Fashioning Progressive Era Women
Elements of dress... A lesson from Marion
I'm sure you've noticed by now that my sisters and I don't dress like you do. By the end of the Progressive Era, women saw more freedom and less restriction with regard to many things, including dress, as Thelma will teach you. Take a moment to think about how you get yourself all gussied up in the morning. Below is an overview of how the average woman would have dressed in the early 1900s. After that, I'll tell you how girls, such as myself, were dressed around the same time.
Undergarments
Women often wear a chemise and drawers, or a combination of the two. You may compare this to an undershirt and underpants. Stockings are worn and are held up with garters.
Everyday garments
Women wear skirts that reach to the ankle or down to the floor and a petticoat can be used to make the skirt fuller. A common blouse that is worn is called the shirtwaist, which resembles a men's buttondown shirt. They are generally made out of linen and are often embroidered. Shirtwaists can also be a term for a dress. A belt is worn around the waist. Shoes are pointed, have a thick heel and often lace up, though they could button up or slip on. Pins, earrings and lockets often enhance dress. I know my mom even wears a locket with locks of my grandmother's hair in it. I know that may be strange to hear, but she does it to remember my grandmother. It's also not uncommon for women to wear corsets and a corset cover.
Outer garments
A lot of women I know are wearing hats that have very small crowns because they are meant to perch on the head. Gloves are worn because they are stylish, but they also keep the hands clean.
What girls wear
What my sisters and I wear is similar to what women wear. I wear a chemise. I wear similar shoes, although my mom doesn't like me wearing too high of heels! If I'm out and about, I wear a corset but it isn't as restricting as it used to be. It teaches us to have good posture! The dresses we wear are a bit simpler than the glamrous women you are probably imagining and our dresses cover our knees and don't always reach the floor. If it's cold, I wear a button-up coat and gloves. Sometimes I wear earrings, but I always seem to forget to wear them! Lastly, you'll notice my bow. I always complete my outfit with a bow! And perhaps a hat.
That's just a snapshot into what women wear and girls like me wear. Fashion is evolving quickly! My sister Thelma is going to teach you about the changes going on in society and will show you unique fashions that are emerging. I'm off to play dress-up with Laurel-Alice.