Social history viewed through various fashions

October 1, 2007 5:06 PM

Ladies, please remove your hats. Irate parents wrote indignant letters to the principal. Make do and mend. Teddy boys (the first real manifestation of youth culture?): horsewhip all of 'em. You can take a maxi up but you can't let a mini down. Although midis did have some compensations.

The interesting interplay between oplulence and deprivation, prudishness and permissiveness, self-determination and dependence, as embodied by some of the fashions of the 20th century. Of particular interest is how wartime rationing, factory work and air raids affected fashions; some of the terms used for the styles employed by the teddy boys; and the fact that the first women's bobs were for convenience, not rebellion.

posted by frobozz (13 comments total)

The first manifestation of a youth culture? Not even close. How about the Flappers?
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 6:04 PM on October 1, 2007

Flappers had bobs. (see second link in the post) NSFW for at least one topless daring young woman. (flappers also had boobs.)
posted by longsleeves at 6:26 PM on October 1, 2007

The first manifestation of a youth culture? Not even close. How about the Flappers?

Hell, how about about Cro-Magnons?
posted by jonmc at 6:28 PM on October 1, 2007

Damn Cro-Magnons with their walking erect and their opposable thumbs! You kids get a job!
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:36 PM on October 1, 2007 [2 favorites]

Hell, how about about Cro-Magnons?

How are a bunch of insurance salesmen related to youth culture?
posted by TedW at 6:36 PM on October 1, 2007

also.
posted by exlotuseater at 6:37 PM on October 1, 2007

The following message was recently found fossilized near a single-celled organism. The fossil has been dated to 4,000,000,000 BC.

"GET OFF THE FIELD OF FLAGELLA SURROUNDING MY OUTER CELL CASING"
posted by DU at 6:38 PM on October 1, 2007

Aussi, zoots alors!
posted by rob511 at 6:55 PM on October 1, 2007

Meanwhile, self-organizing cosmic dusts and complex organic molecules formed on the latticed structures of tidal-flat silica sand are rebelling against non-self-propogating simple molecules.

Word on the street the new hot item is folded proteins and theoretical sporing methodologies, and the controversy of the year is "Panspermia - Cosmic law or dangerous new fad? Can it be stopped?"

Nice post.
posted by loquacious at 7:09 PM on October 1, 2007

... the fact that the first women's bobs were for convenience, not rebellion.

Well, at least one woman's first bob was for convenience (Irene Castle was going into the hospital for an appendectomy). I don't know if there's evidence of that being true of all early adopters. Bobbing hair was quite rebellious:

"I believe I am largely blamed for the homes wrecked and engagements broken because of clipped tresses."
posted by oneirodynia at 7:10 PM on October 1, 2007

The sleeveless dresses of the flapper era were also largely responsible for the (still current) "expectation" that women should shave their armpits.

Love me a short haircut on a lovely woman. Of course, I like long hair on a lovely woman as well. Hm.
posted by maxwelton at 7:20 PM on October 1, 2007

Not to mention those ghastly bodgies and widgies
posted by mattoxic at 7:47 PM on October 1, 2007

Link
posted by mattoxic at 7:48 PM on October 1, 2007