The twentieth century brought with it both the hope for something new, as well as a longing for the traditions of the Victorianism of the past. The decade from 1900 to 1910 was also known as the Edwardian Era, after Victoria's successor. It also embodied a part of La Belle Epoque, the French-named "Beautiful Age" of luxury and aesthetic beauty (Paris was the apex of the fashion world). In women's fashion, trends patterned themselves around the national ideal of femininity, embodied in the so-called Gibson Girl, named after the satirical ink illustrations by artist Charles Dana Gibson. In some ways, the Gibson Girl and Gibson Man were the Barbie and Ken of the era. Gibson girls embodied the era's ideal of women who were competitive, liberated, but nevertheless beautiful.
Gibson Girls as drawn by Charles Dana Gibson
The decade featured a new socialism and sense of identity. As more women began to find opportunity in the work force, the traveling and tailor suit and other tailored clothing began to emerge from the need for convenient, all-purpose clothing. However, women's fashion was still elaborate. Dresses were made in two pieces, and corsets and bustles were still common, if not mandated. The ideal body shape popularized by the Gibson Girl was hourglass, and partly due to the voluminousness of the upper portion of clothing, small, narrow feet were considered beautiful. Popular shoes were often narrow or pointed boots with short heels.
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Can you imagine having to dress like the Gibson Girl every day? In the 1890s women who worked in factories & offices began to wear simple skirts & tailored white blouses (shirtwaists) or the Gibson girl look. It was a lovely look, but how comfortable could it have been? We are lucky to be living in 2011.
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