The "Flapper"
The iconic flappers of the 1920s started a revolution for women. The conservative and feminine looks from the past were ditched for new clothing, makeup, and hairstyles; this rebellion led to controversial ideals in both fashion and the roles women played in society (Douglas, 1986).
- A “flapper” was generally a young female whom sported slender, flattening undergarments; their hemlines gradually crept upwards while their waistlines began to drop.
- The flapper would sport daytime and evening wear of high-fashion. This included sleeveless dresses, beaded necklaces, fringe, short skirts, flesh-toned stockings, and decorative shoes. Flappers dramatically changed the common hairstyle of long, upswept curls to short, bobbed hair, cut close to the head and often worn under a close-fitting cloche hat.
- “Heavy” makeup became popular among flappers in the 1920s; it gave women a new sense of feminine power. This makeup consisted of eyes rimmed black with kohl, pencil thin eyebrows, and rosy red lips (Benner, 2004).
A Connecticut damsel gives the following recipe for the flapper:
Take two bare knees, two rolled stockings, two flapping galoshes, one short skirt, one lipstick, one
powder puff, 33 cigarettes, and a boyfriend with flask. Season with a pinch of salt and dash of pep,
and cover all with some spicy sauce, and you have the old-time flapper.
Another account states:
[To] have the real modern American flapper [you need]: Two bare knees, two thinner stockings, one
shorter skirt, two lipsticks, three powder puffs, 132 cigarettes, and three boyfriends, with eight flasks
between them (Scott, 2012).
- A “flapper” was generally a young female whom sported slender, flattening undergarments; their hemlines gradually crept upwards while their waistlines began to drop.
- The flapper would sport daytime and evening wear of high-fashion. This included sleeveless dresses, beaded necklaces, fringe, short skirts, flesh-toned stockings, and decorative shoes. Flappers dramatically changed the common hairstyle of long, upswept curls to short, bobbed hair, cut close to the head and often worn under a close-fitting cloche hat.
- “Heavy” makeup became popular among flappers in the 1920s; it gave women a new sense of feminine power. This makeup consisted of eyes rimmed black with kohl, pencil thin eyebrows, and rosy red lips (Benner, 2004).
A Connecticut damsel gives the following recipe for the flapper:
Take two bare knees, two rolled stockings, two flapping galoshes, one short skirt, one lipstick, one
powder puff, 33 cigarettes, and a boyfriend with flask. Season with a pinch of salt and dash of pep,
and cover all with some spicy sauce, and you have the old-time flapper.
Another account states:
[To] have the real modern American flapper [you need]: Two bare knees, two thinner stockings, one
shorter skirt, two lipsticks, three powder puffs, 132 cigarettes, and three boyfriends, with eight flasks
between them (Scott, 2012).