The first year that the New York Fashion Week took place, it marked the first time that women were allowed to wear pants and shirts in public. This fashion trend caught on and was later incorporated in men’s fashions as well. 1931 fashions for both men and women brought about the “baggy” look popular today. Most men favored the oversized ruffled plaid shirts that were emblazoned with pinstripes and black were also in vogue. The women wore their signature long skirts, which were often adorned with feathered hats and beads. This year marked the start of another important year in fashion; the New Year’s Eve Fashion Show was also hosted by the New York Fashion Week.
The 1931 Fashion Week showcased a wide variety of clothing lines, but the “baggy” fashion trend did not gain popularity until later in the decade. It was incorporated into men’s fashion trends in the late nineteen hundreds, but remained a fashion taboo for women until the nineteen thirties. The “highlight-up” look was also used frequently throughout the decade, particularly in films, which helped to popularize the trend amongst women.
The most notable aspect of the early days of women’s fashions was the tulle, which became a staple for high society women. The tulle skirt was originally used to keep dirt and water from getting to the lower portions of the skirt, which was extremely problematic for the average woman. The “highlight-up” dress was an instant hit and was commonly worn by celebrities such as Rose Bird and Diahann Carroll. Following the success of the tulle skirt, satin became more popular and was introduced for the first time. These new additions to women’s fashions helped to make fashion more acceptable for every age and every walk of life and helped to make women more fashionable than they had ever been before.