Makeup and Fashion of the 1920's

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The aftermath of World War I led America to the glamorous era of Flapper girls, jazz, and freedom, also known as the 1920's. This decade of giddy optimism brought on by the end of the war and the booming of the Stock Market ushered a direction away from the prim and modest women of the past. However, it wasn't just the roles and morals that became more relaxed, but it was also ladies' fashion and makeup that evolved. Fashion trends influenced theater, films, literature, and art and cosmetics gave beauty inspiration for today's makeup industry. Women were more confident and imbued with youthful vitality which they expressed with the fabulous style of the 1920's. The eye-catching fashion of the "The Great Gatsby" generation is the foundation of today's style. No other period in history was remembered the way the 1920's were thanks to the dazzling clothes, innovative cosmetics and freedom brought to women.
Cosmetics of the 1920's were used to create a distinct and iconic look. The bold, rounded eyes, thin and slanted eyebrows, pale, matte skin, heart-shaped lips, and bright blush were born out of the silent film era. Due to the harsh effects that the lighting and the black and white film technology produced during this time the actors had to wear heavy makeup to define their features so that they could express their messages with only a look. Stars, such as Mary Pickford and Clara Bow, became famous for their style. Women also found the need to wear more makeup. Colleges were created for women, which allowed them to get an education and find employment. As females began to enter the work world, publications, such as the French 'Beauty Industry' stated that they "encourage women to wear makeup so they can look their best while compet...

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...altered and dresses flared at the hip or hung straight. The curveless dresses made the waist disappear and gave women a masculine image. Garments were lighter due to new synthetic fabrics and more vivid and shorter than ever before. Fashion designers played with textures, patterns, and colors to construct new styles. Hemlines rose and fell with the shortest being at the knees and not going past the ankles. With hemlines being shorter, shoes and stockings became more visible. Stockings were available in all colors and various patterns. Footwear consisted of pumps, the Mary Janes, and the Oxford. A unique detail of the shoes was a pointy toe that developed into a rounded toe towards the end of 1920's and a Louis heel or blocked Cuban heel. Heels during this glamorous time were thicker and embodied different types of materials such as satin, leather, silk, and brocade.

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