The 1920s From Head To Toe Fashion From 100 Years Ago

The 1920s from head to toe: Fashion from 100 years ago

The online exhibition 'The 1920s from head to toe: Fashion from 100 years ago' is based on a TRC Gallery display with the same title. It was presented at the Textile Research Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands, from mid-September 2023 until mid-March 2024.

The exhibition focuses on what people were wearing in the 1920s at various times of the day and on different occasions. It includes Western fashion from the 1920s, mostly for women, for daily, afternoon and evening wear, but also underwear and pyjamas, sports wear, and a ceremonial outfit for a parliamentarian.

TRC exhibition "The 1920s from head to toe: Fashion from 100 years ago". Photograph by author.

The online exhibition is separated into seven separate sections, and almost every section contains a gallery of objects. All of the objects form part of the TRC collection, and the illustrations give access to the TRC online catalogue for more information. Enjoy!

See also a series of blogs about the physical exhibition:

Colophon:

  • Author: Augusta de Gainzbourg
  • Web-design: Joost Koopman
  • Online exhibition design: Willem Vogelsang
  • Publisher: TRC Leiden.
  • Year of publication: 2024
  • Copyright: All illustrations of objects housed in the TRC collection can be used free of charge, but please add to the caption: "Courtesy Textile Research Centre, Leiden" and the accession number of the object.

Woman's dress with a printed design of squares and rectangles, some of which are in dark blue with small, white dots. The Netherlands, 1920s.

0. Cover page

The online exhibition 'The 1920s from head to toe: Fashion from 100 years ago' is based on a TRC Gallery display with the same title, presented at the Textile Research Centre, Leiden,…
A woman's sleeveless dress in black chiffon decorated with abstract organic shapes in pink and black sequins and beads. The Netherlands, 1920s.

1. Introduction

What usually comes to mind when you are thinking of 1920s fashion? Is it women’s iconic fringed and sparkly flapper dresses? Short haircuts, headbands, chokers and high heeled shoes worn…
Dress made of a powder blue cotton material and decorated with cutwork and abstract organic shapes, all in white. The Netherlands, 1920s.

2. Daily wear

A typical outfit for most women in the 1920s was a simple dress with mandatory accessories, such as stockings, gloves and hats that were pushed far down around the head.…
A long-sleeved dress made out of a black, red and white printed material. The Netherlands, 1920s.

3. Some influences on fashion: From nautical themes to modernity

Many specific styles and influences from world culture and art can be seen in the pieces on show with specific patterns or techniques. With the new feminine ideal of a boyish,…
Cigarette silk with a portrait of a Dutch woman in regional dress. The Netherlands, 1920s-1930s.

4. Detachable, ready-to-make fashion

In the 1920s, ready-to-wear clothing was becoming more fashionable than tailor-made garments. Department stores were selling ready-made clothing. With expanding industrialisation, more and more women were involved in the labour…
Sample of printed cloth with rows of stylised flowers in grass in blue, magenta, pink, grey and pale green on a white ground.

5. A sample collection from the 1920s.

Printed designs from the early 1920s are characterised by their small, regular and repeating motifs, predominantly brown in colour. By the end of the decade, colours are brighter, and motifs…
Pouch decorated with a Japanese style design of stylised flowers on a mid-blue ground.

6. Accessories galore

For women in the 1920s, jewellery was prominent, including brooches and long strings of pearls or beads. Hair was worn bobbed (not always cut short but tied in a chignon…
Parasol with a cloth cover decorated with printed, abstract flowers in red, green, white and yellow on a brown ground. Indonesia, 1920s.

7. Afternoon tea

Changing from a daily outfit into an afternoon/tea dress was still in fashion in the 1920s, and even changing again for evening wear. This was especially common for wealthier families…
Long black velvet dress with a devoré pattern of stylised flowers. The Netherlands, 1920s.

8. Evening wear

The image that we, in the modern world, have of evening wear in the 1920s is slightly skewed. Evening gowns were often sleeveless (in contrast to daily wear) and could…
Hat (bicorn) made from black cloth and decorated with black ostrich feathers. The Netherlands, 1920.

9. Parliament and weddings

The impressive men’s garments in the exhibition constitute a gala outfit worn by Mr L. de Groot (1874-1963). He was a member of the Tweede Kamer (Dutch Parliament) from 1918-1922 and…
Printed textile with an allover design of bands with stylised stags, deer and fawns in dark red next to Indian-style foliage.

10. Clothing for leisure

As women took on more important roles in the workforce, they began earning more money and obtained more holidays. This social phenomenon, along with a growing interest in fitness and…

In this exhibition:

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