Fashion From War to War Part I: 1910s

I think I've always had a love for historical fashion.  When I was in middle and high school there was a book at the public library called What People Wore, and it was one of my favorite books to look at.  I checked it out almost every time we went to the library, so often that I never had to look it up.  I always knew exactly where it was.  It has images from the times of ancient Egypt all the way to the 1920s, and I would often look at it in tandem with my sketch book, using it as a reference for character sketches.

I finally got a copy of my own as a gift several years ago, around the time I fell in love with Downton Abbey, and around the time I started to build up my own historically inspired wardrobe.  Much of the clothes I find at thrift stores, and some I make myself, but I also shop very meticulously at mainstream stores, because if you look hard enough you can find an Edwardian-style skirt at a department store.

I've become way more brave in wearing historical and historical-inspired clothing over the past few years, and I often wear those kinds of outfits to church, but I thought it would be really cool to share my ensembles on here!  So this week starts a five week series of fashion history posts, an overview of Western fashion in the decades of the early 20th century, from about the time of World War I to around the time of the Korean War.

I've already mentioned Downton Abbey, so you can probably guess where we're going to start.  The 1910s of course!  This time period was at the end of the Edwardian era, and it was also during this time that World War I occurred and the Titanic sank.  At that time, dresses and skirts were fairly fitted, and the waistline started just under the bust in the beginning of the decade and lowered as the years went by.  Hats were a must when leaving the house, no matter your station, but if you were rich your hat might have really nice feathers, or other fancy decorations.  The suit was popular for travel.  During the war, fashion was less opulent and rigid, and this new freedom for women led to suffrage and the disappearing waist of the 1920s.

An overview of the decade.

My Downton Abbey ladies.

Look at those dresses!

An interesting fashion plate

Lily Elsie was a hair goddess.

Keeping all this in mind, I went through my wardrobe and put together a spring/summer inspired 1910s look, complete with a hairstyle that took me at least thirty minutes to do.  I got so many compliments at church, and one of my friends even said she needed to start an instagram dedicated to my hair.

I bought the shirt at Wet Seal when I was in high school, and the pleated skirt came from Kohl's.

I did my hair with no help from a lady's maid.

I bought my shoes from Ebay.

I think this is my favorite belt.  It came with a dress I bought several years ago.

My Grandma gave me this faux pearl necklace.

What do you think?  I loved it!  Come back next week for bobbed hair and independent women.  On to the 1920s!