Fashion and cosmetics throughout the years have always been used as a form of self-expression. Expression through fashion has grown throughout the years, but before it was easy to wear what you want to school, women were wearing clothes to express themselves even if it meant being criticized heavily by media.

The 1920s brought many new opportunities for women, being more involved in the workforce, education accessibility, and gaining the right to vote. In this new era of life, women utilized their outfits to express their new freedoms in the world. The style of ‘flappers’, defined as a young woman who wears shorter-loose fitting dresses and sporting a short-bob hairstyle, quickly became popular among women, reflecting youth, joy, and freedom, a drastic change from a once very restricting lifestyle. Since the change was so drastic, and the style challenged the norms of what a woman should wear and what it meant to be feminine, the trend of ‘flappers’ were not perceived well by the media. Despite the media’s distaste for the flapper era, the women continued to wear what they wanted to best reflect their new freedoms in life.

Style for women before the 1920s consisted heavily of long dresses, formal wear, and corsets. None of which are considered ideal for becoming a part of the working class. Long dresses and corsets evolved into short, loose-fitting dresses. Makeup styles changed from a once very natural, subtle look, to a bold, and more dramatic. A bold red lipstick became popular with protesters for the movement’s right to vote, when in 1912 Elizabeth Arden gave out tubes of red lipstick to hundreds of women at the protests. Red lipstick had a reputation for being viewed as ‘provocative’ but was now being used to empower women’s voices throughout the movement.

Red lipstick maintained its powerful meaning during and after the second World War. All cosmetics were despised by Hitler, but specifically red lipsticks were the most hated by him. Unable to fight on the battlefield themselves, women showed their support from home or in other military service positions, wearing red lipstick to make an antifascist statement and symbolize their support and patriotism. Makeup brands began creating products specifically for women to make those statements, possibly the most notable lipstick shade being ‘Victory Red’ by Elizabeth Arden, after the popularity for red lipstick like ‘Montezuma Red’ spread quickly through the nation.

During World War II, due to the number of men at war, many more women who were once working from home, began working more in factories. The new group of women entering into the working class made the choice to trade in their skirts for pants to better suit the working environment. Women wearing pants being previously opposed, and in some instances illegal, was now a newly accepted part of work, creating more practical outfits perfectly suited for working.

Fashion has always been evolving, and it will never stop evolving. The choices people make through fashion even in daily life can reflect so much about a person’s personality and beliefs, and looking back on those who paved the way for societal norms to be broken easier by utilizing fashion can help change perspectives on what it means to express yourself with your style.