Navigating the Heartache WWI Brings
As the new century dawned in 1901, fashion was quickly changing. Soon hemlines would rise while necklines would fall, and dress styles began to hug a woman’s body. Wedding fashions, however, did not change as drastically and were somewhat behind the times compared to streetwear. Wedding traditions, on the other hand, are surprisingly recognizable. Let’s…
The corset is probably considered the most uncomfortable garment ever invented, not only because it constricts the body, but also because it is symbolic of women being constricted in society. Was this true, or is it a stereotype? Corsets have been part of a woman’s wardrobe since antiquity. Over the centuries, they evolved and changed. The…
Even if you don’t know much about the history of advertising, you’ve probably heard of the Gibson Girl. She represented the feminine ideal of the 1890s and was the first media image of an ideal woman, establishing society’s preference for an hourglass figure and portraying the image of the girl next door. Illustrator Charles Dana Gibson developed…
World War I brought about many changes for women, including suffrage and greater workplace freedom. Another area of change during this period was women’s fashion. When the 1910s began, styles were very similar to those of the previous decade. Clothing, however, was beginning to show the shape of the female body, with the S-shape curve…