The Imfamous 1930's

          The changes in fashion that occurred in the 1930s are essential to vintage inspired clothing today. We love feminine butterfly sleeves and sophisticated elegance, both gifts to women’s clothing from this decade. With the onset of the Great Depression, many people were forced to give up a lavish lifestyle, but an era of big bands and nightlife remained. Women’s fashion shifted to a wardrobe of femininity, and at the start of the 1930s, trends emphasized the natural waistline as way to close out the boyish look of 1920s fashion. Hollywood movie stars played an influential role in 1930s style as well, and what was worn on the screen became acceptable on the streets.
         1930s skirts sometimes had a subtle high-low hemline to add motion and volume and were finished with pleats for similar reasons. Also, women often wore ensembles, or sets of matching tops and bottoms, during this decade for sophisticated clothing and a polished daytime look.
         Unlike the boyish 1920s dresses that concealed curves, the 1930s dresses had shapely lines and aimed to celebrate the female figure. Dresses returned to define the waistline, and at the start of the decade, women wore dresses that emphasized the shoulders. This included butterfly sleeves, puffed sleeves, and angular shoulders which, in turn, would give the illusion of a smaller waist.