The Mid 20th Century Women’s Outfits - An Exceedingly Succinct Guide

Female styles at the beginning of the last millennium had been vastly completely different. This was partly as a result of absence or unavailability of advanced fibres around then, and also higher cost of production. The general perspective on designing is different also. Today’s designs such as G Star Woman designs were not able to be envisioned back then.

The period somewhere around 1900 would be a period when displaying the legs and feet was inappropriate.

The Hobbel Skirt achieved its appearance around the year 1900. It was so tight and pinched that ladies quite literally had to hobble in order to go walking in it.

A landmark took place in 1913 when Mary Crosby constructed a structure and support for busts. This was made from ribbon and two handkerchiefs. It was our planet’s first basic bra.

1915 witnessed the first twist of the lip gloss tube.

Right through the 1920s the length of women’s knickers shortened. They started off beneath the knee and finished well above the knee by the end of the decade.

The nineteen twenties also saw a change in fashion from a feminine look to a more boyish styles during the mid-20s. The leather substitute vinyl was invented in 1924 and included into styles and designs.

This changed again in the 1930s when women became slightly more conservative and feminine.

During the 1930s that Wallace Carothers invented nylon. This brought new design ideas..

Skirts became shorter during the Second World War because, well, there was less material for making them: everything, including textiles was rationed.

The design of womens’ clothing continued following on from the war. 1946 witnessed the appearance of the bikini. The hour glass figure was squeezed into our consciousness in 1947.

In 1946 the bikini was revealed to the world. In 1947 the ‘New Look’ from Christian Dior was introduced bringing long skirts and narrow waists - the hour glass figure had been born. The post-war 1940s years were a time of fashion invention.

A more feminine cut was in full swing in the 1950s rock and roll years, with more full skirts being all the rage, great for dancing.

The 1960s were a blend of a great deal of models but Mary Quant’s mini skirt is really a particular icon.