By Ruth O’Hara

In the 1930s there was a return to a more genteel, ladylike appearance.

Before cloche hats were worn and now small plate shaped hats are worn.

Daywear Versus Evening Glamour:

Until the 1930s wealthy women had not really needed to wear practical day clothes.

More luxurious gowns were kept for evening. New fabrics like metallic lame were very popular at night and were made to shimmer even more richly by adding plastic sequins and glass beads.

The Female Form Returns to 1930s Fashion:

1930s-skirts:

Skirts were usually longer at the back than the front. Below the knee pleats were very common. Some of the clothes were so stylish that they could be

worn today .

New Ways With Fabrics: New improved fabrics were used like rayon . Cotton was

also used by Chanel and suddenly it was considered more than a cheap fabric for work clothes. But nothing looked like pure silk and it was still the best fabric to capture the folds and drapes of thirties.

Stylish Thirties- Elsa Schiaparell i The Italian Elsa Schiaparelli 1890-1973 had a

love of rich fabrics and feminine fantasy. Despite the fact that Schiaparelli had a witty

side she was just the fashion inspiration that women who preferred classic styles needed.

Beyond the little black dress which she frequently designed, she would accessorise with humour and designed funky hats made to appear as mutton chops or ice cream cones.