In 1926, the fashion concept known as the flapper first appeared. The name "flapper- meant a young modern woman who went out on dates without a chaperone, wore fashionable clothes, wore make-up, and possibly had a job. They were often described as "Young women appeared with hemlines elevated, stockings rolled, breasts taped flat, cheeks rouged, and lips a crimson gash' thus did the flapper' symbolize a yearned-for, devil-may-care independence."" Betty Boop was a very popular cartoon character who resembled the 1920's flapper. After three years (1925-1928). After 1928, hemlines rose to the knee and dresses became more fitted. This style did not last long, as the decade reached an end waist lines started to make a tentative reappearance. .
Common Dress Designs .
Sleeveless or cap sleeved scoopneck.
lightweight dresses with no or very low waistline.
Layered suit-styled jacket, blouse. .
Skirt sets in softer, sometimes knit materials.
Evening wear in sleeveless barrel.
shape with great amounts of beading.
Panels, unusual streamlined drapes, or.
emphasis of the lowered waistline by.
a wide band of shirring or smocking.
.
One popular dress style was the Basque Dress by Jeanne Lanvin. This dress was a compromise between the straight twenties silhouette and the old fashioned belled skirt. This dress featured a tubular bodice that draped straight down to a dropped waist, then a full-skirt ending at the mid calf or ankle. These dresses were worn quite frequently for afternoon and evening wear. Another popular dress was the one-hour dress. This dress was created by the Women's Fashion Institute in 1926. This dress allowed women to home sew their own designs in one hour. It also allowed women freedom of movement within their clothing. .
1920's style dresses were made out of beautifully designed fabric with influence from China, Russia, Japan, and even ancient Eqyptian art. Most common colors during the day were neutral grays, browns and blues, but pastels and other bright colors were also popular.