1930s: The Golden Age of Hollywood

The 1930s was a pivotal time period for changes in women's clothing and fashion trends. It was known as the Golden Age of Hollywood. Women began to wear pants, a dramatic transition from earlier times. 


Actresses such as Katharine Hepburn, Gretta Garbo and Marlene Diedrich served as style icons. 

Katharine Hepburn

This time period was also one of glamorous and elegant evening wear in which classical draping, the bias cut and soft lustrous fabrics accented the body contours and silhouette. Fabrics fit closer to the body to show off the natural figure of women.

The slim silhouette was seen most in evening dresses. Unusually cut and pieced day and evening dresses, with puffed and fitted sleeves were seen regularly. Bias-cut, high-waisted evening dresses and nightgowns were popular.

The fame of Fred Astaire highlighted evening gowns seen on slender women twirling about the dance floor. These gowns were designed to showcase the shape of the body, as well as highlight graceful dance moves, which is when flouncy fabrics such as chiffon were used.

•  Another innovation of fashion in the 1930s was the invention of the zipper, which aided
both the functionality and style of clothing

• Two-piece suits with square-shaped jackets, large buttons, and narrow skirts made of thin
fabrics were prevalent during the era as well

The Great Depression

The infamous Wall Street Crash of the stock market and the subsequent depression that
swept the globe affected fashion during that time. Many people were no longer economically
stable and able to purchase the expensive, elaborate clothing they once did. Although styles 
were changing, many had to make do with older styles in their closets by reinventing them
through recycling. Less and less ready-to-wear garments were being sold. However the
1930s saw much improvement in mass production techniques, with a result that a wider
scope of consumers had access to fashionable attire. Although there was an economic
depression, fashion continued to move forward.

Fur was also worn frequently during the Depression.

Elsa Schiaparelli

By 1935, Italian-born French designer Elsa Schiaparelli was a leader in haute couture. After

unbelievable success, she expanded into perfume, cosmetics, lingerie, jewelry, and swimsuits.

Her designs combined eccentricity with simplicity. She was known to make use of controversial

colors such as shocking hot pink and styles such as showing the midriff. These styles were

considered scandalous for the time period, including her backless or low back bodices.

In 1932 Schiaparelli introduced the shoulder pad which became a phenomenon in the world of

women's fashion.