A Decade by Decade view of Women’s Fashion in the 20th Century. This 10-part series covers the styles and changes in women’s fashion from 1900 to the year 2000. We discuss everything from designers to fabrics, hem lengths to sleeves. This week we look at vintage women’s fashion: 1900 to 1910. Follow along with us each week as we delve into another decade.
Throughout history, the business of fashion was centered in Europe. That slowly began to change in the early part of the 20th Century. Women’s fashions of the time were very formal and stiff. The look was punctuated by floor-length skirts, narrow waists, and a full “pigeon breast”. This was a modified version of the tight corset and bustle of the late 1800s. This style had been in fashion since the Renaissance. Hair was worn long and full with oversized hats and gloves.
From 1900 to 1910 there began a revolution in fashion. The turn of the century brought slow change to fashion, but toward the end of the decade, visible changes were afoot. Fashionable clothing was still dictated by the Paris fashion houses and designers such as Paul Poiret, Mariano Fortuny, Jeanne Paquin, and of course the House of Worth but they were evolving.
Thanks to Poiret, who is said to have originated this new look toward the end of the decade, the corset was scrapped for a slim loose-fit dress that was just above the ankles in length. This was the first glimpse we would have of the look popularized by the flappers of the 1920s.
Fortuny’s famous “Delphos” gown created in 1907 was a lightweight silk pleated version of this look that was beaded to give it weight so that it would hug the body. His design for pleating was patented in 1909. From stiff boning and large bustles to loose-draped gowns, there was a revolution in fashion in the early years of the new millennium.
Jeanne Paquin brought a change in colors to fashion as pastel and muted tones were the only ones considered appropriate for women prior to the 1900s. Black was previously worn only for mourning until Paquin paired it with red and other bright shades.
The House of Worth one of the oldest fashion houses in Paris began in 1858 by Charles Fredrick Worth. One of the longest-running fashion houses, it was famous for its impeccable details and wealthy clientele. Worth also produced perfume beginning in the 1920s.
Many other fashion designers of the day also branched out into creating other products including home goods, perfume, jewelry, and accessories such as handbags, shoes, and scarves.
Wear The Look of the 1900s:
Explore the other decades by clicking here
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