Dating pictures through fashion part 2 . 1910 - 1940s

Acknowledgements

M Youens Artist of Brooke Bond Tea Card Collection

V and A museum

Pictures are from my own collection of fashion cards 

1910s

White blouses continued to be popular and skirts named hobble skirts were introduced. They were very straight and narrow at the hem and the name was coined because of how women had to walk when wearing them. A large tunic was worn over the hobble skirt. This fashion was very popular.

Because of war work, styles became more practical during The Great War of 1914 – 1918 and at times women were wearing trousers, especially when cycling. By the end of the decade, they were starting to cut their long hair and wear it in a “bob”.

Men wore a three-piece suit or military uniform. They had moustaches or were clean-shaven.

Women's hemlines were rising from approx 1913.

Suffragettes had a major effect on women's fashion. The movement started in the early 20th Century. Separates became popular with women wearing a white blouse and a skirt. Suffragettes frequently travelled around on bicycles and so fashion had to change! 

1920s

The drawings above are of 1920 and 1927 clothes.

From about 1920, it was fashionable for women to have a dropped waistline and an androgynous- rather male – straight look to cover up and hide the female shape. Skirt lengths were often pleated, (see above) and raised to knee level for young ladies whilst older ladies wore dresses to calf level.  Fur trimmed clothes were becoming fashionable. This was also the decade when cloche (bell shaped) hats and long beads were hugely popular.  

Later in the decade, men’s shirts had a pointed collar as opposed to round. Rounded collars have never really regained their popularity. See the difference in collars (above) at the start and end of the decade.  Flat caps were popular amongst the working class. Trilbies worn by the middle classes.

1930s

The dropped-waist lines and straight “male” looks of the 1920s were replaced with ultra-femininity and attention to a sexy, female shape and form. Knee-length skirt suits, shoulder pads, fur and ornate hats were worn at an angle were all the rage.  Clingy, long, evening gowns, were popular. 1932 saw the pantsuit for women, which was considered by many to be outrageous.  

For men, the waistcoat fell out of fashion and they wore three-piece suits for formal occasions. Slipovers, cardigans, jumpers, and soft collared, open-neck shirts were popular for casual wear. The future uncrowned King Edward 8^th, Prince of Wales, made jumpers and cardigans fashionable.  Wide trousers with turn-ups were popular.        

1940s

Just as in the Napoleonic wars, WW2 brought about a cloth shortage. Fashions were sparse using a minimum of fabric. Skirt suits were fashionable with a straight skirt and jacket. Shoulder pads made their appearance again. Hemlines rose to the knee because of the shortage of cloth. Also because of the scarcity of cloth, accessories – hats, bags and shoes - were extra important. After the War in 1947, Christian Dior introduced his 'New Look” Skirts were wide, full and longer.  Wide, saucer hats were fashionable. Knitted cardigans were a popular item.

During the war, men wore military uniform. Hair was a short back and sides, and men were usually clean-shaven. Civilian clothing for men was a lounge suit with broad shoulders, with wide trousers. After WW2 ended, men leaving the armed forces were given a 'de-mob' suit, - jacket and trousers, shirt and tie. Turn ups remained popular.

I hope you find these hints useful in your researching old pictures and photos.