How Flappers got their Figure: the 1920s Silhouette

Ever wonder how flappers got that ideal 1920s silhouette? It may seem like it's an era that only works for those with the fashionable body shape and size already, but that's hardly the case! Sitting at a cross-road between old fashioned corsets and new inventions like tricot, the 1920s was FULL of options for every body and every style. The range of lingerie and support garments can be overwhelming! So, let's take a look at the list of options available to the average American to achieve the illusive "boyish mode".

Though we may not think of corsets and the 1920s together, this era depended on them just as much as the decades before! They just updated and changed to be more flexible and active. Brassieres also came in a variety of styles depending on the shape and support needed. But, in order to understand the difference I'm really going to need to make a few options! For this video I've made a simple triangle style, a bandeau, and a corset-brassiere to compare the final figure. Spoiler: it shocked me how much of a difference that could make!

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00:00 Developing the Figure
05:17 Lingerie
08:03 Structural Garments
12:30 Upper Control
17:50 Triangle Brassiere
21:27 Bandeau
23:16 Corset-Brassiere
27:44 Final Figures

[verdancyhime]

I always thought the flappers were skinny from being working class and spending so much time walking and dancing in the city. In my 20s when I worked in a store and worked everywhere and went dancing a few nights a week I lost so much weight! Thanks for showing how this worked!

[mischief]

My grandmother was a flapper in the late 20s and I always wondered how she did it with her prodigious bosoms. Now I know. Thank you!

[jrumrill]

The jazz hands at the end closed out this video perfectly. <3

[makaiawarfield]

Absolutely love this video (and all of Nicole's videos/projects), both as a sewist/lover of historical fashion, and as a transmasculine person (who incidentally is watching this while sewing a binder) 😂 Also just gotta say how much I appreciate how bright the chemises are (especially the fuschia one); they look so fun!

[YTMe]

In the 1960s---> my mom used to frequent a shop in our area that specialized in women's undergarments and fine accessories. I was just the age (8-11) for those trips as I found the items absolutely fascinating (although I had no need of them): Girdles of all kinds with straps and hooks, brassieres that were prepared for bear, slips (full and half) gorgeously trimmed with lace, stockings (panty hose hadn't been invented yet), long gloves for formal occasions. Mom bought special slips and gloves for a cruise and I was fascinated! My generation however was comparable to the "Roaring Twenties". Minskrts didn't lend themselves to slips and girdles. Later slacks and jeans afforded girls and women even more freedom. I remember that I was in tenth grade (1969) when schoolgirls in my city were allowed to wear pants 👖 to school. The rest, as they say, is history!

[karenramnath]

Very much enjoyed this exploration. The side-by-side comparisons were very helpful.

[denisegore]

With the amount of Art deco festivals in the world, it would be lovely to be able to buy the undergarments to wear under our dresses and gowns. I'm watching the video while frantically knitting a 30 jumper to wear to an Art Deco festival tomorrow.

[leileleileleile]

What a lovely-to-watch, well-researched video

[marianabarrosterapeuta]

Nicole, you amaze me. Sooo talented ❤

[trinitythex]

Lol, I fit in to that whole "not curvy" thing! Nice!

[RhaniYago]

Re exercising: My grandmother was a young woman in the 1920s, she played tennis and hiked a lot. (she came from a working class family). I have photos showing my grandfather with friends, boys and girls, in swimsuits, which look quite modern on the banks of a lake. So the young women also went swimming. And my grandparents told me of long hikes nearly every weekend in summer.

[tate]

Transmasc dude here. I have been wearing garments patterned off those bandeaux bras daily for many years and I love them to pieces. I don't use any elastic in them, just a close fit. They are amazing if you want something to wear under a modern wardrobe (since anyone who sees the edge just assumes it's an undershirt/tank top), and they don't need a layer under them. After a lot of fidgeting with the fit I can actually get my chest as flat as a modern elastic binder, but with very little pressure on my ribs/chest. I cannot wear any elastic around my chest, with a binder or bra, due to medical issues (nerve pain). And I cannot recommend 1910's and 1920's era bust supports enough as an entry point to making your own bras or binders if you need something that modern ones cannot provide, whether it be a flatter silhouette, a more comfortable option, or just something that you can adjust the fit of.

[rustybayonet]

My Grandma was happening back then, yea I'm old. She was a farm girl and had that figure naturally

[Mrs_Homemaker]

Just learned how to say tricot. 😅 Thanks

[aenwynn]

What sewing machine do you use? I recently purchased a Singer Heavy Duty but it's too fast even at the slowest setting, I want to exchange it but can't seem to figure out how to look for a machine with a slower option? I'd be really thankful for any help.

[Notthesamegirl]

Writing a book that takes place in the 1920’s. This will help.

[mrsblue]

My grandmother who lived to be 100- used to be shocked that women left the house without wearing a girdle. It’s really funny because she wore a girdle everyday and her girdle was a size small. Her figure never changed. Hmmm….?

[johnnyboyvan]

Figure? The women looked like young boys or Trans...blah.

[jukkasarasti]

at firsth i thought you gonna say cocaine ngl