Fabulous Fashions of the 1930s

The 1930s saw the birth of the movie musical. These were elaborate undertakings, with beautiful costumes and an army of performers.
Director Busby Berkeley was known for his musicals. He would place costumed women in beautiful patterns. Shot from overhead, they would look like a kaleidoscope.
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers also appeared in many movie musicals. They were a popular dance team. They tapped and waltzed through many films that remain classic to this day.

They listened to the radio and went to the movies. Both the radio and the movies were great ways to escape from everyday life.

Stylish women used to stay out of the sun because society valued fair complexions. But not in the 1930s. That is when sunbathing became fashionable! Best of all, it did not cost a dime.
Famous designer Coco Chanel tanned on the French Riveria. Being tan became associated with the rich. Women loved to show off their tans with the new backless evening gowns of the time. But this love affair with the sun created the need for another accessory—sunglasses.

But the 1930s took sportswear to a higher level. Women did not just have one suit for a sport. They wore shorter, more practical clothes that really allowed them to move!

Sandals became popular as everyday wear in the 1930s. They came open toed, close toed, with T-straps, with laces, and more. Many of the sandals featured here would still be stylish even today!

There was a new seriousness in shoes in the 1930s. Tailored suits were in fashion, and women needed sophisticated footwear to match. Heels became more businesslike, both lower and broader. That is not to say the shoes were not pretty. The T-strap style of shoe from the 1920s continued its popularity. As the name suggests, the shoe had a strap across the front of the foot and a strap down the middle, forming a T. The sling-back shoe, which had a strap that wrapped around the heel of the foot, was an instant hit.

Fur outerwear was also popular. Women wore fur capes over bare shoulders. They wore fur coats. All sorts of furs were used, ranging from sable to mink, chinchilla, and white fox. The most popular furs during the time were silver fox and black monkey.

The furs were used for both day and evening fashions, with flatter furs for day and longer hair for night.

During the Depression, accessories became more important than ever. A well-chosen accessory could update fashions quickly. It was much less expensive than an entirely new outfit. The accessories of the 1930s were also more glamorous than the ones from the previous decade. They included jewels, feathers, and furs, for those who could afford them. Women experimented with different kinds of hats, from the exotic fez to the patriotic tricorn, and even the snood, which emerged from a previous era.

A blazer is a type of jacket that got its name because it used to be made in blazingly bright colors. University students in England first wore the colored jackets to divide teams playing cricket or tennis.
Blazers soon became popular off campus. Americans wore them in blue, green, brown, and cream colors