Because the physical ideal was slim and slender, “clothing only succeeded in its object of enhancing feminine beauty when worn on a nearly ideally suitable body.” 1 For women with a less-than-ideal body, diet and exercise were recommended. Instead, women were expected to reduce their multiple layers of undergarments and possibly even their body mass. This shift to a new physical ideal was a move away from the late 19th century idea of the body as a canvas meant to be enhanced by shaping undergarments. The appearance of masculinity was reinforced when women bobbed or cropped their hair. Elasticized undergarments de-emphasized the breasts and hips, creating what is often described as a “boyish” silhouette. Lightweight daydresses for adult women were designed to expose bare arms and lower legs, parts of the body typically covered by all except young girls. Unlike her predecessors of the late 19th century, who favored the silhouette of a mature, well-endowed woman swathed in layers of fabric, the 1920s woman dressed in a style that emphasized youth. The slim, youthful silhouette of 1920s fashion signaled the emergence of a new ideal of feminine beauty.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |