December 23, 2020- October 9, 2021
Women
known for their energetic freedom, embracing a lifestyle were commonly
called “Flappers” in the 1920s. While many viewed them as dangerous and
immoral they were considered the first generation of independent
American women who pushed economic, political, and sexual boundaries. No
one knows how the word flapper entered American slang, but its usage
first appeared just following World War I. The classic image of a
flapper is that of a stylish young party girl that smoked in public,
drank alcohol, and danced at jazz clubs. They donned fashionable dresses
of shorter, calf-revealing lengths and lower necklines, wore high
heeled shoes, wore quite dramatic makeup, and enjoyed the art of
accessorizing.
The Roaring 20s Flapper Fashion draws from the
museum’s remarkable collection and will feature eighteen flapper
dresses, showcase some exciting accessories from the era, and give some
insight into pop culture of the 1920s.