The History of Fashion: Most Important Style Moments of the 20th Century (PART 1)

Much like hairstyles of the 20th century, women’s clothing was based on wars, politics, social movements, and more. From bell bottoms and poodle skirts to chansonettes and platform shoes, here are the best (and worst!) fashion trends from the last century.

1900s: Feathered Hat

Often referred to as the "Plume Boom," the popularity of wearing real feathers in hats reached its peak in the early 20th century. According to The Smithsonian, women adorned their hats with feathers, wings, and even full taxidermied birds. This caused a huge decline in the bird population, and even led to the exinction of some. William Hornaday, director of the New York Zoological Society and formerly chief taxidermist at the Smithsonian, said that in a short nine-month period, the London feather market used up to 130 thousand Egret birds!

1910s: Edwardian Corset

The Edwardian corset was meant to accentuate a woman's breasts and hips, while cinching the body at the waist, and dramatically curving the back. With the busk now being positioned straight down as opposed to inward, women were finally able to breathe a bit better. This takes the idea that pain is beauty to a whole new level!

1920s: The Flapper Dress

After the Women’s Suffrage Movement, women’s fashions took a drastic turn. Frowned upon for wearing makeup, chopping off their hair, smoking, and drinking, these "flapper" women abandoned their female form and wore straight-cut dresses that were hiked above their knees and bras made specifically to flatten their chests. This look, created by Coco Chanel and termed "garconne" was also about comfort--they continued without the corsets, but also ditched other uncomfortable undergarmets to move more freely during the Jazz Age.

1920s: Flapper Headband

Named after the bobby pins that kept it in place, the bob haircut became incredibly popular in the 1920s. These rebellious women would often pair their cuts with headbands that cut across the forehead to give their 'do a more feminine look.

1920s: Cloche Hats

According to The Smithsonian, the cloche hat was actually invented in 1908 by a woman named Caroline Reboux. During the Jazz Age, it became increasingly popular because women loved the look of the hat paired with their Eton cropped hair.

1930s: Puff Sleeves

Moving away from the Chanel "garconne" look of the 1920s, women of the this decade returned to more feminine shapes in their wardrobes. The puff sleeve was said to help bring back the curves of a woman’s body, while also helping to create a curve if the woman didn’t have one. According to Elizabeth Leese inCostume Design in the Movies, Joan Crawford wore a puff-sleeved gown in the movie Letty Lynton which popular department store Macy’s replicated--and they ended up selling 500 thousand dresses nationwide.

1940s: Utility Dresses

Much of the decade’s fashion was based on what many call civilian uniforms. These clothes, marked "CC41" for "civilian clothing 1941," were made to be durable and affordable, not fashionable. "Rosie the Riveter," (a character placed on government advertising that was meant to recruit women to the workforce), became one of the most iconic images of the decade. Women rolled up the sleeves of their utility outfits, sported a cloth in their hair, added a bit of red lipstick, and went to work. Along with the lack of materials came creative solutions for clothing--women repurposed old clothing, bedsheets and other scrap materials with patterns so their wardrobes weren’t so monotonous.

1940s: High-Waisted Bikini

In previous decades, women had no choice but to wear one-piece bathing suits. In the 1940s, the two-piece bikini became popular which showed off slighty more skin. Because of the war-time rationing, these bikinis were cut plain and simply, with no adornments. Jewels, ruffles, and lace were added to these bikinis in the 1950s.

1950s: The Poodle Skirt

With the end of the war came the end of rationing and the beginning of a generation of rock ‘n’ roll dancers. These dancers craved clothing that was moveable, and the poodle skirt allowed them to dance without any restriction. Termed "poodle" skirt because many of them sported an image of the dog on the hem, these knee-length skirts were often worn with cardigans, neck scarves, bulky belts, frilly socks, and oxfords.