Fashion From War to War Part III: 1930s

The only thing I used to think of when the 1930s was mentioned was the Great Depression, and I'm sure I'm not the only one to make the decade feel a bit overlooked.  I'd say it's probably even the least popular decade of the 20th century.  At one point, this was the era I was dreading the most, but I ended up really liking it!

Here's a video of what people in 1939 thought we would be wearing today.  Warning: this is freaking hilarious!

 
While the 30s were some lean and unhappy years due to the stock market crash of 1929 (which led to the Great Depression) and the Dust Bowl, and a bunch of other awful things that happened (Hindenburg ring any bells?), like any other time period, it wasn't all bad.  This was the era when famed female aviator Amelia Earhart rose to fame, and subsequently disappeared in a flight over the Pacific Ocean.  This was also a booming time in the art world, with movements like Surrealism taking shape (especially at the hands of Salvador Dali).  The Art Deco design style was also popular during the time, exemplified by the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, both completed in the early 30s.  In my opinion, one of the most revolutionary things that happened was the release of Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.  It was the first full length feature animated film in sound and color.  It was predicted to be a complete failure, but it became the most successful film of 1938.
 

Amelia Earhart

 
The most notable fashion change of the 30s is that the loose, boxy garments of the previous decade disappeared.  The fitted look was back in.  The most popular silhouette was a dress with a fitted skirt that flared out at the knees, though not all dresses and skirts were flared.  The flare was achieved by either cutting the fabric on a bais (oblique to the grain of the fabric) or by goring, which was cutting several panels, or gores, and sewing them together.  The general hem length was mid-calf, or about halfway between the knees and the feet, but evening gowns were usually longer, most touching the ground.  Sleeves could be any length, but the most common was elbow length, and they could be fitted or flowy.  Trousers for women were finally beginning to emerge, but they were mostly seen as resort wear.  These wide-legged pants were worn at the beach or for lounging and were called beach pajamas.  But in the realm of everyday life, you wouldn't have seen a woman walking down the street wearing pants, and if you did, it would have been scandalous!
 

Look at those shooooeeeessssss!

These dresses are bias cut.

This dress is gored.  The pattern makes it easier to see the gores.

Evening 'frocks.'

Beach pajamas!!!

From all the images I've seen on the internet, I've noticed that the hair and makeup of the 30s is like a transition into the 40s.  It seems to have a mix of both the 20s and the 40s.  Short hair was still in, but it lacked some details that characterized the 20s.  There were also so many different styles that it's hard to pinpoint what was so different.  Some styles were bigger and curlier, and reminded me of the 40s, while others were just longer versions of the finger-wave bobs of the 20s.  Some were curly and extremely close to the head.
 

 

 

 



 



 

For makeup, the red lip was still popular, but the cupid's bow disappeared.  Thin eyebrows were also still around, and many women completely removed their eyebrow hair and painted them on.  Eyeliner wasn't as heavy as before, and mascara was popular, though it was in cake or bar form.
 

A 1933 Maybelline ad.

When I first came up with the idea for this series, my biggest question mark was the 1930s.  I had no clue what to wear, and I wasn't even sure that I had anything in my closet to fit the time period.  Then I remembered this great blouse I had thrifted a few weeks ago.  It had long sleeves, so I decided it would be best to shorten them to fit with the elbow length look I liked.  Normally I would have done that part myself, but the fabric was threatening to give me nightmares, so I let my mom do it.  I had no skirts that fit the time period, but I did have a pair of black, high-waisted palazzo pants.  I added my black T-strap shoes from last week, and I found a great pair of my mom's earrings that fit the Art Deco look.
 
 

 

 


I LOVE this picture.  My mom is getting really good at this.

 

These earrings remind me of the top of the Chrysler Building.

 

Pants!

 

 

My hair turned out fantastic, and numerous people thought that I had actually cut it short.  I finally found a way to curl it that got the curl closer to my head, and resulted in a bit of a finger wave effect in some places.  It actually took less time than pincurls, and less time than the other two hairstyles I've done for this series.  I really loved this look!
 
Next week we'll delve into wartime wear, more pants, and victory curls. On to the 40s!