6 Fashion Designers of 1920s and Their Dresses

The 1920s was a fashion era full of iconic fashions. The Jazz Age was the time when women began to use clothing to express themselves. Fashion went through a veritable revolution in the 1920s—a decade in which silhouettes became relaxed, underwear became less restrictive, and even formal dresses became more comfortable. One of the main reasons women no longer after corsets and heavy, long-sleeved gowns was that fashion designers of the 1920s were not afraid to take risks and push boundaries on the catwalk. Here are some of the most famous fashion designers of the 1920s.

 

1. COCO CHANEL

 (1883-1971)

When it comes to 1920s fashion, the famous Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel cannot be ignored. The influential French fashion designer was an icon of the Roaring Twenties, and her legacy continues to shape modern fashion trends today. Chanel first learned to sew when she was an orphan at the French abbey, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Mary. Before becoming a cabaret singer, she started working as a seamstress - there she acquired the stage name "Coco", which is short for the word "Coquette". During her time on stage, she caught the attention of several rich people, including Captain Arthur Edward Capel, who financed her first fashion boutique.

 

In 1918, she opened her flagship store at 31 Rue Cambon, one of the most fashionable districts in Paris. Chanel's designs were nothing short of revolutionary. She was one of the first fashion designers to create masculine clothing for women, a trend known at the time as the "garconne look." Her stylish womenswear includes fitted sleeves, embellished buttons and slim-cut skirts. In the 1920s, she helped make trousers a wardrobe staple for women around the world. Luxurious wide-leg pants were a favorite of socialites hanging out on the French Riviera, a look that eventually spread to America's iconic fashionistas. Soon, everyone wanted to emulate Coco Chanel's way of dressing.

 

Coco Chanel's Design 

 

Perhaps her most popular contribution to fashion is the little black dress. In the 1926s, she designed a simple calf-length black sheath dress, which she called "the dress the whole world would wear." The concept has been reinvented millions of times since it was conceived, but any woman who wears a little black dress on a big occasion can thank the great Coco Chanel for being there.

 

2. JEANNE LANVIN

(1867-1946)

Jeanne Lanvin is a French haute couture designer who is the namesake behind the Lanvin brand. She started her career as a milliner at the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris in 1889.

 

Lanvin created beautiful outfits for her daughter Marguerite that were so admired by high-society women that they started asking her for adult designs too. The mother-daughter designs she created eventually led her to create her own brand. Lanvin is considered the oldest fashion house in the world and continues to produce haute couture.

Jeanne Lanvin's Design

 

Lanvin loved using delicate and expensive fabrics to create her impeccable designs. Decadent details such as beadwork, flowers, lace, mirrors and other embellishments were also included in her elegant pieces. Flowy, high-waisted dresses were a favorite of her clients in the 1920s. She's probably best known as the creator of Robe de Style - a variation of petticoat dresses that feature full skirts and a low-waisted silhouette.

 

3. ELSA SCHIAPARELLI

(1890-1973)

Elsa Schiaparelli was another popular name in 1920s fashion. An Italian designer considered Coco Chanel's biggest competitor, she's a self-taught fashionista with no formal training in pattern-making or clothing-making.

 

Although she started her own clothing line in the early 1920s, she encountered difficulties along the way. It wasn't until 1927 that her designs became popular enough to be featured in Vogue magazine. Her designs remained popular for much of the 20th century. Her style was heavily influenced by Surrealists such as Salvador Dali and Jean Cocteau. Despite having no formal education in fashion, Elsa Schiaparelli has created some of the world's most impressive and notorious designs.

 

Elsa Schiaparelli's Design

The wrap dress - a classic women's garment that is still evolving today - was the brainchild of Schiaparelli, who was inspired by the way aprons are tied. She also created a stylish evening gown that was popular in the 1920s. Also known as the "Speakeasy Dress," it was an elegant dress with a hidden pocket so women could sneak bottles into clubs during Prohibition.

 

 

4. MADELEINE VIONETTE

(1876-1975)

Madeleine Vionette was another French fashion designer in the 1920s. She was studying in London before opening her first boutique in Paris in 1912. World War I led to a small setback of her career, but she reopened her "temple of fashion" in Paris in 1923 and later expanded to New York City in 1925.

 

 

She encouraged that fashion should move away from stiff, formal garments and in favor of sleeker, softer silhouettes. Madeleine Vionnet, while not as famous as Coco Chanel, was hugely influential in the fashion world of the 1920s. Known as the "Queen of Bias" and "The Architect of Tailors," she created sensual haute couture inspired by fashion stars such as Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Joan Crawford and Katherine Hepburn. Her impeccably designed Greek-inspired dresses popularized bias-cut designs among fashion designers worldwide.

 Madeleine Vionette's Design

 

 

5. PAUL POIRET

(1879-1944)

Paul Poiret is a haute couture designer, a leading French fashion designer and founder of a haute couture house. He is known for his neoclassical creations and designs with oriental influences. His use of straight and rectangular patterns made him considered the founder of "modern fashion", and many designers - including the popular Elsa Schiaparelli - consider him a great influence.

 

His bright colors and modern cuts brought a breath of fresh air to women who were tired of wearing corsets. Casual outfits like harem pants, draped robes, and high-waisted dresses are paired with kimono-style smocks and hoods. His love of high-waisted styles also called for the replacement of corsets with underwear that was closer to the modern bra, which helped move the fashion world away from corsets.

 

 Paul Poiret's Design

 

 

6. JEAN PATOU

(1887-1936)

Jean Patou was a male fashion designer who moved to Paris in 1910 to become a fashion designer. Although he opened his first boutique in 1912, he closed it shortly after and served as a captain in World War I.

 

After returning from the battlefield, he reopened his fashion house in 1919. In the 1920s, he became one of the most influential sportswear designers of all time. Jean Patou designed not for a stylish flapper, but for the "new woman" - someone who wanted to look sophisticated while participating in sports. He is credited with inventing knitted swimwear and other items that are still popular in women's sportswear.

 

The world first got its hands on tennis skirts when he designed a sleeveless knee-length tennis suit for famous female tennis star Suzanne Lenglen, which is still worn by female tennis players around the world today .