WHEN WOMEN WENT WILD
The ‘Roaring Twenties’ was an exciting decade for women, as the Jazz Age came to Britain. Women felt confident and empowered, and their independence was reflected in fashion. A bobbed haircut, flattened chest, lots of make-up and shorter dresses were the new look. When the attractive, reckless ‘flapper’ appeared on the scene, she shocked society with her wild behaviour. Women were starting to smoke, drink and drive motor cars.
Their style was influenced by Hollywood actors such as Louise Brooks, Clara Bow and Olive Thomas. These women were role models, not only for their aesthetic appearance, but also for their bravado. The London magazine Picture Show in 1925 was keen to show “that a girl need not be brainless because she is pretty. Nor heartless if she is light-hearted.”
Rising hemlines were often directly related to immorality; the revealing of calves was thought to lead to loose behaviour. By
