Title: Flappers Such As Clara Bow And Zelda Sayre Represented The Popular And Devilish Women Of The 1920's
Thesis: Flappers owned their name through their outlandish and innovative dressing style.
I. Beginning of flappers
B. Women wanted fun
C. Gave women an identity
IV. Dressing styles
E. Short skirts
F. Revealing shirts
VII. Devilish acts
H. Smoking
I. Partying
J. Staying out late
XI. Flappers importance
L. Represented young women
M. Earned women attention
XIV. Famous Flappers
O. Clara Bow
P. Zelda Sayre
Q. Betty Boop
When one pictures a young lady, what does one see? Most often a neatly dressed elegant woman comes to mind. Many teenage girls are always told to act like young women, and are given speeches of how in the old days, everyone was on their best behavior. Actually, this generations youth is being mislead to how the past really was. In the mid 1920's the so-called broaRAB weren't all they seem to be. Even though it may be hard to believe, the obedience and politeness wasn't too common. Their behavior and actions definitely do not portray the typical image of a young lady.
In the early 1920's, the women, dressing respectively did not show skin. The most common clothes were once stated as being, "High necked jumpers of all tints and textures."1 This peaceful figure didn't exist for too long. Eventually, teenagers got bored and wanted to have fun. "It is the effect of the war,"2 was also a frequently used excuse. Since wars influencing the parents distracted them from their maturing children, more and more girls turned to flapperhood. Lack of attention caused the youth to be eccentric. Any young woman with and innovative dressing style and pompous attitude officially earned the name of being a flapper.
A flapper would display, divulge, disclose her body with the clothes she would wear. Seeing her skirt hanging high above the knee was not a rare thing to see. "Women still want to be loved, but the want it on a so-so basis which includes being admired for the qualities they really posses."3 They basically concentrated on beauty by caring for their looks. Make-up was applied, and hairstyles with bobbed up hair were the thing to have. Some people even wanted to make a law on how short a skirt can actually be because of the fact that flappers wore them so short. The statement," They're all desperadoes, these kiRAB all of them with any life in their veins; the girls as well as the boys; maybe more than the boys,"4 showed that the girls were mainly effected by this craze. Attention, notoriety, and prominence, flappers loved it all.
Amongst most other things, flappers partying was a normal and somewhat necessary part of their lives. Their daring dauntless doughty attitudes gave them a reputation of being devils. " They think a bachelor girl can and should do everything a bachelor man does."5 Most flappers smoked cigarettes which were placed in elegant holders. These audacious ladies and their beaus6 enjoyed speeding around in automobiles, as well as visiting secret speakeasies7 where they drank liquor, danced, and listened to jazz. They walked down the street, their smooth silky sheer legs, shuffling about the glistening sidewalk on a summer day, while men's mouths dropped open with content because of the incredible glamour existing among them. Simply, "Her golden rule is plain enough, just get them young and treat them rough."8
As you can see, flappers held popularity with their arrogant selves. "They are the style, Summer of the 1925 Eastern Seaboard."9 These women were as well known as some local companies. It gave them a satisfactory feeling since they were able to control and dazzle men's minRAB, and still earn their respect. Even though, "Attainment of flapperhood is a big and serious undertaking,"11a somewhat large nuraber of ladies made this a part of their lifestyle.
To this date, certain women are still remerabered as being flappers in their time. Clara Bow ( seen in figure 1-1)and Scott Fitzgerald's wife Zelda Sayre ( seen in Figure 2-1 and 2-2 with her husband ) are among them. A famous cartoon character joining them is Betty Boop ( seen in figure 3-1). Clara Bow became known as the " It Girl," because of her flapper like ways. A freethinking woman like Zelda Sayre was also an impact on her husband's life. "She was a huge influence on his writing, providing much of the material for his novels and short stories throughout their engagement and marraige."11 Betty Boop is basically the star of a cartoon about a flapper. Betty's popularity in this decade is just as strong as it was 65 years ago. "Men want to be with her and women want to be like her."12 These three flappers were just the beginning of proving that women can have just as much enjoyment, if not more, then men.
As can be seen, these stylish women were a major part of the fashion industry in the mid-1920's. Flappers mainly portray the typical teenage girl who loved to party and have fun. The term flapper puts a new meaning into the alleged young lady. They no longer are expected to be as perfect as they are made to be. Flapperhood was an amazing thing, but although it seemed that this would've been a ceaseless trend, it somehow ended, or at least decreased. How exactly did this happen? That is one question left to be answered.
Bibliography
Bliven, Bruce. Flapper Jane. [World Wide Web] Available http://www.pandorasbox.com/jane.html, Septeraber 9, 1925.
Brooks, Louise. Flapper Culture and Style. [World Wide Web] Available http://www.pandorasbox.com/flapper.html, March 3, 1999.
"The Flaming Youth," World Book Encyclopedia, vol. XX, pp. 175-76, USA, World Book, Inc., 1992.
Herald, Jacqueline, Fashion of a Decade the 1920's, New York, Facts on File, 1991, pp. -10, 12-15, 21, 40.
Love, Courtney. Courtney Love Narrates Biography on Famous Flapper. [World Wide Web] Available http://www.mtv.com/news/gallery/h/holr990303.html, March 3, 1999.
Page, Ellen Welles. A Flapper's Appeal to Parent's. [World Wide Web] Available http://www.pandorasbox.com/appeal.html, Deceraber 6 1922.
Segal, Steve. America's Favorite Flapper Aces Test of Time. [World Wide Web] Available http://tribune-review.com/features/boopcol.html, Septeraber 29, 1996.
Sharman, Margaret, Take Ten Years 1920's, Texas, Steck-Vaughn Company, 1993, pp. 10, 14, 18, 25, 28, 34, 41, 46.
The Flapper
By Dorothy Parker
The Playful flapper here we see,
The fairest of the fair.
She's not what grandma used to be,--
You might say, au contraire.
Her girlish ways may make a stir,
Her manners cause a scene,
But there is no more harm in her
Than in a submarine.
She nightly knocks for many a goal
The usual dancing men.
Her speed is great, but her control
Is something else again.
All spotlights focus on her pranks.
All tongues prowess herald.
For which she well may render thanks
To God and Scott Fitzgerald.
Her golden rule is plain enough-
Just get them young and treat them
rough.
Footnotes
1. Jacqueline Herald, Fashion of a Decade the 1920's, quoted by Harold Acton, p. 21.
2. Ellen Welles Page, "A Flappers Appeal to Parents," Outlook, (Dec., 1992).
3. Bruce Bliven, "Flapper Jane," The New Republic, (Sept., 1925).
4. "Flaming Youth," World Book Encyclopedia (1992 ed.), vol. 20, pp. 175-75.
5. Bruce Bliven, "Flapper Jane," The New Republic, (Sept., 1925).
8. Dorthy Parker, "The Flapper," a poem shown in figure 4-1.
9. Bruce Bliven, "Flapper Jane," The New Republic, (Sept., 1925).
10. Ellen Welles Page, "A Flappers Appeal to Parents," Outlook, (Dec., 1992).
11. The Sensible Thing: Biographies, http://www.pbs.org/kteh/amstorytellers/bios.html.
12. Steve Segal, " America's Favorite Flapper Aces Test of Time," Tribune Review, (Sept., 1996).
Thesis: Flappers owned their name through their outlandish and innovative dressing style.
I. Beginning of flappers
B. Women wanted fun
C. Gave women an identity
IV. Dressing styles
E. Short skirts
F. Revealing shirts
VII. Devilish acts
H. Smoking
I. Partying
J. Staying out late
XI. Flappers importance
L. Represented young women
M. Earned women attention
XIV. Famous Flappers
O. Clara Bow
P. Zelda Sayre
Q. Betty Boop
When one pictures a young lady, what does one see? Most often a neatly dressed elegant woman comes to mind. Many teenage girls are always told to act like young women, and are given speeches of how in the old days, everyone was on their best behavior. Actually, this generations youth is being mislead to how the past really was. In the mid 1920's the so-called broaRAB weren't all they seem to be. Even though it may be hard to believe, the obedience and politeness wasn't too common. Their behavior and actions definitely do not portray the typical image of a young lady.
In the early 1920's, the women, dressing respectively did not show skin. The most common clothes were once stated as being, "High necked jumpers of all tints and textures."1 This peaceful figure didn't exist for too long. Eventually, teenagers got bored and wanted to have fun. "It is the effect of the war,"2 was also a frequently used excuse. Since wars influencing the parents distracted them from their maturing children, more and more girls turned to flapperhood. Lack of attention caused the youth to be eccentric. Any young woman with and innovative dressing style and pompous attitude officially earned the name of being a flapper.
A flapper would display, divulge, disclose her body with the clothes she would wear. Seeing her skirt hanging high above the knee was not a rare thing to see. "Women still want to be loved, but the want it on a so-so basis which includes being admired for the qualities they really posses."3 They basically concentrated on beauty by caring for their looks. Make-up was applied, and hairstyles with bobbed up hair were the thing to have. Some people even wanted to make a law on how short a skirt can actually be because of the fact that flappers wore them so short. The statement," They're all desperadoes, these kiRAB all of them with any life in their veins; the girls as well as the boys; maybe more than the boys,"4 showed that the girls were mainly effected by this craze. Attention, notoriety, and prominence, flappers loved it all.
Amongst most other things, flappers partying was a normal and somewhat necessary part of their lives. Their daring dauntless doughty attitudes gave them a reputation of being devils. " They think a bachelor girl can and should do everything a bachelor man does."5 Most flappers smoked cigarettes which were placed in elegant holders. These audacious ladies and their beaus6 enjoyed speeding around in automobiles, as well as visiting secret speakeasies7 where they drank liquor, danced, and listened to jazz. They walked down the street, their smooth silky sheer legs, shuffling about the glistening sidewalk on a summer day, while men's mouths dropped open with content because of the incredible glamour existing among them. Simply, "Her golden rule is plain enough, just get them young and treat them rough."8
As you can see, flappers held popularity with their arrogant selves. "They are the style, Summer of the 1925 Eastern Seaboard."9 These women were as well known as some local companies. It gave them a satisfactory feeling since they were able to control and dazzle men's minRAB, and still earn their respect. Even though, "Attainment of flapperhood is a big and serious undertaking,"11a somewhat large nuraber of ladies made this a part of their lifestyle.
To this date, certain women are still remerabered as being flappers in their time. Clara Bow ( seen in figure 1-1)and Scott Fitzgerald's wife Zelda Sayre ( seen in Figure 2-1 and 2-2 with her husband ) are among them. A famous cartoon character joining them is Betty Boop ( seen in figure 3-1). Clara Bow became known as the " It Girl," because of her flapper like ways. A freethinking woman like Zelda Sayre was also an impact on her husband's life. "She was a huge influence on his writing, providing much of the material for his novels and short stories throughout their engagement and marraige."11 Betty Boop is basically the star of a cartoon about a flapper. Betty's popularity in this decade is just as strong as it was 65 years ago. "Men want to be with her and women want to be like her."12 These three flappers were just the beginning of proving that women can have just as much enjoyment, if not more, then men.
As can be seen, these stylish women were a major part of the fashion industry in the mid-1920's. Flappers mainly portray the typical teenage girl who loved to party and have fun. The term flapper puts a new meaning into the alleged young lady. They no longer are expected to be as perfect as they are made to be. Flapperhood was an amazing thing, but although it seemed that this would've been a ceaseless trend, it somehow ended, or at least decreased. How exactly did this happen? That is one question left to be answered.
Bibliography
Bliven, Bruce. Flapper Jane. [World Wide Web] Available http://www.pandorasbox.com/jane.html, Septeraber 9, 1925.
Brooks, Louise. Flapper Culture and Style. [World Wide Web] Available http://www.pandorasbox.com/flapper.html, March 3, 1999.
"The Flaming Youth," World Book Encyclopedia, vol. XX, pp. 175-76, USA, World Book, Inc., 1992.
Herald, Jacqueline, Fashion of a Decade the 1920's, New York, Facts on File, 1991, pp. -10, 12-15, 21, 40.
Love, Courtney. Courtney Love Narrates Biography on Famous Flapper. [World Wide Web] Available http://www.mtv.com/news/gallery/h/holr990303.html, March 3, 1999.
Page, Ellen Welles. A Flapper's Appeal to Parent's. [World Wide Web] Available http://www.pandorasbox.com/appeal.html, Deceraber 6 1922.
Segal, Steve. America's Favorite Flapper Aces Test of Time. [World Wide Web] Available http://tribune-review.com/features/boopcol.html, Septeraber 29, 1996.
Sharman, Margaret, Take Ten Years 1920's, Texas, Steck-Vaughn Company, 1993, pp. 10, 14, 18, 25, 28, 34, 41, 46.
The Flapper
By Dorothy Parker
The Playful flapper here we see,
The fairest of the fair.
She's not what grandma used to be,--
You might say, au contraire.
Her girlish ways may make a stir,
Her manners cause a scene,
But there is no more harm in her
Than in a submarine.
She nightly knocks for many a goal
The usual dancing men.
Her speed is great, but her control
Is something else again.
All spotlights focus on her pranks.
All tongues prowess herald.
For which she well may render thanks
To God and Scott Fitzgerald.
Her golden rule is plain enough-
Just get them young and treat them
rough.
Footnotes
1. Jacqueline Herald, Fashion of a Decade the 1920's, quoted by Harold Acton, p. 21.
2. Ellen Welles Page, "A Flappers Appeal to Parents," Outlook, (Dec., 1992).
3. Bruce Bliven, "Flapper Jane," The New Republic, (Sept., 1925).
4. "Flaming Youth," World Book Encyclopedia (1992 ed.), vol. 20, pp. 175-75.
5. Bruce Bliven, "Flapper Jane," The New Republic, (Sept., 1925).
8. Dorthy Parker, "The Flapper," a poem shown in figure 4-1.
9. Bruce Bliven, "Flapper Jane," The New Republic, (Sept., 1925).
10. Ellen Welles Page, "A Flappers Appeal to Parents," Outlook, (Dec., 1992).
11. The Sensible Thing: Biographies, http://www.pbs.org/kteh/amstorytellers/bios.html.
12. Steve Segal, " America's Favorite Flapper Aces Test of Time," Tribune Review, (Sept., 1996).