The Roaring 20's: Trends from the 20's Making a Comeback

The roaring ‘20s are back, baby!

Cover Photo from Pexels

It’s not hard to notice the negative similarities between this decade and the one a century ago. Disease, war, and political conflict are characteristics of both the 1920s and the 2020s. However, what may be less noticeable at first glance is the way that 1920s fashion has influenced our current trends.

The slip dress

Where would we be without the beloved slip dress? This simple and versatile fashion staple harkens back to the iconic 1920s in the best way. 

There was no one comparison to the modern day silk slip in 1920s fashion. Instead, it is born out of a few different articles worn at that time.

In the 1920s, an undergarment called a “step-in” was widely popular. With a very similar look to the slip dress, these garments were often made out of silk or cotton and had a clasp that made them into a romper. This style of underwear was extremely different to previous fashions (more on that in a second!). 

Image from Smithsonian Magazine

In general, however, 1920s fashion was noted as being largely rectangular, loose-fitting and even “boyish”. So, it’s hardly surprising that something much like the slip would be worn by women of that time. 

Nowadays, the slip is a chic piece that can be dressed up or down in any number of ways. It can be worn with any variation of outerwear, shoes, or accessories to create an effortlessly cool look. Imagine the surprise of a 1920s flapper to see something that looks like underwear being worn out in public!

Braless fashion

Goodbye, corsets! Goodbye, bras!

Chances are that if you know one item from fashion of the past, it’s the corset. While the corset transformed over the years, it continued to have an important purpose: to morph a woman’s body into a desired shape. 

This shape reflected contemporary ideas about womanhood and what was considered fashionable at that time. Largely, this meant accentuating the bust and hips, and narrowing the waist in order to create a curved figure. 

Zendaya at the Spiderman: No Way Home Premiere

However, in the 1920s, trends about women’s silhouettes completely changed in an unexpected way. The androgynous “la garçonne” style, which required a more flattened bust, and the flapper look, which needed movement for dancing, became more popular. For these styles, the corset became redundant.

Today’s “no bra” fashion is the 2020s version of a century-ago move away from the corset. 

In the 2020s, braless fashion is popular among many styles, both for comfort and aesthetic. After the pandemic lockdown of 2020, many people decided to ditch their bras for good and two years later, we’re still seeing this reflected in our style trends.

Euphoria is an example of this braless trend in action, particularly in the character Maddy’s outfits. We can also see this trend on the red carpets, such as in Zendaya’s spider web inspired gown at the premiere of Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Maddy from Euphoria

Old Hollywood influences

Remember the Golden Age of Hollywood? When we think of 1920s on film, we think of silent film stars, black-and-white reels, and over-the-top acting.

Among these film stars, we also see lavish fashions that are making their return to our current trend cycle. The style of dress and makeup trends that were so popular among some of the great screen actors of the era are becoming popularized again. 

Sadie Thompson, Image from TV Ropes

Gatsby-esque dresses have always been a part of our imagination of the decade. If you’ve ever been to a 1920s themed party, you’ve probably worn or seen someone wear a “flapper dress”. Some of the characteristics of these dresses are making a comeback today. 

Beads, fringe, and loose-fitting Art Deco dresses even made appearances at the 2022 Met Gala. Emma Stone’s feathery frock, which doubled as both her Met Gala attire and wedding reception dress, stood out as a blast from the past.

Even the dark, dramatic makeup looks of Maude Apatow and Sophie Turner replicated the trends of the roaring twenties. Bold, red lips, hollowed out eye makeup, and barely-there eyebrows can be seen on the film stars of the 1920s. 

Maude Apatow at The Met Gala

Sophie Turner at The Met Gala

With today’s fashion imitating the trends of so many eras past, we love to see the 1920s represented in our current looks. We’re just about ready to throw a Gatsby bash and party like there’s no tomorrow!

Which 1920s fashion trend are you hoping will make a comeback this decade? Let us know in the comments!