The Flapper of the Roaring 1920's

In the roaring 20's the woman's image was changed forever by the flappers. These were women who drank, smoked, cut their hair, liked to party hard, were happy, risky, cheerful, and cursed. They became known as the flappers. Before World War One women did not date but waited on the "one" and then married. The term flapper first came from Great Britain just after the war. There it was used to define pubescent girls in the awkward stage but in America it has always meant, giddy, attractive, and wild, flappers were unconventional and prone to revolt against their elders in a some what naive, foolish way. They had an image to keep up, and they did, with attitude. Some famous flappers were model and actress Louise Brooks and actress Clara Bow.

Some found flappers shocking in fashion and behavior. Skirt hems rose, eventually coming just under the knees with rolled or twisted stockings. Hair got shorter, first the "bob" hair cut, then even shorter to the "shingle cut". The style was often finished with a flat bell shaped hat called the cloche. These women begin wearing make-up which was previously only worn by loose women or women of ill reputation.

The attitude of the flapper was bawdy, truthful, fast, and sexual. They often behaved recklessly. Parents where shocked by their smoking. flappers past times included not only smoking cigarettes, and drinking, but also dancing to jazz music. They brought us such dances as the Charleston, Black Bottom, and the Shimmy. At this time period divorce became more common and less taboo. The flapper insisted on driving fast and reckless and then having "petting sessions" in the back seat.

This "new woman" was drastically different from parents and grandparents. Eventually, less extreme flappers became acceptable in society. The Great Depression stopped most of the reckless, silly flapper behavior. However, the impact on women's fashion was permanent and many of the changes they brought remains in what is todays modern woman.