Costume Reference: 1918-1939 v.8

One of a series on British dress since Roman times, this covers the interwar years, a period of great fluctuation in fashion, particularly for women. For perhaps the first time, different social classes wore the same styles - styles which could be more various and change more quickly than ever before, and which included the unprecedently short skirts of 1927. The author places fashion in its social context, and examines the influence of such factors as the introduction of new materials and means of production. Marion Sichel began her career as a costume designer for the theatre and now devotes her time to costume research.