Australian society Between The Wars - 1920-1938

Essay by galdorixJunior High, 9th gradeA-, July 2008

download word file, 12 pages 1.0

Fashion, Music & Entertainment:The "roaring twenties" was a big move for contemporary fashion in Australian society. Flapper fashion included all styles of modern fashion. "Flappers", (or "Garconne" in French) had sleek hair (often very short), a shorter than average shapeless shift dress (one piece), had a very small bust, wore make up and applied it in public, smoked out of a long thin cigarette holder and exposed her arms and legs. Fashion until the twenties had been only for the wealthy and well-to-do people. However, it was much simpler to produce flapper fashion than the earlier fashions because it was more simple, and this led to the majority of middle class families and even lower classes being able to buy it, because it was made so easily. Thus the price was reduced, and therefore lots of women could wear flappers. In the twenties, skirts were mainly calf length, from 1920-1924, and only some flappers showed the knee briefly in between 1926-1928.

Skirts lengths gradually receded, and by 1925 they reached 14-16", and started looking more like modern skirts. In the "stylish thirties" fashion turned more towards a gentle feminine look. Women had more curves, softer hair, their foreheads were exposed, and new hats were invented. Clothes were practical during the day, and glamorous at night.

Music in the twenties and thirties consisted of Jazz and Blues. Australian Jazz flourished as a new dance phenomenon.

Entertainment was at large, with the war over. Going to the pictures or listening to a gramophone record was a very common hobby. With mass entertainment, American culture hit Australia. At the beginning of the decade, a dance called the "foxtrot" was popular. By the end of the 1920's the flappers were into dancing in their fringed dresses to Jazz music. The style of...