1930’s in fashion for women. What did women really wear in the 1930’s? The trends, dresses, hairstyles and makeup and where to buy them.
The influence of Hollywood and Art Deco modernism on women’s fashion was never greater than in the 1930’s.
Costume designers names were almost as well known as the Paris couture designers. The crash of 1929 and the Depression which followed, only slowed the inevitable rise in consumerism and ready to wear clothing. Makeup and stockings sales steadily rose through the decade. Women’s day-wear became more tailored with single buttoned jackets and matching gored skirts.
Hems dropped to just above the ankle in 1930 and rose to below the knee by the mid 1930’s.
The gored skirt ( made from several triangular gores) created a more feminine flare at the hem.
Curves returned and newer synthetic foundation girdles were worn by women of all ages. Brassieres now came in cup sizes and 1930 saw the seamless bra go on sale.
In hairstyles, the Marcel wave replaced the 1920’s crop and bobbed hair look. Good for the hairdressers but hard on the pocket for a young woman of limited means. Makeup was now commonly worn in day time and the sale of swivel lipsticks and mascara pots soured.
These are just some highlights of the fashion trends in the 1930’s. Jump in to our time machine archive of posts on 1930’s fashion history.
Rare early technicolor fashion film from 1930, showcasing the end of the flapper girl era. The drop-waist dress is replaced by a closer fitting slip dress, a natural waist and lower hemline. The look is still very much the flapper dress, but we can see the changes already. Flapper Dresses | Color Film 1930 We …
Continuing our seasonal trip through time to Vintage Christmas past with found photos of women at Christmas. The styles, the tinsel and the glamour 1990’s Christmas Photographs The 1990’s, was quite a mixed bag for fashion. A terrible war in Bosnia not withstanding, it was a time of optimism and wealth. The music was great, …
1930’s Summer Dresses 1931 Summer Dresses 1931. Hollywood stars Anita Page, Dorothy Jordan and Leila Hyams model the latest summer suits and swimwear Left: Anita Page makes a charming appearance in a one piece jersey dress of white, featuring a short sleeved bolero jacket of brown. The brown shade being carried out in the belt …
Skirts Drop with the Index in 1930 Women’s Fashion of the 1930’s was inevitably influenced by the Wall Street Crash of October 24, 1929 and subsequent Great Depression. The Autumn, 1930 Sears Catalog admonished, “Thrift is the spirit of the day. Reckless spending is a thing of the past.” The beginning of the decade saw …
Wear the Correct Eye Frames to match your fashion era – Whether you’re a vintage clothing fan or just love retro styles, it’s always fun to take a bit from the past and incorporate it into your wardrobe. Each decade had iconic styles from the well-tailored looks of the 30s all the way to flamboyant …
Vintage Photos of Women at Christmas Continuing our trawl of found fashion photographs, here are some photos of 20th Century Women at Christmas. The originals of which you will find on Ebay for sale. If you’re lucky! Here we picked some of our favorites spanning from the 1980s all the way back to 1910. 1980s …
Vintage Film – 1930 Women’s hats Women’s hats in 1930 moved away from the angular look of the flapper era to accommodate new fuller hairstyles. Glamourdaze presents a delightful vintage fashion feature from 1930 featuring women’s hat styles. The cloche hat that had covered all the hair and much of the face in the late …
A Slender Silhouette for 1930s Autumn Fashion A preview of what you might have been wearing in Fall fashions of 1931. The silhouette was slender, the skirt hems had lowered. The control girdle was a must for foundation wear. Hollywood Actresses model Fall Fashions When it’s summer for you, it’s already Fall for the designers. …
Beautiful Vintage Swimsuit Styles from 1936 – Brighten your whole summer with a complete wardrobe of stunning inexpensive 1936 swimsuits from U.S. Waterwear. A. A lovely one-piece with fishnet inserts under the attached skirt. A patented Howland watertight cap in the new herring-bone Krepe-Tex. Gay nautical decoration. B. A two-piece swimsuit in entrancing solid colors, …
The Inside Story of a unique Hollywood actress Carole Lombard, and her enduring friendship with costume designer Travis Banton Trials and Tribulations of a Costume Designer Part Two of the Inside Story from the great Hollywood costume designer Travis Banton and how he helped some of Tinseltown’s’ most glamorous women find their style, and more so, …