Echo N. Fenner
Dr. Pinder
12 February 2018
The Year 1939
Come On, VOGUE “My interest in society – at times so pronounced that the word snob comes a little to mind – derives from the fact that I like an immense number of things which society, money, and position bring in their train: painting, tapestries, rare books, smart dresses, dances, gardens, country houses, correct cuisine, and pretty women.”
An apt summary of the ideals of the American-founded fashion periodical, Vogue, by the magazine’s then-editor, Frank Crowninsheild, though this quote may be, the “fashion bible” now serves as an invaluable glimpse into the political, social, and economical implications of the 1939 American elite. It is possible to analyze the historic institution
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A good hostess did all of her work before her husband came home in time to spruce and primp before her party, and looking and smelling like she had come home from a factory, then cleaned her entire house, prepared dinner and cocktails, and pleased her husband was not an acceptable way to present herself. She needed to smell like she had just taken a perfumed bath for the entire night, so Vogue sold her Odorno Cream Deodorant (“Stops perspiration safely!) and Chanel No.5 Cuir de Russie. Vogue also made sure she was well acquainted with Helena Rubenstein and Dorothy Gray: for the woman with oily skin, she prepped with Rubenstein’s Town and Country Make-Up Lotion; if she had dry skin, it was Rubenstein’s Town and Country Makeup Film. On top, she wore Gray’s Portrait Face Powder, Salon Cold Cream, and Daredevil Lipstick. She was always primped, primed, and ready to …show more content…
In the year 1939, from the United States declaring its neutrality in World War II, to The World’s Fair opening in New York, to Nylon stockings going on sale for the first time, the subconscious push for a unified, American woman look was apparently vital to the morale of disenfranchised females across the US. Vogue played an instrumental part in revitalizing the feminine aesthetic of the 1903s, and 1939, in particular, played a pivotal role in the costuming for the coming
Between 1896 and 1940, the United States experienced a massive economic boom and social changes, causing a greater economic stability and a more rights for women in the society. The front cover of the 1940 Sears Fall Spring portrays an independent woman dressed in formal clothing, walking freely
After the devastating events and losses of WW1, women had to rebuild and define themselves in society creating new social and political boundaries. They decided to break social norms and expand themselves into the world. Flappers influenced the change of women politically and socially that was reflected in fashion and their lifestyles. During the 1920’s or “roaring twenties”, the flapper fashion challenged the older generation’s conservative and modest look of the “ideal women”, but as gender roles were being upset so were the ideas and values of conservation.
Karen Halttunen, author of Confidence Men and Painted Women: A Study Of Middle-Class Culture In America, 1830-1870, noted that “(a)dvice books, fashion magazines, and etiquette manuals cautioned young women against emulating the arts of the painted woman, sometimes a prostitute but more often a woman of fashion, who poisoned polite society with deception and betrayal by dressing extravagantly and practicing empty forms of false etiquette.” Likewise, the views towards red dresses and lipstick changed during this era as
In the 1940’s, many different changes occurred before World War II, during, and even after the war. Some of the changes were subtle, but others, not so much. As the 1940’s approached, it brought upon change regarding American society in the years leading up to World War II. “1940’s fashion arose; like nylon stockings, artificial fiber, and a more heat-resistant nylon“(Du Boff).
Christian Dior, the fashion designer who has created many brilliant pieces once said “A dress is a piece of ephemeral architecture, designed to enhance the proportions of the female body.” Fashion being a major impact in America brought many different trends to the people and showed their sense of nobility. “At the end
People questioned whether women dress for themselves or for men. This questioning lead to blaming women for “distracting” men when in reality, no one should be blamed. The beauty new standard was to be thin, with a pale skin tone, dressing modestly yet still fancy. This meant wearing dresses. Even though women were beginning to focus on their physical appearance, dressing in a revealing matter was not
The 1920’s were essentially about becoming ‘someone’, separating yourself from the old and creating uniqueness to a ‘new life’. Chanel helped to set the first stages of modern fashion by creating her signature style, brand awareness, and a social popularity around herself like no one had ever done before. At the time, women wanted freedom from the restrictions of society and fashion had placed upon them. Women wanted to feel beautiful without shackles. Chanel created a new image to the role of women within society, by making them beautiful while, at the same time, separating them from the hordes of traditional ‘unknowns’.
1920s Fashion The 1920’s was a dynamic influence on men’s and women’s fashion. Moreso the impact woman had on society and how their influence manipulated the fashion of the 1920s. Jazz,World War I, prohibition, the 19th Amendment are just some of the factors that contributed to the dramatic shift in the culture that we still admire today. During this time ‘the fashion landscape shifted like tectonic plates” (“retro”), everyone wanted to be in style and have the newest and glamorous clothes. Designer brands and unique hairstyles is still a lifestyle that we still see in today 's society and is growing.
The years , 1960-80 have been called the years of ‘sexual revolution’ in fashion photography. According to Lina Salete Chaves, from the University of South Florida, "With the popularity of Playboy, Sex and Single Girl, and Cosmopolitan, these magazines sent women new cultural affirmations about their sexuality that tied together ideas of individualism and consumerism to sexual
In the 1920s fashion was a movement of freedom with flappers, bobbed hairstyles and using art as a fashion statement. “Fashion should be stylish and fun,” (Twiggy). In any decade fashion was a way of saying something. One of the women’s careers was being in the fashion industry.
However it can be claimed that femininity experienced a comeback to women’s attire in a form of as ultra-femininity. Feminine style was exaggerated and reached the term girly. The style referred as ‘kinderwhore’ (See Apendix, figure?) during the end of twentieth century was endorsed by singers such as Courtney Love, Kat Bjelland. Short dresses decorated with frills and bows, satin sashes, however kept short, accompanied with dark make up (Arnold 1999). The emergence of girly reference in fashion provokes different views towards the ultra-feminine.
After the end of World War II, American men return home and took back their jobs, and women were resorted to staying back at home to perform domestic task such as cooking, cleaning, and raising children. What arose was the gender expectation that the men were supposed to be the powerful leader of the family while women were to suppose to be the docile housewife. They were not encouraged to take part in masculine activities, but to be as feminine as possible. For instance, women’s fashion in the 50s was all about dresses and accentuating the curves of a woman’s body. To express the gender constraints that they were under, Americans turned to ballet.
In the 1920s and 1930s photography had helped Chanel, Schiaparelli, Balenciaga, and Lanvin become known for their extraordinary styles. Paris was the main palace of fashion in the world during this time so photographers such as Horst, Man Ray, Beaton, Steichen, and many more made sure to be there. By the mid 1950’s studio shots and elegance of models in earlier fashion photography had a new aesthetic that was more spontaneous. Photographers who were leading in this new style were Parkinson, Klien, Bassman, Bailey, and the
New York’s first role in the garment industry traces back to the manufacturing of clothes for Southern slaves. The European immigrants who arrived in the early 1800s made a significant impact in the clothing industry because of their cheap labor and their need to manufacture garments that would preserve their cultural background in the New World. New and original creations were made as these were adapted to European styles, which influenced fashion trends around the world (Stefanyshyn). Although unequal distribution of income has characterized the manufacturing industry since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the prestigious fashion industry in New York City today deals with additional issues. The New York Fashion Week is an event that best demonstrates the abuses and unregulated measures of this industry, especially towards young women.
After the war was over, the French couture industry was trying to make a comeback and reestablish who they were since it went years without any activity due to the war. With that Avedon decided to get into the fashion industry. With his crisp technique and new creative ways to capture a subject, he quickly gained popularity and became the lead photographer at Harper’s Bazaar. As he continued his career at Harper’s Bazaar, Avedon also wanted to capture more than just fashion photography. In 1946, James Baldwin and Avedon started working on a project for Life magazines called “Doorways.”