Fashion
Fashion during the Harlem Renaissance was influenced by society as it is today. Not only did fashion express an individual as a person, but it also represented their social status. The Harlem Renaissance is still famous because of its dramatic change is fashion and style from the eras previous to it. Some of the popular fashions were the flappers, the masculine look, cloche hats, and evening and day dresses. Here is a closer look.
Flappers:
The Fashion of the Harlem Renaissance was a very dramatic shift from that of the previous era. After World War 1, women wore dresses hemmed much shorter than they used to be. These dresses were called flapper dresses and the women who wore them were known as Flappers; dancers. These dresses were made especially for the dancers because they allowed them to move.
Masculine Look:
During the 1920s, women began to rebel. They started with smoking, drinking, driving and having sex, and then began wearing the men's clothes. Even though the women adapted to many boyish habits, they still presented themselves with grace and style as a woman should. Because of this new style, the women managed to redefine the meaning of "sexy" in the 1920s.
Cloche Hats:
Coming from the word "bell" in French, Cloche hats were extremely popular in the 1920s. It was said that the cloche hat was first started on the streets in Paris and from there the style spread quickly to many other women who all began wearing the cloche hat. These hats could be made from a variety of different materials including velvet, horsehair, satin and felt, and allowed the women to hide their hair in it.
Day and Evening Dresses:
In the 1920s day dresses began getting shorter. It was not until 1925, however, that the dresses rose to knee length. Although knee-length does not seem all too short, it was a huge contrast to that of the previous Victorian Era. These day dresses were shapeless and hung loosely on a woman's body. Popular colors included green, light orange, and French blue.
Evening dresses were usually extravagant and elegant; they showed off the fact that people had money. All of the accessories were very expensive and elegant as well. These dresses were usually made of silk and velvet.
Flappers:
The Fashion of the Harlem Renaissance was a very dramatic shift from that of the previous era. After World War 1, women wore dresses hemmed much shorter than they used to be. These dresses were called flapper dresses and the women who wore them were known as Flappers; dancers. These dresses were made especially for the dancers because they allowed them to move.
Masculine Look:
During the 1920s, women began to rebel. They started with smoking, drinking, driving and having sex, and then began wearing the men's clothes. Even though the women adapted to many boyish habits, they still presented themselves with grace and style as a woman should. Because of this new style, the women managed to redefine the meaning of "sexy" in the 1920s.
Cloche Hats:
Coming from the word "bell" in French, Cloche hats were extremely popular in the 1920s. It was said that the cloche hat was first started on the streets in Paris and from there the style spread quickly to many other women who all began wearing the cloche hat. These hats could be made from a variety of different materials including velvet, horsehair, satin and felt, and allowed the women to hide their hair in it.
Day and Evening Dresses:
In the 1920s day dresses began getting shorter. It was not until 1925, however, that the dresses rose to knee length. Although knee-length does not seem all too short, it was a huge contrast to that of the previous Victorian Era. These day dresses were shapeless and hung loosely on a woman's body. Popular colors included green, light orange, and French blue.
Evening dresses were usually extravagant and elegant; they showed off the fact that people had money. All of the accessories were very expensive and elegant as well. These dresses were usually made of silk and velvet.
Hairstyles
Before World War 1, women always wore their hair long. But, after the war however, a new trend of short hair began. Women adopted the "bob" hairstyle. This drastic change was another reason the Harlem Renaissance was so famous. The new look of very short hair was a reflection of the "masculine look". Finger waves was a very popular way to style short hair.
Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel was a major contributor to the Harlem Renaissance, also known as The Roaring Twenties. She was a fashion designer who set the trends for this era. Because the war had ended, people wanted to start over and make something of themselves; Chanel helped these people to achieve their goals by allowing them to express themselves through her fashion. Chanel was aware of the women's desire to be beautiful and used this concept to design her clothes.
She designed her clothes to be made from durable fabrics and got rid of excess materials, such as lace, replacing them with beads and embroidery. She also designed simple yet elegant jewelry to allow women to feel beautiful without having to deal with the many layers that were worn during the Victorian era. Chanel's designed her clothes accentuating the chest, waist, and butt to create symmetry.
Chanel's designs were soon spread throughout Europe and America and are still being worn today. As her work continued she also came out with perfume, handbags, and glasses to add to her large collection of work. (MB)