Taking a break from the "Influences" series, I wanted to celebrate some images from one of my favorite eras, the 1920's or "Roaring Twenties," as it's commonly referred.
I think one of the reasons that I love this decade so much is that there is so much freedom involved with the evolvement of women during this time. Of course, gender roles and expectations dictated the lives of most women during this decade, but with the Women's Suffrage movement and the later ratification of the 19th Amendment, women were able to do things that they couldn't do before.
With the invention of silent movies, leading ladies were commanding audiences, as well as becoming icons for style and fashion. Activities that were taboo, like dancing, short skirts, smoking and drinking, were slowly becoming part of the culture for young ladies to live and celebrate life. Finally, women could see their lives beyond that of what their mothers and grandmothers had taught them. Trains could transport you to the Big Apple or Hollywoodland. You could even sail on a grand ship to another part of the world. Life was no longer to be lived where you were born; boundaries only existed in your mind.
There's sort of a romanticism and optimism in the images that I have posted below. These ladies own themselves: their sexualities, their minds, and their futures. All was not perfect, but women during this time were finally exploring the privilege to determine who they wanted to be.