Actress Louise Brooks, 1927

The term flapper in the 1920s referred to a "new breed" of young women who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, listened to the new Jazz music, and flaunted their disdain for what was then considered acceptable behavior. The flappers were seen as brash for wearing excessive makeup, drinking, treating sex in a casual manner, smoking, driving automobiles, and otherwise flouting conventional social and sexual norms. Flapper may refer to: Flapper, a young, trendy woman in the 1920s Flapper!, a musical that is set in the 1920s A term from Gullivers Travels for someone who stands between a popular or powerful person with many demands on his time and many of those people who want... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 420 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (4,876 × 6,951 pixels, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 420 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (4,876 × 6,951 pixels, file size: 2. ... Louise Brooks (14 November 1906 – 8 August 1985) was an American dancer, showgirl, and silent film actress. ... Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ... Woman sporting bob with finger waves, 1920s A bob is a short haircut that became modern for women in the early 1920s. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... Various distilled beverages in a Spanish bar A distilled beverage, also called spirits or liquor, is a preparation for consumption containing ethyl alcohol purified by distillation from a fermented substance such as wine, malt, or grain. ... Casual sex refers to sexual activity outside the context of a romantic relationship, consisting of a range of informal sexual encounters. ... For the food preparation, see Smoking (cooking). ...

Origins and Etymology

Actress Alice Joyce, 1926

Flappers had their origins in the period of liberalism, social and political turbulence, and increased transatlantic cultural exchange that followed the end of the First World War, as well as the export of African American jazz culture to Europe. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 443 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (3,761 × 5,093 pixels, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 443 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (3,761 × 5,093 pixels, file size: 2. ... Alice Joyce Alice Joyce (1 October 1890 - 9 October 1959) was an actress born in Kansas City, Missouri, United States best known for her Hollywood cinema roles in the 1910s and 1920s, perhaps most famously The Green Goddess. Joyce was known as The Madonna of the Screen for her striking... Liberalism is an ideology, philosophical view, and political tradition which holds that liberty is the primary political value. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ...

United Kingdom

The term flapper first appears in Britain, though the etymology is disputed. It may be in reference to a young bird flapping its wings while learning to fly, or it may derive from an earlier use in northern England of flapper to mean "teenage girl" (whose hair is not yet put up), or "prostitute".^[1] The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent...

While many in the United States assumed at the time that the term flapper derived from a fashion of women wearing galoshes unbuckled so that they could show people their bodies as they walked, the term was already documented as in use in the United Kingdom as early as 1912. From the 1910s into the 1920s, flapper was a term for any impetuous teenage girl, often including women under 30. Only in the 1920s did the term take on the meaning of the flapper generation style and attitudes, while people continued to use the word to mean immature. Heavy type galoshes Galoshes are a type of rubber boot that one slips over shoes to keep shoes from getting muddy or wet. ...

Flappers in the U.S.

United States

The first appearance of the word and image in the United States came from the popular 1920 Frances Marion movie, The Flapper starring Olive Thomas.^[2] Thomas had starred in a similar role in 1917 though it was not until The Flapper that the term was used. Her final movies were done in the flapper image.^[3] Other actresses would soon build their careers on the same image making them quite popular including Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, and Joan Crawford.^[4] Frances Marion Frances Marion (November 18, 1888 - May 12, 1973) was an American journalist, author, and screenwriter often cited as the most renowned female screenwriter of the twentieth century alongside June Mathis and Anita Loos Born Marion Benson Owens in San Francisco, California, she worked as a journalist and served... The Flapper is a 1920 film starring silent film star Olive Thomas // The title of The Flapper is ironic, as this movies heroine is an innocent ingenue who merely pretends to be a jazz-baby flapper. ... Olive Thomas (20 October 1894, Charleroi, Pennsylvania – 10 September 1920 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France) was an American silent film actress and socialite. ... Clara Gordon Bow (July 29, 1905 – September 27, 1965) was an American actress and sex symbol who rose to fame in the silent film era of the 1920s. ... Louise Brooks (14 November 1906 – 8 August 1985) was an American dancer, showgirl, and silent film actress. ... For other persons named Joan Crawford, see Joan Crawford (disambiguation). ...

In the United States, popular contempt for Prohibition was a factor. With legal saloons and cabarets closed, back alley speakeasies became prolific and popular. This discrepancy between the law-abiding, religion-based temperance movement and the actual ubiquitous consumption of alcohol led to widespread disdain for authority. Flapper independence may have its origins in the Gibson girls of the 1890s. Although that pre-war look does not resemble the flapper identity, their independence and feminism may have led to the flapper wise-cracking tenacity 30 years later. Detroit police inspecting equipment found in a clandestine underground brewery during the prohibition era. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A cartoon from Australia ca. ... A USPS stamp depicting a Gibson girl. ... Feminists redirects here. ...

Writers and artists in the United States such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Held Jr., and Anita Loos popularized the flapper look and lifestyle through their works, and flappers came to be seen as attractive, reckless and independent. Among those who criticized the flapper craze was writer-critic Dorothy Parker. She penned "Flappers: A Hate Song" to poke fun at the fad. Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (September 24, 1896 – December 21, 1940) was an American Jazz Age author of novels and short stories. ... John Held Jr. ... Anita Loos (April 26, 1888 – August 18, 1981) was an acclaimed American screenwriter, playwright and author. ... Dorothy Parker (August 22, 1893 – June 7, 1967) was an American writer and poet, best known for her caustic wit, wisecracks, and sharp eye for 20th century urban foibles. ... For other uses, see FAD (disambiguation). ...

A related but alternative usage in the late 1920s was a press catch word which referred to adult women voters and how they might vote differently than men their age. While the term flapper had multiple usages, flappers as a social group were well defined from other 1920s fads. A catch phrase is a phrase or expression that is popularized, usually through repeated use, by a real person or fictional character. ... A fad, also known as a craze, refers to a fashion that becomes popular in a culture (or subcultures) relatively quickly, remains popular, often for a rather brief period, then loses popularity dramatically. ...

Behavior

Flappers went to jazz clubs at night where they danced provocatively, smoked cigarettes through long holders, sniffed cocaine (which was legal at the time) and dated. They rode bicycles and drove cars. They drank alcohol openly, a defiant act in the American period of Prohibition. Petting became more common than in the Victorian era. Petting Parties where petting was the main attraction became popular. A jazz club is a venue where the primary entertainment is live jazz. ... For other uses, see Dance (disambiguation). ... Unlit filtered cigarettes. ... For other uses, see Cocaine (disambiguation). ... Dating redirects here. ... This mountain bicycle features oversized tires, a sturdy frame, front shock absorbers, and handlebars oriented perpendicular to the bikes axis Bicycle may also refer to Bicycle Playing Cards. ... The term Prohibition, also known as A Dry Law, refers to a law in a certain country by which the manufacture, transportation, import, export, and sale of alcoholic beverages is restricted or illegal. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Victorian era of the United Kingdom marked the height of the British Industrial Revolution and the apex of the British Empire. ... For the television series, see Making Out. ...

Flappers also began taking work outside the home and challenging a 'woman's place' in society. Voting and Women's rights were also practiced.

With time dance styles considered shocking, such as the Charleston, the Shimmy, the Bunny Hug and the Black Bottom were developed. Josephine Baker dancing the Charleston at the Folies Bergère, Paris, in 1926 A USPS stamp from the Celebrate the Century series: Flappers Doing the Charleston by John Held Jr. ... A shimmy is a dance in which the body is held still, except for the shoulders, which are alternated back and forth. ... Look up Bunny hug in Wiktionary, the free dictionary The Bunny hug was a dancing style performed by young people, especially flappers, in the early 20th century. ... Black Bottom is a dance that was popularized in the 1920s in New York City during the Flapper era. ...

Slang

Actress Norma Talmadge, a prototypical flapper

Flappers had their own slang, with terms like "snugglepup" (a man who frequents petting parties) and "barney-mugging" (sex). Their dialect reflected their promiscuity and drinking habits; "I have to go see a man about a dog" often meant going to buy whiskey, and a "handcuff" or "manacle" was an engagement or wedding ring. Also reflective of their preoccupations, they had many ways to say "fantastic", such as "That's so Jake" or "That's the bee's knees," or a more popular one, "the cat's pajamas." fair use of an image from: www. ... fair use of an image from: www. ... Norma Talmadge Norma Talmadge (May 26, 1893 – December 24, 1957) was an American actress. ... For other uses, see Slang (disambiguation). ...

Many terms still in use in modern American English slang originated as flapper slang, such as "big cheese", meaning an important person; "to bump off", meaning to murder; and "baloney", meaning nonsense. Other terms have become definitive of the Prohibition era, such as "speakeasy", meaning an illegal place to get liquor and "hooch”, describing illegal liquor. For other uses, see American English (disambiguation). ...

Appearance

In addition to their irreverent behavior, flappers were known for their style, which largely emerged as a result of the musical style of jazz and the popularization of dancing that accompanied it. Called garçonne in French ("boy" with a feminine suffix), flapper style made them look young and boyish. Short hair, flattened breasts, and small waists accentuated the look.

Despite all the scandal flappers generated, their look became fashionable in a toned-down form among even respectable older women. Most significantly, the flappers removed the corset from female fashion and popularized short hair for women. Among the actresses most closely identified with the style were Olive Thomas, Dorothy Mackaill, Alice White, Bebe Daniels, Billie Dove, Helen Kane, Joan Crawford, Leatrice Joy, Norma Shearer, Laura La Plante, Norma Talmadge, Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, and Colleen Moore. A scandal is a widely publicized incident involving allegations of wrong-doing, disgrace, or moral outrage. ... Olive Thomas (20 October 1894, Charleroi, Pennsylvania – 10 September 1920 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France) was an American silent film actress and socialite. ... Dorothy Mackaill Dorothy Mackaill (March 4, 1903 - August 12, 1990) was an British-born American actress, most notably of the silent film era and into the early 1930s. ... Publicity photo for the movie The Big Noise, taken ca 1928 Alice White is also the name of the fictional character who is married to Perry White. ... Bebe Daniels (January 14, 1901 - March 16, 1971) was an American actress. ... Billie Dove (born May 14, 1900 (although most sources incorrectly ascribed the year 1903; died December 31, 1997) was an American actress. ... Helen Kane (b. ... For other persons named Joan Crawford, see Joan Crawford (disambiguation). ... Leatrice Joy Leatrice Joy (November 7, 1893 - May 13, 1985) was an American film actress best known for her career in the early silent film era. ... Edith Norma Shearer (August 10, 1902 (some sources indicate 1900) – June 12, 1983) was an Academy Award-winning Canadian-American actress. ... Laura La Plante (born Laura La Plant on November 1, 1904 in St. ... Norma Talmadge Norma Talmadge (May 26, 1893 – December 24, 1957) was an American actress. ... Clara Gordon Bow (July 29, 1905 – September 27, 1965) was an American actress and sex symbol who rose to fame in the silent film era of the 1920s. ... Louise Brooks (14 November 1906 – 8 August 1985) was an American dancer, showgirl, and silent film actress. ... Colleen Moore, born Kathleen Morrison (August 19, 1900 – January 25, 1988) was an American film actress, and one of the most fashionable stars of the silent film era. ...

Cosmetics

Main article: Cosmetics in the 1920s

The flapper look required 'heavy makeup' in comparison to what had been acceptable. Flappers tended to wear 'kiss proof' lipstick. With the invention of the metal lipstick container as well as compact mirrors bee stung lips came into vogue. Dark eyes, especially Kohl rimmed were the style. Blush came into vogue now that it was no longer a messy application process. Lipstick is a cosmetic product containing pigments, oils, waxes, and emollients that applies color and texture to the lips. ... A mirror, reflecting a vase. ... Kohl is a mixture of soot and other ingredients used predominantly by Middle Eastern , North African, Sub-Saharan African and Asian women, and to a lesser extent men, to darken the eyelids and as mascara for the eyelashes. ... To blush is to display a marked redness of ones face; the term is seldom applied except when the redness is construed as a result of embarrassment, shame, or modesty. ...

Originally pale skin was in. However Tanned skin became increasingly popular after Coco Chanel donned a tan after spending too much time in the sun on Holiday - it suggested a life of leisure, without the onerous need to work. Woman wanted to look fit, sporty and above all, healthy. A pale is a territory or jurisdiction (possibly non-territorial) under a given authority, or the limits of such a jurisdiction. ... A suntanned arm showing browner skin where it has been exposed. ... Gabrielle Bonheur Coco Chanel (August 19, 1883 – January 10, 1971)[1] was a pioneering French fashion designer whose modernist philosophy, menswear-inspired fashions, and pursuit of expensive simplicity made her arguably the most important figure in the history of 20th-century fashion. ...

Hair and accessories

Boyish cuts were in vogue especially the Bob cut, Eton crop, and Shingle bob. Hats were still required wear and popular styles included the Newsboy cap and Cloche hat. For other uses, see Boy (disambiguation). ... Woman sporting bob with finger waves, 1920s A bob is a short haircut that became modern for women in the early 1920s. ... Shingle bob, a short hairstyle for women, introduced in 1924. ... A hat is an item of clothing which is worn on the head; a kind of headgear. ... A gatsby cap The Gatsby cap is a cap similar in style to the more common flat cap. ... Irene Delroy wearing a typical cloche hat from the late 1920s. ...

Jewelry usually consisted of art deco pieces especially many layers of beaded necklaces. Pins, rings, and brooches came into style. Horn-rimmed glasses were also popular. Asheville City Hall. ... Aquamarine, platinum and diamond brooch/pendant worn by Mrs. ... A pair of modern horn-rimmed glasses Horn-rimmed glasses are a type of eyeglasses with frames made of horn, tortoise shell, or plastic that simulates either material. ...

Flappers did away with corsets and pantaloons in favor of "step-in" panties. Without the old restrictive corsets, flappers wore simple bust bodices to make their chest hold still when dancing. They also wore new, more soft and supple corsets that reached to their hips, smoothing the whole frame giving women a straight up and down appearance, as opposed to the old corsets which slenderized the waist and accented the hips and bust. Without the added curves of a corset they promoted their boyish look, and soon early popular bras were sold to flatten and reduce the appearance of the bust. A luxury hourglass corset from 1878. ... A pair of mens briefs Undergarments, also called underwear or sometimes intimate clothing, are clothes worn next to the skin, usually under other clothes. ... Underwear redirects here. ...

Apparel

Main article: 1920s in fashion

Flapper dresses were straight and loose, leaving the arms bare and dropping the waistline to the hips. Silk or Rayon stockings were held up by garters. Skirts rose to just below the knee by 1927, allowing flashes of knee to be seen when a flapper danced or walked through a breeze, although the way they danced made any long loose skirt flap up to show their knees. Flappers powdered or put rouge on their knees to show them off when dancing.^{[citation needed]} Popular dress styles included the Robe de style. High heels also came into vogue at the time reaching 2 inches high. The 1920s was the decade in which fashion entered the modern era. ... For other uses of this word, see Silk (disambiguation). ... Rayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulosic fiber. ... A stocking is a close-fitting, variously elastic garment covering the foot and lower part of the leg, but usually not intended to conceal the leg. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Garter (stockings). ... A skirt is a traditionally feminine tube- or cone-shaped garment which is worn from the waist and covers the legs. ... Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Robe de style is a type of womens dress popular in the 20s. ... High-heeled shoes are shoes where the heel of the wearers foot is raised to be significantly higher than their toes. ...

End of the flapper era

Despite its popularity, the flapper lifestyle and look could not survive the Wall Street Crash and the following Great Depression. The high-spirited attitude and hedonism simply could not find a place amid the economic hardships of the 1930s. More specifically, this decade brought out a conservative reaction and a religious revival which set out to eradicate the liberal lifestyles and fashions of the 1920s. In many ways, however, the self-reliant flapper had allowed the modern woman to make herself an integral and lasting part of the Western World. For the protest against the Communications Decency Act, see Black World Wide Web protest. ... For other uses, see The Great Depression (disambiguation). ... Occident redirects here. ...

See also

• New Woman
• Cosmetics of the 1920s
• Modern girl

The New Woman was a feminist ideal which emerged in the final decades of the 19th century in Europe and North America as a reaction to the role, as characterized by the so-called Cult of Domesticity, ascribed to women in the Victorian era. ... Actress Evelyn Brents exaggerated lipline is characteristic of cosmetics in the 1920s. ... The modern girl (モダンガール, modan gaaru) appeared in Japan in the 1920s as a representation of changing gender roles and related societal shifts. ...

References

External links

• Flappers on SilentLadies.com
• The Jazz Age — Flapper Culture (discusses mainly Louise Brooks)
• Slang of the 1920s
• Flappers and fashion
• About.com history
• RolledStockings.com