Pre War Vintage Evening Gowns
(1920s~1945)

While the fashion of evening gowns changes from year to year, vintage evening gowns are better categorized by time periods from one decade to another.

1920s

The 1920s is the beginning of modern fashion as we know it. Prior to the 1920s, Victorian style fashion dominated the scene, but the 1920s saw a period of liberation for women. The end of the First World War had broken down many social restrictions for women.

Women begun to assert themselves, and the first of which they took initiative upon was their own fashion. Vintage evening gowns from the 1920s showed this emancipation by their extremely short hems, vibrant colors and exotic motifs from art movements of the era.

Considering how women’s gowns prior to the war were of corsets, with skirts not rising above the ankles and necklines up to the chin, vintage evening gowns of the 1920s were a rebellious cry by women of that time.

1930s

The 1930s was generally remembered as the decade of the Great Depression. Similarly, vintage evening gowns from the decade exhibited depressing styles.

Many people were unemployed and few had any money to spare, much less spend them on fashion. The sombre mood of the depression led to plain and modest evening gown designs – the exact opposite of the vibrant and wild styles from a decade ago.

Despite the lacklustre fashion scene of the 30s, designers continued to try and re-invent their styles by overcoming the lack of colors in evening gowns with more elegant and sophisticated details. Vintage evening gowns from the 30s highlight the female form and show a warm, tender side of woman.

This reflects the desire of the people during the period to return to an earlier period, seeking comfort and safety in a time of depression.

1940s – 1945

Towards the end of the 30s, the Second World War broke out in Europe and soon extended to much of the world. Mainstream fashion of this era was almost non-existent. Countries around the world were running on a war economy, and almost any resources available were directed to the war effort, leaving little much for luxuries like evening gowns.

However, an unexpected result spun from this. Fashion went from mainstream to local and underground. Women remained concerned with what they wore and people were making their own evening gowns from whatever materials they could scavenge.

This is one of the unique features of vintage evening gowns from the war period. These vintage evening gowns were made from old clothes and other furniture fabrics – some fabrics were never used before in gowns before the war, and some were never used again after the war.

Due to the war propaganda, many of the vintage evening gowns from this time were also influenced by military styles. These gowns were typically practical to wear, with simple colors and knee-length without elaborate details.

Many of these vintage evening gowns, including those from before the war were used to make other items or were taken apart again after the war. The chaos and destruction during and ensuing the end of the war resulted in many vintage evening gowns prior to this period to be lost or destroyed. Pre-war vintage evening gowns are therefore extremely rare and very valuable today.

Continue to read about Post-War Vintage Evening Gowns.