Fashion In The 1920s

Beauty has evolved over the years. It all started with the Egyptians, who cultivated beauty in an extravagant way. Ever since then there has been a dramatic change in beauty and fashion which occurred during the decades of the 1920s, also called the era of the Flappers. It was a time where “good girls” could become worse in the evening. The 1920s was when cosmetic industries became bigger, with the help of the media. Every pharmacy and department store in the world had a makeup counter. The type of makeup women would purchase from the makeup counter were the latest powders, vanishing creams, pan stick, lipstick and mascaras. The “flappers” were the type of girls that wore all of those products and a lot of makeup. The use of heavy makeup became the fashion of the era, because of movie stars like Clara Bow and Mae Murray, who created the flapper attitude. Clara Bow was the one that started the cupid’s bow lip which became popular. It also created the image of 1920s women with their bow lip and dark eyes.

Men also had their own fashion trends they followed. They would wear a hat almost all the time, but that trend wasn't very popular with the younger university men. The hairstyle was the same for all men, which was slick backed, shiny, flat and medium length hair. Brilliantine was used to give men that slick back hair looks. It was also used to smooth and flatten the hair. To be able to slick their hair back, they had to get the right length, which was five to six inches. Frequently taking trips to the barber made sure the length of the hair didn't get too long and keep sideburns high. Men would part their hair in the middle, on one side, or sometimes where is straight back. Straight hair was easier to achieve this hairstyle. Men with curly or wavy hair would straighten the hair with a hot iron or just put lots of oil on it. Keeping up with the length of their hair was important, but