Roaring '20s Fashions

Book excerpt: Dubbed "The Jazz Age" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the 1920s were characterized as a decade of frenetic fun. In the fashion world, clothes began to lose the last vestiges of the fussy, frilly Edwardian era as they grew more svelte and "simple." This wonderful, in-depth look at the styles of the Jazz Age and the people who wore them covers the first half of the 1920s -- years that served as a prelude to "The Party of the Century," as Fitzgerald called part two of this free-wheeling decade. A combination of vintage images, professional photographs of existing garments, and period artists' illustrations vividly display clothing and accessories for men, women, and children worn from 1920 through 1924. Clothing for all occasions is featured, including evening wear, day wear, the all-important sports fashions, lingerie, and even wedding attire. Fascinating timelines place the fashions in their proper setting, describing each year's film, music, literary, and couture trends. Among the book's many highlights are rare French pochoir fashion plates and photos of authentic signed haute couture gowns by Patou and Fortuny. This informative and visually engaging book will delight fashion and history connoisseurs alike. A companion volume covers fashions from the years 1925 to 1929.