling, and by working women.
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WOMEN’S FASHIONS
The skirt and jacket were usually made of wool in a tweed or serge. The
skirt was short enough to clear the ground, making it easy to get around
and work. The jackets featured sleeves that puffed at the top of the sleeve
and were narrow from the elbow to the wrist. Although the hem of many
jackets ended at the hip, others ended just above the waist to highlight the
narrow waistline. Both single- and double-breasted jackets were stylish.
Separates
The blouses that were worn under suits tended to be less elaborate than
other blouses that were worn during the Edwardian period. They usually
did not have elaborate ruffles or gathers, because they were worn under
close-fitting jackets. They featured high collars, with wire supports, that
reached up to the chin. The monobosom silhouette and the puffed sleeves
were evident even in these more utilitarian garments.
Often, working women would wear a shirtwaist blouse and skirt. The
shirtwaists could be simply designed, like a man’s shirt with a folded over
collar and tie, but invariably they would feature feminine puffed sleeves.
Other shirtwaists followed the lacy, ruffled styles that were popular in
other daywear. Typically, these more elaborate shirtwaists would have
pleats or ruffles down the front, a high lace collar, and puffed sleeves.
Sometimes the sleeves would be puffed and loose for the entire length of
the arm. Shirtwaists featured a wide variety of decoration, from lace, em-
broidery, applied fabric, pleats, and tucks. Embroidery on blouse fabric
became so popular that machines were built to cheaply produce embroi-
dered fabric to supply the demand.
Following the S-shaped silhouette, skirts fit closely over the hips and
flared out at the hem. Gores helped created a trumpet shape in these sim-
ple, functional skirts, which did not have trains and had hems that cleared
the floor.
CASUAL WEAR
Silhouette
Like all other garments during this period, casual daywear followed the
S-curve silhouette. The bodice featured a monobosom and a high collar.
The skirts sat closely to the hip and were bell shaped.
Dresses
Dresses were usually one piece, although they may have been made as
separate bodices and skirts, but they were sewn together at the waist. Lin-
gerie dresses were a popular daytime style. They were made of white-
colored light fabrics such as cotton or linen and featured frilly lace, much
1900–1908, The Edwardian or La Belle Epoque Era
175
like the kind used on undergarments at the
time. Tea gowns, another daytime style
worn by wealthy women, were unfitted
dresses that were worn in the afternoon.
Most bodices included frilly embellish-
ments such as lace and tucks. Usually, deco-
ration further emphasized the monobosom
silhouette. The sleeves were either close fit-
ting along the whole arm or close fitting
along the upper arm and puffed along the
forearm and gathered at the wrist. This style
was called a bishop sleeve. Lace insets were
common along the forearm. Toward the end
of the decade, sleeves shortened into a
three-quarter length, although the sleeve
usually gathered at the elbow and a ruffle
extended partway down the forearm. Ki-
mono sleeves were also popular. High,
boned lace collars were the norm, but
men’s-style collars were sometimes worn.
Skirts were trumpet shaped. The effect
was achieved by fitting the skirt closely to
the body to the knee and using goring to
flare the skirt down to the hem. Usually, the
A morning gown, with gauzy material and the popular
back of the skirt was flared as well. Skirts
bell-shaped skirt, c. 1903. [Library of Congress]
extended completely down to the floor often
with a slight crease. The full back gave the illusion of a small train. It
was common to have a sash or belt at the waist where the skirt and bodice
joined.
Separates
Blouses/Shirts. Shirtwaists, as blouses were known in the 1900s, followed
the style of dress bodices.
Skirts. Skirts followed the style of dress skirts.
Decorative Details
Usually, casual wear was made from soft fabrics such as cotton lawn, vel-
vet, and silk. During the winter, wool was commonly used. Light colors
such as pinks, pale blues, and light yellows were popular, but darker colors
such as emerald green and burgundy
were not uncommon (Olian 1998).
Light colors were common for separates, and many women wore
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WOMEN’S FASHIONS
matching separates. Other women would wear a dark skirt with a light-
colored shirtwaist. Striped shirtwaists were popular, too.
Lace was seen all over women’s garments during this era. It was used
on the center front of bodices, along the sleeves, in the collars, and in
bands along skirts. Lace inserts, lace ruffles, lace jabots, and lace cuffs
were all common applications.
Both skirts and bodices included other decorative elements. Some fre-
quently used embellishments were insets, pleats, tucks, embroidery, but-
tons, bows, and contrasting piping.
OUTERWEAR
Coats
Coats were available in both fitted and unfitted styles. Some sleeves were
fitted, whereas others followed the bishop style of dresses. Some coats
incorporated cape-style sleeves. Kimono-style coats became popular as
Asian styles gained interest. Coats were embellished with embroidery,
buttons, and piping.
Shawls/Wraps
High-necked capes and cloaks were popular outdoor garments. Capes
were commonly worn over eveningwear. Like coats, embroidery, buttons,
and piping decorated capes and cloaks.
Other garments
Boas and fur stoles were worn. As motoring became popular, women
began to adopt the sport and wore dusters, loose-fitting long overcoats
made of cotton, linen, or silk, to protect their garments.
SWIMWEAR AND SPORTSWEAR
Swimwear
Swimwear during the Edwardian period was similar to bathing costumes
of the 1890s. These impractical outfits were cumbersome dresses that
included skirts, sleeves, and long stockings. These silk or wool dresses
usually had a wool undersuit beneath the dress. A matching swimming
cap was also worn.
Golf
When golfing, women typically wore simple suits with hems that came an
inch or two off the floor. They often kept their hat on their head with a
veil or scarf that tied beneath the chin.
1900–1908, The Edwardian or La Belle Epoque Era
177
Annette Kellerman. Australian Annette
style of suit to be immodest. When she
Kellerman gained international promi-
brought her swimming and diving dem-
nence in 1905 when she attempted to
onstrations to Boston in 1907, she riled
swim the English Channel, a feat that