The 1910's: "The Modern Period"
The
display of abundance that characterized The
Gilded Age was shunned after the outbreak of World
War I. While the U.S. did not enter until 1917, the mood
in America was immediately directed to acts of good
will to help our French allies. Once America entered
the conflict, the war effort included victory gardens to
export food to Europe and knitting gatherings to make
socks, gloves, and sweaters for the soldiers.
Fashion
direction from Paris halted as travel to Europe
was curtailed and the couture houses faced increasing
shortages of fabric and trimmings. Importation of
novelty items and fancy goods soon declined in America
resulting in dressmakers and homemakers forced to
develop their own styling. Meanwhile, Coco Chanel
was attracting attention to her wool jersey sweaters.
This
was an important decade for menswear as the
modern-day business suit was adopted - a white shirt,
matching coat, vest, and trousers, and necktie with a
four-in-hand knot. The United States implemented its
standardized sizing system for menswear and opened
large-scale production factories. Several high-profile
strikes by union members occurred during the decade as
workers fought for better working conditions and wages.
The
city continued to attract more people. Office jobs
were on the rise and the automobile industry in Detroit
employed many workers. Ford's introduction of the
moving assembly line would make a car affordable to
many. The motor car brought significant changes to
society as it offered a private form of transportation and
more independence and freedom to be mobile. This
reflected the social sentiment of the modern movement
which was about unrestricted freedom.