italian women in 1920s
TRANSCRIPT
By Anna Dipierro
ITALIAN WOMEN IN
1920s
The new autonomyThe second decade of the twentieth century
saw the birth and success of a new kind of
woman more free and independent, devoted
to her work and interested in the care of her
own image.
During the First World War they had to replace
the man in work activities.
The most- obvious
transformation within the
women of the 1920’s
consisted of their lack of
dependence on a man.
They worked for absolute
financial independence,
giving them the ability to
stand equal.
This new figure takes hold and modifies all the aspects of
female life, totally changing the behavior and habits of
Italian women.
Women's magazines reported these costume
changes expanding the space dedicated
to the new Italian woman who acquired
the right to leave the house, had already
“the habit of going alone in the street,
the need to hurry to go to work, to take quickly a tram, in a hurry
to get on a bicycle, to slip fast into the elevator, to toddle in the
halls of work between machines” and then “to simplify all the
bulky elements of clothing, reducing it to the essential”.
In the mid-twenties the woman
moves to the conquest of a new
self-image and a greater
freedom of movement. The
clothing is marked to give an
impression of dynamism. After
1925, the skirts are getting
shorter the knee: worn with
confidence, they become the
symbol of the aspiration to
independence.
1927
In Paris, Gabrielle Chanel, known
as Coco, which for years has
proposed the use of men's
sweaters for women, launches
a stir with the garçonne’s
fashion: loose and linear
clothes, short skirts starting at
the hips, swaying mid-calf,
little pronounced waist,
suitable for thin and young
women.Coco Chanel
The great practicality of this type of clothing leads
to the worldwide spread of this model, which
suggests the idea of a lively and carefree
adolescence.
Unfortunately in Italy fascism forbade to
take example from fashion out of the
country.
In 1931 the Fascist government issued a
series of guidelines for periodical
publications. The women's
magazines are recommended to
present a healthy image of women in
the drawings and photographs they
published and delete images of
figures too lean and masculine.
The prohibitions
In 1932 was formed the
autonomous body for the
permanent exhibition of
Fashion in Turin. The
Authority had the task of
organizing the clothing
sector and ensure that the
production takes place
entirely in Italy.
ONLY
The new accessoriesThe clutch, strictly small, must be worn over the
shoulder with a thin chain, or by hand as if it were a
little jewel.
The bicolour shoe, like Coco Chanel decided since
the 20's, with the ankle strap, which is typical of
those years.
The jewels: in the '20s we dare with the fake, the
deliberately fake. Pearls, stones or semi-precious
stones with perfectly geometric shapes to adorn the
neck and arms, a multi-strand necklace for example.
The hat is of course a fine and small cloche, that
frames the face, in perfect style of the era.
The new make-upThe make-up of the '20s is
extremely simple, the only
peculiarity is that it requires a
perfectly smooth skin like a
porcelain. The women of that period
did not get tanned like we currently
do, and they had a clear and
delicate skin.
The perfume? Strictly Chanel no. 5,
born precisely in the '20s.
The eyes require a make-up
rather dark in shades from
gray to dark black, accented
with a touch of pencil; the
lips have a fiery red color, a
touch of blush on the cheeks.
Hairstyle: garçonne's jet
black and perfectly smooth
bob, flat waves stopped
laterally with hairpins.
Le donne nella mia famiglia
Il matrimonio dei miei bisnonni 1932 Il matrimonio dei miei
nonni 1958
The End