The Art Deco period was the emancipated woman, and both fashion and jewellery adapted to her ever-changing lifestyle. Gone were the days of restricting corsets and long, ungainly gowns. Fashion echoed these qualities, with thin, flat silhouettes, trousers and dresses that came to the knee, making them easy to move, work, and play sports.
After the war had ended, many women wanted to retain the freedoms they had gained and continued to work. In turn, these new roles gave women new freedoms, culminating in their emancipation and gaining the right to vote in 1918. With men off fighting on the front, women were left to take up industrial tasks from farm to factory work. The war had affected many facets of society, including the role of women. The Art Deco movement sprang from the ashes of the first world war. From architecture to fashion and jewellery, Art Deco styles radiate the chic sophistication of their time.
Defined by their sleek, streamlined design and bold geometric patterns, the Art Deco style of the early 20 th century was influenced by the rapidly modernising world. Filled with a spirit of optimism and adventure, the Art Deco aesthetic swept the world and has retained its appeal for over one hundred years. The term brings to mind the excess and opulence of the 1920s-1930s.
