Pictoral: The 20s
I began this post with the idea for another fashion-based blog, but the more I thought about it the more that felt like a bad idea. While I adore Twenties fashion, I love the Twenties so much more beyond that, so why limit myself to one section when I can (attempt to)gush over it all.
Part of the reason I love the Twenties is the new found freedom of women, or to be more precise the rich women. Women became more free and flirtatious in the Twenties, which is why I find the Twenties such an interesting period. Twenties women smoked and drank on par to the men, quite a drastic change from the previous generation. To think there was so much change but then by the Thirties, this self-awareness and the need to parade it (for a lack of a better word) was almost gone, not until the Fifties would women again begin to gain freedom in a post-war society. Now as a novice to the history of the Twenties, I can only base this interpretation on my meagre knowledge of The Bright Young Things, and various other things I have read, so I cannot claim this to be an accurate interpretation. If anything it is probably slightly more fantasy than fact, such is the fate of idolisation.
Whether I like Art Deco or despise it, I cannot decide. In certain cases, it is awe inspiring, yet at other times, it feels almost dirty and stifling. Either way it is a signature of the Twenties, so it would feel wrong not to include it in this blog.
I adore how Twenties women photograph looking moody and sultry. I am known for my lack of glee and sheer annoyance at being told to smile (I look frightening when I smile), so this is a breath of fresh air. I know this trend did not begin or end with the Twenties but I consider it, as with Art Deco, to be a signature of the era.
If you could pick a favourite era from the 20th century, what would it be?
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11 Have Spoken
If I had a time machine the first era I would visit would be the 20s! They were classy yet bad ass at the same time.
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I LOVE THE TWENTIES!! The 20s have been my favorite era/decade since I read the Great Gatsby several years ago. I like that women stopped wearing corsets and wore straight dresses and had their hair up to resemble that of a boy. It’s the era that created, in my opinion, the foundation for tomboys. I LOVE IT. lol.
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Oo, difficult question. It’d have to be a toss up between the 40’s and 60’s. I look at photographs of my nan and think some of the things she wore were so beautiful! Regarding the 60’s it’s the make-up and hair. I used to think it too alien to nowadays until I saw some movies and came to admire it.
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I don’t really know much about life in the 20’s, so it’s kind of hard for me to pass any proper sort of opinion. We never quite made it to the 20th century in history class, and I was always too lazy to look up anything myself. I think because I was always more fascinated with centuries long past over things that had just happened. So if I had the choice, I’d much rather travel further back in time. But if my time machine was restricted only to the 20th century, I’d probably have to go with right around the 1900’s because it’s just on the cusp of the Impressionist era. :)
I do love Art Deco though. I love how flashy and stereotypically ‘futuristic’ it is. That’s about the only thing I know about the 20’s. XD
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I have to confess I don’t know much about the 20’s other than the fashion. But it sounds like an interesting period :)
And I too love how dark and moody the women look! It’s something about those smoky eyes and intense looks, it’s captivating.
As a glam rocker by heart I must pick the 80’s as my favourite decade ;) But it’s not just the music, it’s the whole spirit of it. Everyone I’ve talked to describes the 80’s as such a happy, colourful, optimistic decade! We laugh at it now, but I’d love to go back and experience it first hand. I was born in 83 so I was too young to remember any of it.
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I love the fashion in the 20’s it was so classy. If I got the chance to go back though I think I would go back to the 60’s. Hippies, music, protests, the feminist movement.
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I love the 20s, but I think I might go for the 40s if I was forced to choose a 1900s decade (I really secretly want to go back to around the time of Jane Austen’s novels).
These photos are amazing. I’m so glad your post turned out to be more than you first expected.
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I LOVE the 20’s era too! Can you imagine if you and I were in the twenties together? We’d be awesome flappers, chain smoking (cause that was what was done back then), dancing in clubs, flirting with devilishly handsome men, having our drinks bought for us by aforementioned men… <3
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The 20s in terms of fashion are indeed great :) If I were to travel back in time, I don’t think I’d travel within the 20th century time frame. I’d be more interested in the 19th century, haha. I’d go back and get Austen to sign my books, lol.
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I really enjoyed reading this blog entry. The photos are fantastic, n.3 is killing me! (In a good way)
I think the 20s are very interesting. I love the aspects you mentioned about women, as well as art and, of course, fashion.
But I really don’t know if I can pick just one era from the past, there are lots of things from different times that fascinate me ♥
I know this probably sounds horrible, but I can’t stand old things. I mean, I agree some of the fashion is wonderful, and the style is definitely inspiring at times, but if I were to actually have to live in one of those eras after being in the present day I would go insane! Just looking back at the 90s makes me cringe. Although the points you make about the new found freedom for women and whatnot do sound glamorous. I can’t believe those outfits were fashionable, lol. So I’d have to say I’d stay right where I was lol.
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