Swing into Style: Top 9 Unforgettable Fun Facts about 1930s Fashion You Never Knew!

1. Bye-Bye Minis, Hello Ball Gowns

Ladies, wave goodbye to your daring minis and get ready to go full ball-gown: Back in the 1930s, the Great Depression's economic pinch ushered in an era of more modest fashion with hemlines making their grand descent to the floor, a far cry from the scandalously shortened apparel of the Roaring Twenties.
Source => womenshistorynetwork.org

2. Zippers Zip Past Buttons

In the 1930s, zippers declared "zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay" as they triumphed over buttons in the fashion world, with French designers swooning and even Esquire endorsing their charm: In this decade, zippers rose to prominence for men's trousers, becoming the "Newest Tailoring Idea for Men," despite already being used for boots and tobacco pouches since the early 1900s and having the "Separable Fastener" patented in 1917.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know that aviator sunglasses were originally designed for World War II pilots to protect against high altitude glare? Discover their journey from the Army Air Corps to Hollywood stars!

=> Fun Facts about Sunglasses

3. Hollywood Heels Defy Depression

In the 1930s, when the economy was stuck in a rut, women still managed to put their best foot forward with some heel-clicking inspiration from Hollywood: Despite the Great Depression, ladies turned to silver screen icons such as Claudette Colbert and Jean Harlow to emulate glamorous shoe styles of the era like T-strap Mary Janes with art deco embellishments, Oxford shoes, two-tone designs, and platform shoes made fashionable.
Source => satra.com

4. Girdles: Corsets' Slimmer Sibling

Say goodbye to your breath and hello to slimness, as the 1930s traded in their corsets for a less constrictive cousin – girdles! Who knew innovation could still get your knickers in a twist: Girdles became the popular choice of undergarment in the pursuit of a slim silhouette, in part due to the invention of new fabrics like Lastex and Rayon, which enabled the creation of more elastic and aesthetically-pleasing mass-market underwear.
Source => underpinningsmuseum.com

5. Eyebrow Vanishing Act

When vanishing eyebrows became the cat's meow: In the 1930s, women shaved and plucked their eyebrows into oblivion, leaving nada but a memory of those furry friends, and Marlene Dietrich, the German-born silver screen siren, took it up a notch by drawing her brows back on in an elegantly rounded arch, making facial hair disappearance haute couture.
Source => rush.co.uk

6. Beach Buns Sunbathe in Style

As the saying goes, "sun's out, buns out," especially in the 1930s when Hollywood stars would put the "beach" in "beach, please": Jean Harlow and Muriel Evans raised eyebrows and hems alike, frequently flaunting two-piece swimsuits and chic beachwear that surpassed the modesty of the previous decade.
Source => glamourdaze.com

7. Hats Galore for Gents

Catch some shade from the lesser-known hat parade: In the 1930s, men rocked more than just fedoras, choosing from an array of headgear such as trilbies, Homburgs, derbies, ivy caps, walking hats, boaters, straw and toyo hats for summer, and even pith helmets for safari hunters.
Source => vintagedancer.com

8. Rosy Cheeks and Ear Rouge

Before contouring and the infamous duck-face pout, cheeks were tickled pink and even ears got some lovin': In the 1930s, a natural makeup look was all the rage, featuring a subtle application of rouge on the cheeks for a soft, rosy blush, and intriguingly, even ear lobes were adorned with rouge according to beauty booklets of the era!
Source => hair-and-makeup-artist.com

9. Vinegar Waves for Hollywood Glam

Before "curls for the girls" there was vinegar and water for that Hollywood allure: In the 1930s, the wavy bob hairstyle gained popularity thanks to silver screen siren Jean Harlow, who achieved her iconic platinum blonde waves by setting her hair with a mixture of water and vinegar, a look that can be recreated today with heat styling and a generous spritz of hairspray.
Source => schwarzkopf.com