1930's - The Dirty Thirties

 In October of 1929, the Stock Market crashed; that is what lead us into what we know as the “Great Depression” era of the United States. Money was now even tighter for the average American family. The war was starting boil, as Adolf Hitler became the chancellor in Germany. Al Capone, the richest gangster in America, was finally imprisoned for all his illegal activities. But, we did continue to prosper. Amelia Earhart was the first woman ever to fly solo over the Atlantic Ocean. She sparked that hope back into America! As these slow painful years go by, the people still looked to dressing nicely and the entertainment. It was a great escape for them, from their everyday troubles. Read on to see some fashion trends and entertainment news.

THE DAMES

Having come from the 1920s, the 1930s were much more conservative and sophisticated time for woman. It was like they outgrew the “childish and carefree” of a flapper, and grew into the everyday woman.  Dresses lengthened to about mid-calf, and waistline returned to the natural place. 

Women were very handy, and could sometimes not afford new clothes, so they would more often than not patch up, remake, or mend their own clothes to save money. Cloche hats still remained very popular during the 1930’s.

Simple woman’s suits became very popular. Zippers were used as a decorative addition. They also started integrating ruffled and puffed sleeves to their garments. Evening gowns were a favorite to wear. Women loved to wear long, beautiful gowns with satin gloves that reached their elbows. A very “Hollywood glamour” look.

SHOES. Simple pumps were a staple piece. Rounded toes and thick heels was the favorite among most. Another well-known shoes for the 30’s was the Spectator Pump, a heel that had has 2 colors that generated emphasis on the toe and heel area.

Make up was versatile and some carried on from the 1920’s. But most women enjoyed the simple and fresh look. Rouge and lipstick were their go-to products

THE FELLAS

The Drape Cut (also known as “the London Cut”) as made popular by Frederick Scholte, the tailor to the Prince of Wales. The cut was a little softer, more flexible and the pants were a more tapered too.

Cummerbunds were a favorite piece worn by men, that gave their suit a little more sophistication and topped off the look. Knickerbockers were also a popular pant to wear; they are baggier and go to the knees. Fedoras were the finishing touch to their style. This hat was extremely popular during this time.

The classic look for Men of the 1930’s… White suit, white suit jacket, black bow tie, and trousers to match. Doesn't get any better than that!

PEOPLE & ENTERTAINMENT

Fred Astaire

Fred did it all! He sang, danced, choreographed, and was famous for all the work he did on Broadway! He found his way to the hearts of many Americans and entertained the world!

Walt Disney

The man we know and love; Walt Disney, the entrepreneur from Illinois, began his journey into making history by creating cartoons for children who came up with the beloved characters of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.

Judy Garland

Judy Garland; a famous actress and singer during this time! Fred Astaire called her “the greatest entertainer who ever lived.” She captured the hearts of many with her performances such as “The Wizard of Oz” and “Meet Me in St. Louis.”

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1920's - The Roaring Twenties

It was the beginning of a rough patch of time for the American people; the 1920's was the start of the Great Depression. The economy was down and money was tight for most American families; but the people looked for things to keep their spirits up. Women were granted the right to vote in 1920. The entertainment industry began expanding when talking movies, nicknamed “Talkies”, were invented and the industry held its first ever Academy Awards. Big names like Louis Armstrong, Coco Chanel, and Babe Ruth will be forever linked to the 20's, making this decade one of a kind.

THE DOLLS

Women were granted more opportunity and responsibility during this time; It was an empowering moment for them; soon enough, that began to leak through their style and makeup. Hemlines became shorter and designers were integrating more vibrant colors and fabrics into their collections. Make up was dark lined eyes, perfected bold lips, and bright pink blush. This was very different considering the conservative past, this was a whole new look for women.  

Flappers were all the rage, and told a story that the women were ready to get into some trouble. Flappers had a double meaning. They were used to identify a certain kind of woman called a Flapper. She was young, free, bold, and enjoyed a nice, cold drink. Flappers are also a kind of dress; they are normally shorter, (but can be longer) spaghetti strapped dress that had tiny intricate tassels that "flapped" and were perfect for making a statement while dancing.

We can't forget a long string of pearls now can we? THAT was the icing on the cake for every woman with a sense of style. Some pearl necklaces were about , and some could be feet long!

Coco Chanel, one of the greatest and well known designers of all time, became a great influence for this time period. She introduced the first ever women’s suit and pant suit. She took a cruise once and came back with a sun kissed tan and instantly the magazines and tabloids were all over this new “sun kissed glow” that all started with Chanel. 

Hats were everywhere during this time, for both men and women. The most famous hat a women could wear would be a cloche hat, a bell shaped hat that framed women’s faces beautifully. The go to hairstyle for this generation was the “Bob” haircut.Made famous by Ms Louise Brooks (pictured below), famous American dancer, actress and fashion icon. Another famous hairstyle were fingerwaves; tiny, wavy curls placed very close to the head.

THE GENTS

The men of the 20's looked great where ever they went. The “Al Capone” gangster style was very prominent. Suit jackets were a favorite piece, double breasted and single breasted, they looked smooth and relaxed. The styles of the jacket were greatly influenced and modeled after some of the World War 1 jackets.

Hats could not be worn enough during this time. They wore everything; Top hats, fedoras, bowlers, trilby hats and any others. The modern working man normally wore a simple cap or newspaper caps.

PEOPLE & ENTERTAINMENT

The 20's held many favorite names and entertainers, still known today.

F Scott Fitzgerald, and American writer very well known for the iconic story of the Great Gatsby. It’s said to be the defining image for the 1920's.

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The Titan of Terror?The Colossus of Clout? Oh that’s right, the Great Bambino was an American Legend. Babe Ruth, the baseball player from Baltimore made the most home runs recorded in American History. He played for the New York Yankees and the Boston Braves.

The famous trumpeter from New Orleans, Louis Armstrong was an influential musician and one of the first African American people to make a big difference in this country.

Greta Garbo. A native from Sweden that brought us all to her knees on the big screen. A famous actress during this time that was arguably one of the best!

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