Vive la Garçonne Exhibit

Visit this exhibition on display during Chicago Fashion Week and through November 4. The aftermath of World War I led to many changes, including to women’s fashions. There was no return to tight lacing, long skirts, elaborate embellishments, and generally restrictive clothing. Experimentation and radical change ruled late 1910s fashion. By 1920, things began to coalesce around short, slim, “boyish”, or “garçonne” styles.

Evanstonians had a spectrum of responses, from the traditionalists to those who embraced the opportunities available. The taste of these women reflected their views whether they were housewives, office workers, professionals, or political activists.

This exhibit includes a range of fashions that reflect that spectrum.