1930s Styles and Trends

When we think of 1930s fashion for women, we might picture beautiful silk evening gowns, cut on the bias, with glamorous jewellery, masculine tweed suits made famous by Marlene Dietrich, and plenty of frills and satin bows offset with cute berets or tilted hats.

Women’s 1930s fashion was beautifully styled and made, with iconic designs that still inspire style lovers today. It was also the decade when cheaper fabrics and mass-produced clothing began to appear, supporting the so-called ‘Decade of Design’ and allowing people across all social classes to approach fashion as a means of self-expression, rather than a symbol of social class or utility wear. For women in the 1930s, fashion was an expression of personal pride and flawless presentation.

The glamorous 1930s were also an era of huge social change. It came on the back of World War 1, and developed through a period of liberation, excess, and Hollywood glamour. The 1930s were also synonymous with the Wall Street Crash, which created the Great Depression, and it ended with World War II, and a period of restricted fashion that reflected austerity.

It’s interesting to note that women’s 1930s fashion is often confused with 1920s flapper style, but the two eras were very different, as we’ll explore in this article.

History of 1930s fashion for women

When the stock market crashed in 1929, economies in the United States and Europe nosedived, and the 1930s fashion for women adjusted accordingly. As daily lives became all about restraint, practicality, and frugality, clothing budgets were tightened, and wardrobes became far smaller. However, women in this era adapted quickly, still desiring the all-important aesthetic of elegance and a well put-together appearance.

This was an era of great creativity in fashion, built around simple designs and heritage tailoring. The focus returned to custom quality and fewer pieces that would adapt and last. 

However, even in the face of economic hardship, women’s 1930s fashion flourished, especially in the higher echelons of society. The silhouette of the day was womanly, grown-up, and sophisticated, and influenced by a new wave of female designers, such as Elsa Schiaperlli and Coco Chanel; two design houses that are still adored today. 

Hollywood glamour also provided welcome respite from drudgery, with sophisticated silver-screen glamour and a return to soft, feminine styles that felt a world away from the boxy and androgynous 1920s. Style setters of the day included actresses such as Greta Garbo, Bette Davis, and Marlene Dietrich, along with the American socialite, Wallis Simpson.

Characteristics of 1930s fashion for women

The defining features of 1930s women's fashion were defined waists, soft draping (often with satin and silks), long and elegant silhouettes, and feminine tailoring. Subtle glamour and feminine, refined aesthetics replaced the boyish and boxier looks of the 1920s. 

Clothing styles of the 1930s

1930s fashion women's dress styles were all about bias cut evening gowns with figure-hugging silhouettes and a nod to Hollywood glamour. Luxury looks were the ideal route to escapism at a time when daily life could be hard.

When it came to women's fashion in the 1930s, casual wear was anything but, with fabulous tailored day dresses, structured suits, cute tailored blouses, and carefully cut outerwear, all designed to be tailored, elegant, and body-skimming. 

Tailoring was designed for quality and shape, with careful seam placements designed to subtly celebrate the female figure. Designers moved away from the curve-flattening aesthetic of the 1930s and embraced it with nipped-in waists, softly padded shoulders, and draped skirts with gentle folds. 

Dresses were styled to be fluid and slimline, with elongated shapes very much the desire of the day. Understated elegance was everywhere, along with a desire to make each wardrobe item count. 

Necklines embraced everything from modest high finishes for refined daywear to daring low-cut cowl necks on satin evening gowns. But always the ultimate goal was elegance and femininity; think understated glamour, rather than the loud, daring fashions of the previous decade.

Similarly, the bold fringes and beads so favoured in the 1920s were replaced by subtle details, such as fabric-covered buttons, smaller bows, and expert gathering, for beautiful finishes that whispered style, rather than brashly demanding attention. 

Office wear

Cheap new materials such as rayon helped to create the hugely popular fashion of fussy blouses. Depending on the budget, these could be bought in silk or in rayon chiffon, with fabulous oversized bows and frills. These blouses were worn with narrow skirts that emphasised the waist at its natural point (the dropped waist of the 1920s was long gone) and then hugged the hip, before flaring out with pleats.

Sports casual wear

Other big fashions for women 1930s fashion included sports casual wear. This decade embraced the healthy outdoor lifestyle, and women’s wardrobes demanded to keep up! Wide leg trousers and lounge pants became very popular, with early Breton style tops, sailor-inspired t-shirts and blouses, and military influences creating fresh, outgoing styles that still look great today. 

Hollywood glamour

Celebrity culture hit hard in Depression-era America and Europe. To celebrate fashion, 1930s women looked up to their favourite stars for escapism and unapologetic glamour. Big-name actresses lent their autographs and endorsements to popular dressmaking patterns or ready-to-wear ranges, allowing women to experience a taste of the high life in showstopping gowns.

Fabrics and patterns in 1930s women’s fashion

The 1930s were a boom era for women’s fashion, as advances in manufacturing made cheaper man-made fabrics available, and newly-invented zips made structured clothing cheaper and quicker to make.

At the same time, more women were working, and this led to the rise of the business wardrobe. Working women wanted to look elegant, feminine, and office-ready, with clothing that was functional but still stylish and expressive. For evening events, they wanted head-turning dresses. And for their newly active outdoor lives, they wanted stylish casual wear.

Common materials for 1930s women's clothing included silk for gowns, rayon for daywear, wool for outerwear and tailoring, and fresh, crisp cottons for office, day, and casual wear. These materials could provide a blend of affordable elegance, creating pieces that lasted.

Prints were also big news for women’s fashion in the 1930s, with art deco geometrics, polka dots, and florals all particularly popular. 

Accessories and footwear in 1930s fashion for women

The polished look of 1930s fashion for women extended to accessories and footwear, with several iconic looks still popular today, such as t-strap heels and low-heeled pumps.

Women always wore hats and gloves, and used belts to cinch in their waists. 

Popular hat styles included the iconic beret and tilt hat, along with sculpted felt designs that were perfect for framing the face. 

Accessories were designed to be feminine and thoughtful, but never gaudy. The emphasis was on grown-up style and understated practicality. Furs, including faux fur stoles, were hugely popular, as were patterned silk scarves, which were knotted at the neck or used to decorate the hair. 

Colors in the 1930s

The color palette seen in 1930s fashion for women encompassed soft pastels, everyday neutrals, deep jewel-inspired shades, and practical navies and burgundies. As with today, evening wear tended to include rich and darker shades, and daywear embraced brighter colours or more muted tones.

Popular shades for daytime dresses included soft blushes, mint greens, and pastel blue. Neutral shades were also heavily used, including grey, navy, and browns, reflecting the practical mindset of the day. Burgundy was a particularly popular choice for autumn wardrobes, and navy was the primary choice for workwear, creating a versatile base for a capsule wardrobe that could then be accessorised for fresh looks.

For glamorous evening events, the choice of color could amplify the drama of any dress. Rich ruby reds, emerald greens, and sapphire blues, and classic 1930s fashion black women’s dresses were ideal for shimmering under ballroom lights. These dresses were finished with glittering jewellery and shoes in satin finishes, or with embellishments for show-stopping effects.

Techniques used in 1930s women's fashion

When it comes to 1930s fashion women's dress styles are instantly recognizable from their skilled tailoring. Dressmakers and tailors of the day used a range of techniques to enhance the female shape whilst maintaining an elegant, style-led finish.

For example, the biggest look of the era was the now-legendary bias cut. This transformed satin by cutting it on the diagonal, across the grain, creating a look of fluidity and movement, and enabling stretch without any elastic. The finished result was graceful and hugged without being tight and filled with natural movement. 

Designers also began to use mannequins in this era to perfect the way that fabrics draped and fell. Again, this changed the finish of tailored outfits to maximize drape and soft structure. 

Strategic seams were used to perfect the fit of each piece and refine more structured items such as jackets and suits. For example, tailors began to incorporate curved panels and princess seams to highlight the contrast of waist and hips without adding any bulk in the fabric. 

The finished effect was perfectly feminine whilst retaining a sense of structure.

Influences on 1930s women's fashion

The influence of Hollywood on women's 1930s fashion was undeniable. Glamorous stars of the day, such as Jean Harlow, glittered on the screen in sleek gowns and shimmering styles, captivating audiences and creating legions of fans desperate to recreate her look. Costume designers outdid themselves to create incredible looks that women clamoured to recreate at home, with tailors and department stores stepping up to translate silver screen style to available fashion.

At the opposite end of the scale, the Great Depression demanded that clothing be made to last and that nothing go to waste. This meant that women tended to create smaller, capsule wardrobes based on functionality and longevity. There was no such thing as fast fashion, and every carefully made piece was made to last.

Women tended to invest in foundation pieces that could last from day to night, using accessories and jewellery to adjust their look with the occasion. When it came to fashion in the 1930s, women really did lead an era of creative, thoughtful dressing, where people took great care with their appearance and presentation.

Other big influences on the era were Art Deco styling and modernist design. These were showcased in fabulous prints and directional new silhouettes. For example, subtle geometrics were popular for printed day dresses and shirts at the time, although the overall finish was far more subtle than in the 1920s.

1930s women's fashion, iconic figures, and designers

This was a huge era for Hollywood and fashion design alike, and the two industries took inspiration from each other to create fashion that still resonates today.

Designers who defined the decade included  Elsa Schiaparelli, known for her surrealist vision, unexpected elements, and love of bold detailing. In an era known for gently restrained aesthetics, she created a bold and exciting direction that challenged convention.

Mainbocher played a huge role in creating the aesthetic of the day, with creations that celebrated the feminine and elongated silhouette made so famous in women’s 1930s fashion. Refined tailoring and low-key elegance were the hallmarks of his collections, and style lovers coveted them.

At the same time, Hollywood legends such as Jean Harlow and Marlene Dietrich brought their huge personas and personal aesthetics into play, creating unprecedented demand for outfits that reflected their glamour. Jean Harlow was renowned for her alluring satin gowns, and Marlene Dietrich exemplified a new era of androgynous glamour, popularizing sharply tailored suits and showcasing an exciting juxtaposition of femininity and sharp, masculine tailoring.

Women’s trends of the 1930s

Although micro-trends came and went, women's 1930s fashion was characterized by these looks:

Bias-cut evening gowns

When you think of 1930s fashion for women, a fluid, satin evening gown, skimming the body and cut on the bias, is perhaps the obvious image. By innovating with the bias cut, women were able to emphasize their natural curves without structured tailoring. The flowing, water-like finish of these gowns leaned perfectly into the look of elongated elegance and would have felt wonderful to wear, as well as to observe. 

Tailored suits

In a decade where women were entering the workplace in ever greater numbers, tailored suits were hugely popular. These were designed to look professional and feminine, with structured jackets, nipped-in waists, and slim skirts that hugged the hips and would either finish in a pencil cut or flare out gently above the knee. The emphasis was on gently tailored contouring, a smart appearance, and longevity, with tailored women's suits made to last.

Day dresses with defined waists

A 1930s fashion women's dress will still look fabulous today, with its defined waist, fitted bodice, and flared skirt that typically went below the knee. Again, these dresses were the perfect mix of utility and feminine elegance, and they could be accessorised with belts, gloves, scarves, hats, and jewellery. Women would use day dresses as a foundation piece in their wardrobe and use accessory pieces, jackets, hats, and shoes to create a full look for every occasion.

Soft blouses

Blouses were designed to drape gently, and were elevated with bows, cowl necklines, or even pleats for that perfect blend of movement, functionality, and grown-up elegance. Blouses were hard-working pieces in any woman’s wardrobe, and they were often made in cotton, rayon, or even silk, sometimes featuring florals, polka dots, and Art Deco-inspired geometrics.

Mid-length hemlines

The ideal 1930s hem length was just below the knee to reinforce the elongated and elegant look that fashion loved so much. Skirts might be full and flared when paired with a nipped-in waist and fitted bodice, or cut slim and skimming for a tailored piece.

Fur-trimmed coats

For women who aspired to a little glamour in their lives, even in the middle of the Great Depression, a wool coat with a fur trim was the ultimate in hard-working outerwear, and these streamlined cuts were incredibly flattering. Coats were made to last and designed to be staple pieces that could be cared for and valued for years - the opposite of fast fashion.

Printed cotton dresses

For everyday wear, cotton dresses with cute prints were a huge look. These would often have a belt and a fitted bodice with a collar or boat neck, and a flared skirt that might include a petticoat. Printed cotton dresses were affordable, charming, and easy to upgrade with each season’s pattern or colour, and they were also intensely practical, allowing women to go about their busy lives whilst maintaining their style.

Why is 1930s women’s fashion still influential?

1930s women’s fashion still inspires designers and style lovers today because of its intensely elegant, yet practical, shapes and designs. Shapes such as the bias cut dress are still incredibly popular for their flattering shape and glamour, and mid-length 1930s dresses have been revived as the modern ‘midi’ dress in recent times.

Tailored suits will never go out of style, and the 1930s approach of celebrating feminine elegance and practical styling is still incredibly relevant together. Vintage revival trends are also leading to increased interest in the styles of the past, and many people choose to wear timeless elements of this era today, either as part of a modern wardrobe or as a perfectly curated vintage wardrobe.

Rosa Dress

How to get the 1930s women's fashion look: 8 top tips

If you’re keen to celebrate the 1930s women’s fashion look, then concentrate on the three essentials: silhouette, detailing, and accessories. Let’s take a closer look:

1. Choose bias-cut dresses

Particularly for evening wear, choose an iconic bias cut dress, or alternatively, a beautiful body-skimming dress that defines the waist and elegantly skims the hips. Think elongation and sleek lines. To achieve that graceful fluidity that we associate with the era, choose naturally fluid fabrics such as rayon, silk, or satin.

2. Pick your accessories

Accessories are the easiest way to achieve your vintage 1930s fashion look for women. Try a slimline belt to accentuate the waist, a structured handbag for grown-up chic, stylish leather gloves in your favorite color, and a hat. A beret is a classic choice from the era, and it still looks incredibly relevant and chic today. In terms of footwear, try t-bar shoes with a cute mid heel.

Top tip: Remember to place your belt at the point of your natural waistline. Waistlines in the 1920s dropped, but in the 1930s they had risen again.

3. Consider the detailing

To get that essential 1930s women’s fashion aesthetic, focus on your hair and make-up too. Women focused heavily on having a smart and well-presented face, which translated into defined makeup, inspired by Hollywood icons of the age.

4. Remember skincare

Women in the 1930s loved Pond’s cream and usually had a three-step facial routine comprised of cleanser, an astringent witch hazel toner, and the famous Pond's vanishing cream moisturizer. Ponds cream is still popular today!

5. Makeup 

Coco Chanel might have shaken the world up with her tan, but pale skin was still highly desirable in the 1930s. Vanishing cream was used as the base and topped with a pale powder for a matte finish. By 1937, Max Factor’s now-legendary Pan Stick foundation was being used to create full coverage on everyone from Kathryn Hepburn to girls in the office. You can still buy it today to create that full base.

Use rouge very sparingly, high on the cheekbones. The rule in the 1930s was apricot creme rouge for the day, and raspberry or rose for the night. Eyebrows should be plucked thinly with a high and defined arch. 

Shimmery eyeshadows should be applied with your fingertip and winged outwards slightly. Back in the day, women also used a little Vaseline or olive oil to make them glossy. Mascara (in a block or cake, traditionally) should only be applied to the upper lashes, and sparingly.

For this look, the lips are the focus. 1930s lips had highly defined cupid’s bows and were usually painted in shades of red, with blotting and layers for a highly defined, strong look.

6. Hair

Iconic hairstyles in the 1930s include pin curl waves, the Pageboy bob, and the long curled bob with a long waved bang over one eye for a ‘peekaboo’ effect. Hair in this era tended to be short, and women with longer hair would wear it pinned into faux bobs or shaped into tight pin curls. 

7. Detailing

The level of detail in 1930s women’s fashion was high, with subtle and considered finishes, such as fabric-covered buttons, hidden pockets, tailored darts for finishing, and tiny beads. Look for pieces that consider these subtle extras for a truly authentic finish.

8. Fabrics

Fabric choices played a key role in the overall look of women’s fashion in the 1940s. Choose natural fabrics such as wool, cotton, and linen for dresses. Wool is the classic choice for those tailored heavyweight coats, knitwear, and berets. Save silk for evening blouses and headscarves. 

The beauty of these original materials is that they were designed to last. Fashion in this era was meant to be sustainable and durable, and wardrobe pieces were rotated heavily in what we’d call a capsule wardrobe today. Fashion in this decade was the opposite of throwaway culture, and this approach toward sustainability is one that we see growing in importance again today.

1930s fashion shopping list for women

To build a 1930s women’s fashion wardrobe, focus on key pieces that create structure, and play around with accessories to adjust your look. Remember that for women in the 1930s, fashion was meant to combine personal style and careful presentation with everyday utility and longevity without waste. This was an era that knew nothing of throwaway styles.

These are the pieces to build your look around:

1. A bias-cut midi dress for evening and formal events: For versatile 1930s fashion, black women’s dresses are a great choice for evening looks, or try a deeply jewelled color.

2. A narrow skirt: This can be worn for many occasions and accessorized with scarves, narrow belts, and jackets.

3. A tailored skirt suit: For extra points, add a hat and t-bar heels. Don’t forget those nylons!

4. Printed cotton day dresses: Cute, practical, and fun, printed cotton day dresses are also wonderfully fresh, and iconic 1930s fashion women's casual wear. Play around with prints from the era, such as polka dots or florals. 

5. A softly draped blouse: Look for blouses with fabulous cuts such as Peter Pan collars, large bows, or feminine drapes. These work wonderfully with wide-legged pants or tailored skirts for a classic look.

6. A long wool coat: This is the ideal 1930s outerwear, and again, choose a fitted shape with narrow proportions, and consider extras such as a fur trim or a belt. Fabric-covered buttons were also a big feature of this decade.

Top tip: For authentic-looking 1930s fashion, choose fabrics that were popular in the era. Rayon, cotton, silk, wool, and linen are all quality fabrics that represent the availability and chic finishes of the time, and they are all designed to last - like every treasured item in a 1930s wardrobe. 

As a general rule, choose:

• Rayon for easy everyday elegance

• Satin and silk for evening looks

• Wool for tailored suits and outerwear

• Cotton for those crisp daywear looks (or lightweight, breathable linen)

Top tip: For that soft and shapely shoulder that helped to create the 1930s structure, choose vintage styled midi dresses with soft shoulder pads, or add your own for that refined silhouette.

Accessories

For your 1930s women’s fashion accessories, choose:

1. Berets or small tilted hats - nothing looks cuter over those pin curls than an angled hat in a bright color, and it will give your vintage outfit the perfect finish. 

2. Leather gloves - look for fitted, classic leather gloves in soft taupe or muted colours.

3. Structured handbags - if you can find a beautiful original bag made with leather, this will give your 1930s women’s fashion look real clout. Some of these original pieces have lasted beautifully thanks to their original high quality.

4. Low-heeled or t-strap pumps. For evening looks, try to find pumps with satin finishes or subtle embellishments.

Vintage-style dresses as the foundation of a 1930s wardrobe

If there is one thing that truly sums up the look of an era, it has to be a vintage-style dress.

For iconic fashion in the 1930s, women turned to bias-cut, midi-cut, and cotton day dresses to create their intensely feminine and elegant, body-skimming looks, and these dress shapes are still incredibly relevant today. 

The look of structured vintage dresses is also intensely flattering. With fitted bodies, flattering necklines, nipped-in waists, and flowing skirts, it’s easy to elevate your entire appearance for a refined and elegant finish that still turns heads today.

In fact, many vintage fashion fans find the 1930s women's fashion looks to be incredibly wearable and easy to channel for beautiful looks today. By getting the shapes, fabrics, and fundamentals right, this is a wonderful era to celebrate and a tremendously fun one to play with if you love fashion.

Which pieces are you tempted to try as you dip your toes into women’s fashion, 1930s style?