The draping and free flowing lines of thirties fashion contrasted nicely with shoulder pads and tailored suit jackets for a glamourous and sophisticated look.
Source: Pattern Book Public Domain
![By Despite the other stamps, the original owner of the photo is NBC-National Broadcasting Company, who had the photo taken and distributed it. (eBay front back) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://s2.hubimg.com/u/8776365_f260.jpg "By Despite the other stamps, the original owner of the photo is NBC-National Broadcasting Company, who had the photo taken and distributed it. (eBay front back) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons")
By Despite the other stamps, the original owner of the photo is NBC-National Broadcasting Company, who had the photo taken and distributed it. (eBay front back) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Source: Wikimedia Commons Public Domain
Glamour is Back
There are fashions that are touted as nuvo. In reality that simply revisit the glamour that was so common in the fashion of the thirties. In what other era could the women's dress suit sing sex appeal? Taking some of the lines from thirties fashions can help a girl hint at the vampy and vixen, but within a way that shines above it all class.
Good Riddance to Corsets and the Man Cut
Style in the 1930's was born in the economic depression , but it did not reflect austerity measures. Women were increasingly out in about in the world. A young Girl Friday she wanted to make her mark in the working world. The fun but boyish cuts of the 1920's were more appropiate for the speakeasy and not the office. Victorian clothing that gloried the hobble skirt did not provide the ease of movement that active young women wanted. Young women for the first time were finding their way into downtown office buildings. Fashion accommodated the traditional business suit for women by making it attractive and practical.
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Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll (Photo by Alexander Bassano, 1932) Art Deco was reflected in Women's fashion in a fun yet feminine way.
Source: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Flickr
Tailored Tasteful Impressions of the Feminine Form
Women in the public eye were not just the party girls out for a night on the town. Young women wanted ease of movement that showed all their girlish assets, but in a sophisticated way. Tailored was the working girls choice and hemlines fell as the fun mood of the twenties passed. It was now about tasteful serious business attire. Daywear used pleats and draping to bring feminine and chic to the office.
New fabrics made line flow in women's clothing possible in the 1930's. New fabrics like wool crepe and rayon made fashions that moved with the feminine form and easy to wear.
Eveningwear in the 1930's took on more deep notes of sophistication will remaining sensuous. Gowns were longer and bright; as amazing metallic fabrics were introduced. Eveningwear took on some tailored features like shoulder pads, but it aimed to be forward thinking and as modern as the Art Deco hotel ballrooms these gowns appeared in.
Daywear was meant to be practical; but feminine and sweet. Day dresses were not beyond revealing a little cleavage., The fashion goal was to provide comfortable dresses.Dresses that were easier than ever to care for were now in demand. The introduction of more blended fabrics meant clothes were easier to launder. The more easily laundered a day dress was the more likely a girl was to expand her closet with seasonal everyday wear. Dresses for the first time wear not delegated to house wear and church wear.
Spring and summer clothing was an available in fabrics that suited the seasons. Textile advancement meant they it was easier than ever to mass produce daywear in complex pastels and bright primary colors. it was no longer just a few in the fashion elite , who were interested in new seasonal colors. Advances in manufacturing meant that even in economic hard times; the working girl could replenish her closet more often.
Aware that there were a lot of young stenographers living at the YWCA who needed good fashion advice a prominent Italian designer provided it., Elsa Schiaparelli gave advice in Photoplay magazine in 1936.Elsa was a premier Italian fashion designer who was opposed to young working women wasting money on cheap trendy clothing. She understood that young working girls went out to socialize after work, and she saw a well made suit as being appropriate for date night after work.
She wrote"Being a business woman myself, and a busy one [ as well as a movie fan] I myself was faced with a problem that I’m sure is a common one with girls and women in America who ” go to business”; that problem being what to put on in the morning and look smart all day long in, even if it means a late dinner after office hours.I found that a good suit solves most problem". Elsa Schiparelli thought the working girl should invest in a few good suits and leave the trendy eveningwear to those with money to spare. She thought it was perfectly dignified to be seen often in a well made suit with smart ;but not exaggerated lines.
Faux Geometric Gems and A little Beaded Bag
Accessories for the women out in public; were more than a strand of beads and an everyday purse. Accessories made the outfit. Shoes matched purses, and many were brought with seasonal fashion trends in mind. Art Deco still defined fashion choices for many women in the thirties. Jewelry was big, bold and many times geometric. Nostagia for the Victorian beaded bags was reflected in the design of smaller more delicate evening bags. Manmade gems were more likely to appear on a young women in the thirties as most could not afford the real gems.es made buying real gemstones difficult. As accessories including hats, gloves, outerwear , and jewelry made bold statements that reflected the forward thinking of young women in the thirties.
Glam goes Technicolor
Bob's in the 1930's placed on emphasis on structured curl and hats worn to the side accommodated the more complex curls.
Source: Public Domain
Bring Sexy Back With the Not So Boyish Bob
Bobbed hair was now longer a statement of rebellious female youth for young women by the time the 1930's.. More women were in the workforce Even those busy being modern wives and did not want to spend hours on their hair. Elaborate long styles just did not fit in to the modern girls day. While bobs of the twenties were meant to be boyish and carefree, bobs of the thirties accommodated hats . Bobs were also designed around the popularity of defined feminine curls.
Perming techniques' meant even a straight haired girl could have a feminine bob. As the thirties progressed the hair got longer with medium bobs with tight curls held together with bobby pins gaining popularity.This meant t that hats worn to the side of the head became popular. No girl wanted to crush the curls that she arranged .Girls who did not want to bother with the bobby pins, wore short hair parted in the middle of the head with some well defined finger waves
